Bard Variant: City Bard [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bard Variant: City Bard [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
AnonymousInternets
08-13-06, 12:25 AM I'm going to be making an Urban Soul for a campaign with Bard as the root class, but I want something a little different from the normal Bard. It’s not supposed to drastically change the Bard, really – mostly just changes its profile. Normal Bards are well-traveled and adventurous, usually lacking an actual residence. I wanted something that fit the Urban Soul setup a bit better. Tell me what you think.

City Bard
City Bards encompass the wandering harpists, the singing tavern owners, the drunken aggressors, and the lonely storytellers of the metropolis. They are suave, yet hardy, renowned, yet mysterious, oblivious, yet suspicious. They are the city dwellers who know all about the city around them and all that happens within it. Their fighting tactics range from long-distance arrows to slashing with broken bottles to bashing with clubs - it all depends on the individual. Some City Bards are well-traveled, but most prefer to explore what's within their local area as opposed to what's outside.
Attack Bonus: Average.
Fort Save: Good.
Ref Save: Poor.
Will Save: Good.
Alignment: Any.
Hit Die: d6.
Class Skills: Same as Bard, except as mentioned. Lose: Decipher Script. Gain: Search, Spot.
Skill Points: Same as Bard.
Weapon Proficiencies: Same as Bard, except as mentioned. Lose: Sap.
Armor Proficiencies: Same as Bard.
Spells: Same as Bard.
Class Features: Same as Bard, except as mentioned. Lose: Bardic Knowledge. Gain: City Storyteller.
City Storyteller: The City Bard adds its class levels to all Knowledge (local) checks, and any Knowledge (history) checks involving information related to the city in which the City Bard resides or its inhabitants.
Special Requirement: The City Bard must reside in a metropolis, and must have lived there for a majority of the City Bard’s life.
LordPendragon
08-13-06, 01:17 AM Looks fairly balanced. Losing Bardic Lore sucks, but that's counteracted by gaining a better Fort instead of Reflex.

The only problem I see is that it doesn't make sense. This would be more typical of a woodland Bard I'd say; obviously with the bonuses to different skills. I wouldn't expect a city bard to be especially tough or hardy, and I would expect them to have acquired even more random knowledge over the years than regular Bards, since they're always around many many people, including travellers.
AnonymousInternets
08-13-06, 01:22 AM Think of the typical "I grew up on the streets" character.
BlaineTog
08-13-06, 03:02 AM I agree with LordPendragon.

To make a City Bard, simply rewrite the flavor for your character. No need to get mechanics into this.
CaoSlayer
08-13-06, 04:48 AM Anyway maybe the bonuses are a bit weird... I would make it that a bard gains one free rank in each of those skills each level.
BlaineTog
08-13-06, 04:49 AM Anyway maybe the bonuses are a bit weird... I would make it that a bard gains one free rank in each of those skills each level.:uh-huh:

Effectivelly bumping him up to 8+Int skill points?

Let's not.
CaoSlayer
08-13-06, 07:20 AM :uh-huh:

Effectivelly bumping him up to 8+Int skill points?

Let's not.

No, It would be 6 + int +2 enforced skills.
frasmage
08-13-06, 12:20 PM Why lose sap proficiency? Saps come from the streets, not the woods (well most often), it is a knockout tool, which I do't think is unfitting in the city

Also I don't think your bardic knowledge swap isn't all that good, seeing as BK can emulate virtually any knowledge skill, it is more pwoerful than an ability that only provides a bonus to two of them, and only in one location.

In conclusion, you don't need to change the bard for this, everything can simply be done with your feat, skill and roleplaying choices
BlaineTog
08-13-06, 01:51 PM No, It would be 6 + int +2 enforced skills.6+2 = 8, my friend. Although setting two is admittedly a little less powerful than giving two unset, here it's nearly a nonissue, as Search and Spot are damn good skills, particularly Spot.
Reversefigure4
08-13-06, 07:23 PM City Bards should be quite proficient with the Sap. It's a nonlethal damage weapon, perfect for fighting in cities (you KO the guy in the bar, instead of killing him and getting arrested for murder). If anything, I'd imagine the shortbow wouldn't fit - how often would you be using archery inside a city?

On that line, why would they be unable to Decipher Scripts? I'd imagine City Bards would spent more time around books than the bards who travel the wild.

I'd just make a normal bard, take max ranks in Knowledge: Local and History, not take any in Nature or Geography. Much simplier.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
AnonymousInternets 08-13-06, 12:25 AM	I'm going to be making an Urban Soul for a campaign with Bard as the root class, but I want something a little different from the normal Bard. It’s not supposed to drastically change the Bard, really – mostly just changes its profile. Normal Bards are well-traveled and adventurous, usually lacking an actual residence. I wanted something that fit the Urban Soul setup a bit better. Tell me what you think. City Bard City Bards encompass the wandering harpists, the singing tavern owners, the drunken aggressors, and the lonely storytellers of the metropolis. They are suave, yet hardy, renowned, yet mysterious, oblivious, yet suspicious. They are the city dwellers who know all about the city around them and all that happens within it. Their fighting tactics range from long-distance arrows to slashing with broken bottles to bashing with clubs - it all depends on the individual. Some City Bards are well-traveled, but most prefer to explore what's within their local area as opposed to what's outside. Attack Bonus: Average. Fort Save: Good. Ref Save: Poor. Will Save: Good. Alignment: Any. Hit Die: d6. Class Skills: Same as Bard, except as mentioned. Lose: Decipher Script. Gain: Search, Spot. Skill Points: Same as Bard. Weapon Proficiencies: Same as Bard, except as mentioned. Lose: Sap. Armor Proficiencies: Same as Bard. Spells: Same as Bard. Class Features: Same as Bard, except as mentioned. Lose: Bardic Knowledge. Gain: City Storyteller. City Storyteller: The City Bard adds its class levels to all Knowledge (local) checks, and any Knowledge (history) checks involving information related to the city in which the City Bard resides or its inhabitants. Special Requirement: The City Bard must reside in a metropolis, and must have lived there for a majority of the City Bard’s life.
LordPendragon 08-13-06, 01:17 AM	Looks fairly balanced. Losing Bardic Lore sucks, but that's counteracted by gaining a better Fort instead of Reflex. The only problem I see is that it doesn't make sense. This would be more typical of a woodland Bard I'd say; obviously with the bonuses to different skills. I wouldn't expect a city bard to be especially tough or hardy, and I would expect them to have acquired even more random knowledge over the years than regular Bards, since they're always around many many people, including travellers.
AnonymousInternets 08-13-06, 01:22 AM	Think of the typical "I grew up on the streets" character.
BlaineTog 08-13-06, 03:02 AM	I agree with LordPendragon. To make a City Bard, simply rewrite the flavor for your character. No need to get mechanics into this.
CaoSlayer 08-13-06, 04:48 AM	Anyway maybe the bonuses are a bit weird... I would make it that a bard gains one free rank in each of those skills each level.
BlaineTog 08-13-06, 04:49 AM	Anyway maybe the bonuses are a bit weird... I would make it that a bard gains one free rank in each of those skills each level.:uh-huh: Effectivelly bumping him up to 8+Int skill points? Let's not.
CaoSlayer 08-13-06, 07:20 AM	:uh-huh: Effectivelly bumping him up to 8+Int skill points? Let's not. No, It would be 6 + int +2 enforced skills.
frasmage 08-13-06, 12:20 PM	Why lose sap proficiency? Saps come from the streets, not the woods (well most often), it is a knockout tool, which I do't think is unfitting in the city Also I don't think your bardic knowledge swap isn't all that good, seeing as BK can emulate virtually any knowledge skill, it is more pwoerful than an ability that only provides a bonus to two of them, and only in one location. In conclusion, you don't need to change the bard for this, everything can simply be done with your feat, skill and roleplaying choices
BlaineTog 08-13-06, 01:51 PM	No, It would be 6 + int +2 enforced skills.6+2 = 8, my friend. Although setting two is admittedly a little less powerful than giving two unset, here it's nearly a nonissue, as Search and Spot are damn good skills, particularly Spot.
Reversefigure4 08-13-06, 07:23 PM	City Bards should be quite proficient with the Sap. It's a nonlethal damage weapon, perfect for fighting in cities (you KO the guy in the bar, instead of killing him and getting arrested for murder). If anything, I'd imagine the shortbow wouldn't fit - how often would you be using archery inside a city? On that line, why would they be unable to Decipher Scripts? I'd imagine City Bards would spent more time around books than the bards who travel the wild. I'd just make a normal bard, take max ranks in Knowledge: Local and History, not take any in Nature or Geography. Much simplier.