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Returning 35 results for 'bards bard don cunning rulers'.
Magic Items
Dungeon Master’s Guide
An Instrument of the Bards is superior to an ordinary instrument in every way. Seven types of these instruments exist, each named after a bard college. The Instruments of the Bards table lists the
the next dawn. The spells use your spellcasting ability and spell save DC.
Instruments of the Bards
Instrument
Rarity
Spells
All
—
Fly, Invisibility, Levitate, Protection
Classes
Player’s Handbook
. But Bards’ depth of knowledge and mastery of magic sets them apart.
Becoming a Bard...
As a Level 1 Bard
Gain all the traits in the Core Bard Traits table.
Gain the Bard’s level 1
Core Bard Traits
Primary Ability
Charisma
Hit Point Die
D8 per Bard level
Saving Throw Proficiencies
Dexterity and Charisma
Skill Proficiencies
Choose any 3 skills
Bard
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Classes
Basic Rules (2014)
from Experience True bards are not common in the world. Not every minstrel singing in a tavern or jester cavorting in a royal court is a bard. Discovering the magic hidden in music requires hard study
and some measure of natural talent that most troubadours and jongleurs lack. It can be hard to spot the difference between these performers and true bards, though. A bard’s life is spent
Classes
Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Most folk are happy to welcome a bard into their midst. Bards of the College of Whispers use this to their advantage. They appear to be like other bards, sharing news, singing songs, and telling
against others through extortion and threats.
Many other bards hate the College of Whispers, viewing it as a parasite that uses a bard’s reputation to acquire wealth and power. For this reason
Classes
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Bards of the College of Spirits seek tales with inherent power—be they legends, histories, or fictions— and bring their subjects to life. Using occult trappings, these bards conjure
spiritual embodiments of powerful forces to change the world once more. Such spirits are capricious, though, and what a bard summons isn’t always entirely under their control.
College of Glamour
Legacy
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Classes
Xanathar's Guide to Everything
The College of Glamour is the home of bards who mastered their craft in the vibrant realm of the Feywild or under the tutelage of someone who dwelled there. Tutored by satyrs, eladrin, and other fey
, these bards learn to use their magic to delight and captivate others.
The bards of this college are regarded with a mixture of awe and fear. Their performances are the stuff of legend. These bards
Monsters
Lost Laboratory of Kwalish
. Once the inspiration die is rolled, it is lost. A creature can have only one inspiration die at a time.
Cunning Action. On each of his turns, Garret can use a bonus action to take the Dash
the following bard spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): blade ward, vicious mockery
1st level (4 slots): charm person, detect magic, disguise self, identify, Tasha's hideous laughterShortsword. Melee
Classes
Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Most folk are happy to welcome a bard into their midst. Bards of the College of Whispers use this to their advantage. They appear to be like other bards, sharing news, singing songs, and telling
against others through extortion and threats.
Many other bards hate the College of Whispers, viewing it as a parasite that uses a bard’s reputation to acquire wealth and power. For this reason
Instrument of the Bards
Legacy
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Magic Items
Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
An instrument of the bards is an exquisite example of its kind, superior to an ordinary instrument in every way. Seven types of these instruments exist, each named after a legendary bard college. The
Monsters
Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
disintegrates.Kapak draconians are created using copper dragon eggs. These cunning opponents relish striking foes who are distracted or unaware. Kapaks often coat their weapons with their paralytic saliva
, making them formidable assassins as well. Their small wings don’t allow kapaks to fly, but they do help the draconians turn a fall into a rough glide. When they die, kapaks dissolve into acid
Monsters
Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
", "rollDamageType":"poison"} poison damage.Kapak draconians are created using copper dragon eggs. These cunning opponents relish striking foes who are distracted or unaware. Kapaks often coat their
weapons with their paralytic saliva, making them formidable assassins as well. Their small wings don’t allow kapaks to fly, but they do help the draconians turn a fall into a rough glide. When they
Sahuagin Baron
Legacy
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Monsters
Monster Manual (2014)
self-styled rulers of sahuagin ocean domains are massive mutant males that grow second sets of arms. They are terrible foes in battle, and all sahuagin bow down before these powerful barons.
Way of
as allies and don’t prey on them.
Elven Enmity. The sahuagin might control the oceans if not for the presence of their mortal enemies, the aquatic elves. Wars between the two races have raged
Classes
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Bards of the College of Spirits seek tales with inherent power—be they legends, histories, or fictions— and bring their subjects to life. Using occult trappings, these bards conjure
spiritual embodiments of powerful forces to change the world once more. Such spirits are capricious, though, and what a bard summons isn’t always entirely under their control.
College of Lore
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Classes
Basic Rules (2014)
Bards of the College of Lore know something about most things, collecting bits of knowledge from sources as diverse as scholarly tomes and peasant tales. Whether singing folk ballads in taverns or
elaborate compositions in royal courts, these bards use their gifts to hold audiences spellbound. When the applause dies down, the audience members might find themselves questioning everything they held
Monsters
Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
. Sivaks can magically change their features to mimic the appearance of those they’ve slain. This allows these cunning soldiers to sow confusion and despair among their enemies. When sivaks are
combination of warped alchemy and the Dragon Queen’s foul magic. The Dragon Armies closely guard the secret of the draconians’ creation, allowing Krynn’s metallic dragons to continue to think their eggs are being held hostage so they don’t oppose the Dragon Queen’s conquests.
Classes
Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Bards of the College of Swords are called blades, and they entertain through daring feats of weapon prowess. Blades perform stunts such as sword swallowing, knife throwing and juggling, and mock
weapon skills and magic, these blades either take up work as enforcers for thieves’ guilds or strike out on their own as adventurers.
College of Swords Features
Bard Level
Feature
Classes
Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Bards of the College of Swords are called blades, and they entertain through daring feats of weapon prowess. Blades perform stunts such as sword swallowing, knife throwing and juggling, and mock
weapon skills and magic, these blades either take up work as enforcers for thieves’ guilds or strike out on their own as adventurers.
College of Swords Features
Bard Level
Feature
Yuan-ti Malison (Type 3)
Legacy
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Monsters
Monster Manual (2014)
are cunning and ruthless tacticians who readily sacrifice lesser yuan-ti if potential victory justifies such losses. They have no sense of honorable combat and strike first in decisive ambush if they
can.
False Worship. Yuan-ti life revolves around their temples, yet yuan-ti don’t love the gods they worship. Instead, they see worship as a means to attain power. A yuan-ti believes an
Magic Items
Acquisitions Incorporated
.
Class-Based Living Loot Satchel
Class
Satchel
Barbarian
Broad belt with a dozen hanging pockets
Bard
Lute case
Cleric
Hollowed-out holy tome
Druid
Made from natural
—even items that wouldn’t normally fit in your satchel, but which fit within the chest. Thanks to Head Office striking deals you don’t want to know about with extraplanar creatures
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
rain from the sky in a beautiful but dangerous display. Rumors quickly spread that a crystal dragon is responsible.
3
A crystal dragon invites the greatest bards and philosophers to partake in
—if only they would stop trying to kill the dragon’s guests.
6
A crystal dragon wyrmling is placed in a monastery to learn the teachings of the monks before returning home in three years. The monks don’t appreciate the wyrmling’s pranks.
Cold, Radiant
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
spellcasting ability (spell save DC 12):
At will: mage hand (the hand is invisible), minor illusionEmerald dragons are the most curious, cunning, and manipulative of the gem dragons, wielding
be the center of attention.
Emerald Dragon Ideals
d6;{"diceNotation":"1d6","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Ideal"}
Ideal
1
Seclusion. It’s safer if others don&rsquo
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
? Ah, then what manner of music they would bring to this world!
— Fletcher Danairia, master bard
Bards bring levity during grave times; they impart wisdom to offset ignorance; and they make the
, bards are typically flamboyant and outgoing when they perform. The most famous of them are essentially the D&D world’s equivalent of pop stars. If you’re playing a bard, consider using one of your
Urchin
Legacy
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Backgrounds
Player’s Handbook (2014)
recuperate. You’ve survived despite all odds, and did so through cunning, strength, speed, or some combination of each.
You begin your adventuring career with enough money to live modestly but
I eat like a pig and have bad manners.
6
I think anyone who’s nice to me is hiding evil intent.
7
I don’t like to bathe.
8
I bluntly say what other people are hinting at
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
Learning from Experience True bards are not common in the world. Not every minstrel singing in a tavern or jester cavorting in a royal court is a bard. Discovering the magic hidden in music requires
, decipher old tomes, travel to strange places, or encounter exotic creatures. Bards love to accompany heroes to witness their deeds firsthand. A bard who can tell an awe-inspiring story from personal
Monsters
Keys from the Golden Vault
Antimagic Susceptibility. In an area of antimagic, Prisoner 13’s tattoos and reactions don’t function, and she suffers the following modifications to her statistics: her AC becomes 13
steal away most of the clan’s gold, leaving only a pittance.
Prisoner 13 is a cunning schemer, ruthless and patient. She listens and watches, absorbing every detail she can, and shares as
Backgrounds
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
areas to help you succeed.
You might be a cunning thief-catcher, prowling the rooftops to catch one of the myriad burglars of the city. Perhaps you are someone who has your ear to the street, aware of
.
4
I would rather make a new friend than a new enemy.
5
I am incredibly slow to trust. Those who seem the fairest often have the most to hide.
6
I don’t pay attention to the risks
Magic Items
Storm King's Thunder
Built by dwarven gods and entrusted to the rulers of Shanatar, an ancient dwarven empire, the Wyrmskull Throne was a symbol of dwarven power and pride for ages untold. The throne hovers a foot off
breaking at least five Ruling Scepters of Shanatar simultaneously on it. This fact has never been recorded or sung of among the dwarves or any bards or storytellers, and it can’t be discovered
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
living storehouses of history and folklore. Bards know a great deal, and they tend to be willing to share what they know, or at least barter for it. The arrival of a renowned bard is a special occasion
bard in fine style — while also being careful to guard any secrets the noble’s household doesn’t want retold or sung across Faerûn. Not all wandering performers are true bards, nor are all bards
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
any other entertainer. But Bards’ depth of knowledge and mastery of magic sets them apart. Becoming a Bard... As a Level 1 Bard Gain all the traits in the Core Bard Traits table. Gain the Bard’s level
Bard EVYN FONG An Inspiring Performer of Music, Dance, and Magic Core Bard Traits Primary Ability Charisma Hit Point Die D8 per Bard level Saving Throw Proficiencies Dexterity and Charisma Skill
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Bard Core Bard Traits Primary Ability Charisma Hit Point Die D8 per Bard level Saving Throw Proficiencies Dexterity and Charisma Skill Proficiencies Choose any 3 skills (see “Playing the Game
Instrument of your choice, Entertainer’s Pack, and 19 GP; or (B) 90 GP Invoking magic through music, dance, and verse, Bards are expert at inspiring others, soothing hurts, disheartening foes, and
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
hand is invisible), minor illusion
1/day each: detect thoughts, invisibility, silent imageEmerald dragons are the most curious, cunning, and manipulative of the gem dragons, wielding psionic power to
like to be the center of attention.
Emerald Dragon Ideals
d6;{"diceNotation":"1d6","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Ideal"}
Ideal
1
Seclusion. It’s safer if others don
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
Bard Colleges The way of a bard is gregarious. Bards seek each other out to swap songs and stories, boast of their accomplishments, and share their knowledge. Bards form loose associations, which they call colleges, to facilitate their gatherings and preserve their traditions.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
Bard Colleges The way of a bard is gregarious. Bards seek each other out to swap songs and stories, boast of their accomplishments, and share their knowledge. Bards form loose associations, which they call colleges, to facilitate their gatherings and preserve their traditions.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
Learning from Experience True bards are not common in the world. Not every minstrel singing in a tavern or jester cavorting in a royal court is a bard. Discovering the magic hidden in music requires
, decipher old tomes, travel to strange places, or encounter exotic creatures. Bards love to accompany heroes to witness their deeds firsthand. A bard who can tell an awe-inspiring story from personal
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
The Harpers Bards in the North and the Dalelands benefit from the existence of the Harpers, that legendary society recruiting bards and other independent agents to struggle against the forces of evil
. Even though most bards in the region aren’t Harpers (and many who are don’t advertise that fact), common folk in the North often behave as if all bards are legendary wandering heroes, and are as






