"Unearthed Arcana" released a huge amount of options for character classes...and the bard got some nifty spells added to their spell list:
1st Level:
Cause fear (Xanathar’s Guide)
Color spray
Command
2nd Level:
Aid
Enlarge/reduce
Mind spike (Xanathar’s Guide)
Mirror image
3rd Level:
Mass healing word
Slow
Tiny servant (Xanathar’s Guide)
4th Level:
Phantasmal killer
5th Level:
Contact other plane (ritual)
Rary’s telepathic bond (ritual)
6th Level:
Heroes’ feast
Mental prison (Xanathar’s Guide)
Scatter (Xanathar’s Guide)
Tenser’s transformation (Xanathar’s Guide)
7th Level:
Power word pain (Xanathar’s Guide)
Prismatic spray
8th Level:
Antipathy/sympathy
Maze
9th Level:
Prismatic wall
...and these are some pretty appropriate spells for a bard, allowing customization for whatever type of character you're creating.
Examples:
Manipulator: "Command", "Antipathy / Sympathy" - these spells are about asserting control over opponents compulsions / actions. Combined with existing "Enchantment" spells already on the bard spell list, these are wildly complimentary spells to have available.
Artist: "Color Spray", "Prismatic Spray", "Prismatic Wall" - not all bards play music, and having these spells offer a more "colorful" approach to a bard who wishes to inspire with visual splendor...coupling with "Prestidigitation" seems mandatory!
Trickster: "Enlarge / Reduce", "Mirror Image", "Slow", "Tiny Servant", "Scatter", "Prismatic Spray", "Maze" - Let's face it: bards are exceptional tricksters. Their whole class is designed around the idea that these seemingly harmless stage-performers have very unexpected magical powers...and these spells will only add to the delightful chaos these stylish anarchists will unleash.
Villain: "Cause Fear", "Mind Spike", "Phantasmal Killer", "Mental Prison", "Power Word: Pain" - the sort of bards who would use these spells offer a more evil-aligned perspective...instilling a sense of dread in their victims, while viciously scarring their fragile minds...all while still maintaining dignified persona like a true James Bond villain. Why inspire...when you can inspire terror?
Support: "Aid", "Mass Healing Word", "Contact Other Plane", "Rary's Telepathic Bond", "Heroes Feast" - ah, yes...when the cleric's and their gods cannot save you...you can always count on the bard to be there to help you. Whether its to buff you, heal you, help the team communicate, or gather that crucial intelligence...the bard is a party's best friend. And now they can become master chef's, it seems!
Hero: "Enlarge / Reduce", "Mirror Image", "Tenser's Transformation" - for those bards who wish to take up arms to defend their allies, these few spells give a helpful boost to the martial classes like "College of Swords" or "College of Valor"... "Tenser's Transformation", in particular, giving each bard subclass an opportunity to join the fray, if only for a short amount of time.
So how do all of you like these new spell additions?
Which of these spells would you use for your character?
What kind of bard would you make with these spells?
What does it say about my Glamour Bard that your 'Villain' spell list is the ones I'm most excited about?
The big ones I'm most interested in are:
Slow: I see this as the counterpoint to Hypnotic Pattern. It's not likely you'd bring both (assuming Spell Versatility is on the table) since shutting down half a room is better than debuffing a quarter of it. And there is the 'Charm' consideration, for instance if going against creatures that are resistant or immune to charm effects.
Phantasmal Killer: finally, an offensive concentration spell. And since one of my favorite spells is Phantasmal Force, so this feels like its right up my alley. See also Mental Prison
Tenser's Transformation: honestly, how was this ever missing from our lists? We're one of the actual few classes that can legitimately use this given our existing weapons and armor proficiency.
I do like how Contact Other Plane is on the list, but a bard trying to cast it is such a terrible idea, which just seems PERFECT to me.
What does it say about my Glamour Bard that your 'Villain' spell list is the ones I'm most excited about?
The big ones I'm most interested in are:
Slow: I see this as the counterpoint to Hypnotic Pattern. It's not likely you'd bring both (assuming Spell Versatility is on the table) since shutting down half a room is better than debuffing a quarter of it. And there is the 'Charm' consideration, for instance if going against creatures that are resistant or immune to charm effects.
Phantasmal Killer: finally, an offensive concentration spell. And since one of my favorite spells is Phantasmal Force, so this feels like its right up my alley. See also Mental Prison
Tenser's Transformation: honestly, how was this ever missing from our lists? We're one of the actual few classes that can legitimately use this given our existing weapons and armor proficiency.
I do like how Contact Other Plane is on the list, but a bard trying to cast it is such a terrible idea, which just seems PERFECT to me.
Glamour Bard's make excellent villains...tyrants, cult-leaders...and they become harder to hit at higher levels.
Tenser's Transformation rocks...it gives the more social or support bard an opportunity to fight a bit better when the ocassion calls for it.
Honestly, though?
I did some research into "Tiny Servant"...I am going to have so much fun with that spell. I imagine an animated beer stein called Muggy. I'll have them "covertly" pour free beer when the bartender isn't looking...
What does it say about my Glamour Bard that your 'Villain' spell list is the ones I'm most excited about?
The big ones I'm most interested in are:
Slow: I see this as the counterpoint to Hypnotic Pattern. It's not likely you'd bring both (assuming Spell Versatility is on the table) since shutting down half a room is better than debuffing a quarter of it. And there is the 'Charm' consideration, for instance if going against creatures that are resistant or immune to charm effects.
Phantasmal Killer: finally, an offensive concentration spell. And since one of my favorite spells is Phantasmal Force, so this feels like its right up my alley. See also Mental Prison
Tenser's Transformation: honestly, how was this ever missing from our lists? We're one of the actual few classes that can legitimately use this given our existing weapons and armor proficiency.
I do like how Contact Other Plane is on the list, but a bard trying to cast it is such a terrible idea, which just seems PERFECT to me.
Glamour Bard's make excellent villains...tyrants, cult-leaders...and they become harder to hit at higher levels.
Tenser's Transformation rocks...it gives the more social or support bard an opportunity to fight a bit better when the ocassion calls for it.
Honestly, though?
I did some research into "Tiny Servant"...I am going to have so much fun with that spell. I imagine an animated beer stein called Muggy. I'll have them "covertly" pour free beer when the bartender isn't looking...
My favorite idea that I have yet to have the opportunity for, is to find a bomb, cast tiny servant, and make a Bobomb from Mario Brothers.
Either that or renact scenes from Beauty and the Beast.
I am now questioning if my Bard is a villain....
I do own a copy of the "Supervillans Handbook" so I may have to start reviewing and reading that.
My favorite bard character is actually a Valor bard, my lovely little gnome Rosie, who's charged with scribing her own chapter of her clan's Tall Book of Tales.
A lot of these are suitably 'Heroic' spells for her - Command is awesome, as much a Heroic Charisma spell as a villainous manipulation technique, the hero potential of Enlarge is always great (not to mention its utility when combined with her Greater Steed spell. Super Peryton, go!), and Tenser's Transformation is the best spell nobody ever uses. It's a great set of additions to the bard list, a lot of them are things I cannot fathom why they didn't add to the bard lists in the first place.
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So...!
"Unearthed Arcana" released a huge amount of options for character classes...and the bard got some nifty spells added to their spell list:
1st Level:
Cause fear (Xanathar’s Guide)
Color spray
Command
2nd Level:
Aid
Enlarge/reduce
Mind spike (Xanathar’s Guide)
Mirror image
3rd Level:
Mass healing word
Slow
Tiny servant (Xanathar’s Guide)
4th Level:
Phantasmal killer
5th Level:
Contact other plane (ritual)
Rary’s telepathic bond (ritual)
6th Level:
Heroes’ feast
Mental prison (Xanathar’s Guide)
Scatter (Xanathar’s Guide)
Tenser’s transformation (Xanathar’s Guide)
7th Level:
Power word pain (Xanathar’s Guide)
Prismatic spray
8th Level:
Antipathy/sympathy
Maze
9th Level:
Prismatic wall
...and these are some pretty appropriate spells for a bard, allowing customization for whatever type of character you're creating.
Examples:
Manipulator: "Command", "Antipathy / Sympathy" - these spells are about asserting control over opponents compulsions / actions. Combined with existing "Enchantment" spells already on the bard spell list, these are wildly complimentary spells to have available.
Artist: "Color Spray", "Prismatic Spray", "Prismatic Wall" - not all bards play music, and having these spells offer a more "colorful" approach to a bard who wishes to inspire with visual splendor...coupling with "Prestidigitation" seems mandatory!
Trickster: "Enlarge / Reduce", "Mirror Image", "Slow", "Tiny Servant", "Scatter", "Prismatic Spray", "Maze" - Let's face it: bards are exceptional tricksters. Their whole class is designed around the idea that these seemingly harmless stage-performers have very unexpected magical powers...and these spells will only add to the delightful chaos these stylish anarchists will unleash.
Villain: "Cause Fear", "Mind Spike", "Phantasmal Killer", "Mental Prison", "Power Word: Pain" - the sort of bards who would use these spells offer a more evil-aligned perspective...instilling a sense of dread in their victims, while viciously scarring their fragile minds...all while still maintaining dignified persona like a true James Bond villain. Why inspire...when you can inspire terror?
Support: "Aid", "Mass Healing Word", "Contact Other Plane", "Rary's Telepathic Bond", "Heroes Feast" - ah, yes...when the cleric's and their gods cannot save you...you can always count on the bard to be there to help you. Whether its to buff you, heal you, help the team communicate, or gather that crucial intelligence...the bard is a party's best friend. And now they can become master chef's, it seems!
Hero: "Enlarge / Reduce", "Mirror Image", "Tenser's Transformation" - for those bards who wish to take up arms to defend their allies, these few spells give a helpful boost to the martial classes like "College of Swords" or "College of Valor"... "Tenser's Transformation", in particular, giving each bard subclass an opportunity to join the fray, if only for a short amount of time.
So how do all of you like these new spell additions?
Which of these spells would you use for your character?
What kind of bard would you make with these spells?
What does it say about my Glamour Bard that your 'Villain' spell list is the ones I'm most excited about?
The big ones I'm most interested in are:
Slow: I see this as the counterpoint to Hypnotic Pattern. It's not likely you'd bring both (assuming Spell Versatility is on the table) since shutting down half a room is better than debuffing a quarter of it. And there is the 'Charm' consideration, for instance if going against creatures that are resistant or immune to charm effects.
Phantasmal Killer: finally, an offensive concentration spell. And since one of my favorite spells is Phantasmal Force, so this feels like its right up my alley. See also Mental Prison
Tenser's Transformation: honestly, how was this ever missing from our lists? We're one of the actual few classes that can legitimately use this given our existing weapons and armor proficiency.
I do like how Contact Other Plane is on the list, but a bard trying to cast it is such a terrible idea, which just seems PERFECT to me.
Glamour Bard's make excellent villains...tyrants, cult-leaders...and they become harder to hit at higher levels.
Tenser's Transformation rocks...it gives the more social or support bard an opportunity to fight a bit better when the ocassion calls for it.
Honestly, though?
I did some research into "Tiny Servant"...I am going to have so much fun with that spell. I imagine an animated beer stein called Muggy. I'll have them "covertly" pour free beer when the bartender isn't looking...
My favorite idea that I have yet to have the opportunity for, is to find a bomb, cast tiny servant, and make a Bobomb from Mario Brothers.
Either that or renact scenes from Beauty and the Beast.
I am now questioning if my Bard is a villain....
I do own a copy of the "Supervillans Handbook" so I may have to start reviewing and reading that.
My favorite bard character is actually a Valor bard, my lovely little gnome Rosie, who's charged with scribing her own chapter of her clan's Tall Book of Tales.
A lot of these are suitably 'Heroic' spells for her - Command is awesome, as much a Heroic Charisma spell as a villainous manipulation technique, the hero potential of Enlarge is always great (not to mention its utility when combined with her Greater Steed spell. Super Peryton, go!), and Tenser's Transformation is the best spell nobody ever uses. It's a great set of additions to the bard list, a lot of them are things I cannot fathom why they didn't add to the bard lists in the first place.
Please do not contact or message me.