I see a lot of posts about magical secret selections but not a lot about bard items.
With only 3 attunement slots available.
What are you top 3 picks if you can pick any items in the game and why?
What subclass is this for?
I was looking at items for my swords bard and I found another reason I hate duel wielding. Two awesome swords and one instrument of the bard and I am out of attunement slots.
My first pick, which doesn't require attunement, is Elven Chain (which is +1 chain armor) for my Lore Bard. This item jacks up my AC but doesn't require me to be proficient in medium armors. Other bards that have proficiency with medium armors don't need this item.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
Clearly an Instrument of the Bards would be an item that any Bard should aspire to own and would likely use often.
I have been giving thought to the question since you posed it and I think a Ring of Spell Storing would be another major item a Bard would desire.
A magic weapon is always a highly sought after item for any adventurer, and those requiring attunement would be the best. But I don't have much experience with weapons in D&D. The item I always wanted to acquire when I played a Magic User in AD&D was a Staff of Power. But a Staff is not a thematic Bard tool, so I was thinking back to other items. A Wand of Paralysis is a great weapon that holds plenty of charges.
My Lvl 5 Bard found Pipes of Haunting, which doesn't require attunement but they are a nice Bard themed magic device. Of course, a Bag of Holding or a Portable Hole doesn't require attunement but is always very handy.
The Sunblade is a great sword to carry and if you're human it solves some of your problems due to lack of darkvision. A Dancing Sword also requires attunement and allows a Bard to stay away from the front lines. It uses your bonus action each turn you attack with it and has to be reactivated every fourth turn, but keeping a Bard off the line can be very nice, and you still have your action and reaction for other Bard features like spells and cutting words. Note that giving Bardic Inspiration is a bonus action. A Vicious Weapon is quite handy and doesn't require attunement. A Luck Blade is also a great item to carry but also requires attunement. I would like to have one as a reserve weapon because when you are in a civilized area you could attune to it and drop you attunement to one of your other items. This then provides you one lucky roll every day. In an 'urban' encounter this might be more valuable than a magic damage dealing weapon.
A Headband of Intellect would be handy for many players, but particularly for Bards because they have to speak for the party often and might need to be quick (witted) on their feet. The headband give Int=19, which for many characters would be fantastic since it is the PCs dump stat.
So, After this much thought I would desire ...
1) Instrument of the Bards
2) Sunblade
3) Headband of Intellect
4) Luck Blade
... and a Bag of Holding, a Vicious Weapon, Elven Chain, and a whole bunch of other neat stuff.
The Moonblade is awesome but it is so awesome that you are only going to get it if the DM wishes to build a campaign around you being the bearer of a Moonblade.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
If your bard dips Warlock levels, takes Magic Initiate (Warlock; Eldritch Blast), or takes Spell Sniper (Charisma; Eldritch Blast) as a means of having a high-powered ranged cantrip attack, a Wand of the War Mage is almost a must.
In terms of boosting your own spells, Tasha's Cauldron of Everything (p 134) has a Reveler's Concertina that boosts Bard Spell Save DC by 2 and allows use of Otto's Irresistible Dance 1/day.
I feel like I'm a bit late but still there might be others benefitting from this forum. There is also an item called Rhythm-Maker's Drum. Basically, it gives you +1 to your saving throws and spell save DC. Also, it lets you get another bardic inspiration as an action once a day. So, it is quite note-worthy.
I feel like I'm a bit late but still there might be others benefitting from this forum. There is also an item called Rhythm-Maker's Drum. Basically, it gives you +1 to your saving throws and spell save DC. Also, it lets you get another bardic inspiration as an action once a day. So, it is quite note-worthy.
Agreed. Rhythm-Maker's Drum combined the Wand of the War Mage and Reveler's Concertina into one item. In a game where attunement slots are at an absolute premium, this is invaluable. Being able to combine the Rhythm-Maker's Drum with an Instrument of the Bards gives my Bard's charm based spells (Suggestion, Hypnotic Pattern, Charm Monster,Modify Memory, and Otto's Irresistible Dance) a DC 21 saving throw with Disadvantage. My 3rd attunement slot is currently a Ring of Protection, but I'm hoping at some point that becomes a Staff of Power.
I don't like the instruments of the bard, most notably because there isn't a brass wind....
As a DM, I choose the form of the instrument to fit what my bard plays. My bard plays babgpipes, so she found a the Doss Babpipes instead of the Doss Lute.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
I see a lot of posts about magical secret selections but not a lot about bard items.
With only 3 attunement slots available.
What are you top 3 picks if you can pick any items in the game and why?
What subclass is this for?
I was looking at items for my swords bard and I found another reason I hate duel wielding. Two awesome swords and one instrument of the bard and I am out of attunement slots.
The three I would like thematically is
1. Moonblade
2. Dawnbringer
3. Instrument of the Bard
My first pick, which doesn't require attunement, is Elven Chain (which is +1 chain armor) for my Lore Bard. This item jacks up my AC but doesn't require me to be proficient in medium armors. Other bards that have proficiency with medium armors don't need this item.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
Are you plan to craft the magic item or want to seek it?
I just wanted to know if you could pick any 3 attunement items from any source book for your bard which would you pick.
Clearly an Instrument of the Bards would be an item that any Bard should aspire to own and would likely use often.
I have been giving thought to the question since you posed it and I think a Ring of Spell Storing would be another major item a Bard would desire.
A magic weapon is always a highly sought after item for any adventurer, and those requiring attunement would be the best. But I don't have much experience with weapons in D&D. The item I always wanted to acquire when I played a Magic User in AD&D was a Staff of Power. But a Staff is not a thematic Bard tool, so I was thinking back to other items. A Wand of Paralysis is a great weapon that holds plenty of charges.
My Lvl 5 Bard found Pipes of Haunting, which doesn't require attunement but they are a nice Bard themed magic device. Of course, a Bag of Holding or a Portable Hole doesn't require attunement but is always very handy.
The Sunblade is a great sword to carry and if you're human it solves some of your problems due to lack of darkvision. A Dancing Sword also requires attunement and allows a Bard to stay away from the front lines. It uses your bonus action each turn you attack with it and has to be reactivated every fourth turn, but keeping a Bard off the line can be very nice, and you still have your action and reaction for other Bard features like spells and cutting words. Note that giving Bardic Inspiration is a bonus action. A Vicious Weapon is quite handy and doesn't require attunement. A Luck Blade is also a great item to carry but also requires attunement. I would like to have one as a reserve weapon because when you are in a civilized area you could attune to it and drop you attunement to one of your other items. This then provides you one lucky roll every day. In an 'urban' encounter this might be more valuable than a magic damage dealing weapon.
A Headband of Intellect would be handy for many players, but particularly for Bards because they have to speak for the party often and might need to be quick (witted) on their feet. The headband give Int=19, which for many characters would be fantastic since it is the PCs dump stat.
So, After this much thought I would desire ...
1) Instrument of the Bards
2) Sunblade
3) Headband of Intellect
4) Luck Blade
... and a Bag of Holding, a Vicious Weapon, Elven Chain, and a whole bunch of other neat stuff.
The Moonblade is awesome but it is so awesome that you are only going to get it if the DM wishes to build a campaign around you being the bearer of a Moonblade.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
If your bard dips Warlock levels, takes Magic Initiate (Warlock; Eldritch Blast), or takes Spell Sniper (Charisma; Eldritch Blast) as a means of having a high-powered ranged cantrip attack, a Wand of the War Mage is almost a must.
In terms of boosting your own spells, Tasha's Cauldron of Everything (p 134) has a Reveler's Concertina that boosts Bard Spell Save DC by 2 and allows use of Otto's Irresistible Dance 1/day.
Both these items require attunement.
I feel like I'm a bit late but still there might be others benefitting from this forum. There is also an item called Rhythm-Maker's Drum. Basically, it gives you +1 to your saving throws and spell save DC. Also, it lets you get another bardic inspiration as an action once a day. So, it is quite note-worthy.
Edit: Bolding etc.
Agreed. Rhythm-Maker's Drum combined the Wand of the War Mage and Reveler's Concertina into one item. In a game where attunement slots are at an absolute premium, this is invaluable. Being able to combine the Rhythm-Maker's Drum with an Instrument of the Bards gives my Bard's charm based spells (Suggestion, Hypnotic Pattern, Charm Monster, Modify Memory, and Otto's Irresistible Dance) a DC 21 saving throw with Disadvantage. My 3rd attunement slot is currently a Ring of Protection, but I'm hoping at some point that becomes a Staff of Power.
As a DM, I choose the form of the instrument to fit what my bard plays. My bard plays babgpipes, so she found a the Doss Babpipes instead of the Doss Lute.