Bard backstory [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bard backstory [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
tombowings
01-05-08, 09:19 PM I've always wanted to play a bard, but haven't gotten the chance until recently. I'm looking for a good backstory basis, I have wrote a few outlines, but they all seem too "goody goody."* I'm not trying to justify a specific build, I just want a good starting place for the character that is a little out of the box.
bravo052492
01-06-08, 01:16 AM http://www.hurva.org/Docs/campaign/characters/background.html

That site has some good questions to answer for your character.
tombowings
01-06-08, 01:17 AM This is actually really helpful. Thanks.
Terjon of the Blue Rose
01-06-08, 01:23 AM I used bard as the base class behind a character I intend to play in my next campaign. Thurt (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=913906) is a bit of a goody-goody but may well still provide some inspiration.

Otherwise if you want a heroic character without a goody-two shoes feel lets get a few good starting points.

One old classic is the Skald. A viking warrior and tale-teller. The magic may need a little re-flavoring but the mechanics are still viable. Take the feat to allow yourself medium armor and cross-class with barbarian to taste.

Travellers work out nicely at times. They have no ties and no issue with up and disappearing when times get tough. Often times these are lay-about who want the reward without the work. Classic vagabonds.

Then you have Wanderer. The character can do anything and will for a price. Depending on the target (mark in some cases) the service may be well provided or poorly. The cost may be exhorbitant or as low as a night by the fire and a good, new, story.

You have Negotiators. This guy is silver and forked of tongue. He'll sell you his grandmother if he can't convince you to buy your own back from him. This guy is all about tricking the world into paying him his dues.

And Manipulators. Similar to negotiators but they prefer to arrange for things to happen to you than to deal with you personally. Hiring on assassins isn't beyond them but far better is to hire you to take on a lowly orc encampment without mentioning the score of trolls they keep caged as a last ditch defense.

Then you have Mystics to move things along. A fellow with a few tricks up his sleeve who thinks he knows everything. He's the type who considers himself on par with the mage and lives by the credo of "experience trumps knowledge, and knowledge trumps ignorance."

Of course we'll end with the classic wicked bard. The Charlatan. The I'm you're man type who has a half dozen plans and twice that many allies. Classic spies and double-dealers these guys aren't on your side or your enemies. They're on the winning one. Charlatans tend to love playing both sides against the middle.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
tombowings 01-05-08, 09:19 PM	I've always wanted to play a bard, but haven't gotten the chance until recently. I'm looking for a good backstory basis, I have wrote a few outlines, but they all seem too "goody goody."* I'm not trying to justify a specific build, I just want a good starting place for the character that is a little out of the box.
bravo052492 01-06-08, 01:16 AM	http://www.hurva.org/Docs/campaign/characters/background.html That site has some good questions to answer for your character.
tombowings 01-06-08, 01:17 AM	This is actually really helpful. Thanks.
Terjon of the Blue Rose 01-06-08, 01:23 AM	I used bard as the base class behind a character I intend to play in my next campaign. Thurt (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=913906) is a bit of a goody-goody but may well still provide some inspiration. Otherwise if you want a heroic character without a goody-two shoes feel lets get a few good starting points. One old classic is the Skald. A viking warrior and tale-teller. The magic may need a little re-flavoring but the mechanics are still viable. Take the feat to allow yourself medium armor and cross-class with barbarian to taste. Travellers work out nicely at times. They have no ties and no issue with up and disappearing when times get tough. Often times these are lay-about who want the reward without the work. Classic vagabonds. Then you have Wanderer. The character can do anything and will for a price. Depending on the target (mark in some cases) the service may be well provided or poorly. The cost may be exhorbitant or as low as a night by the fire and a good, new, story. You have Negotiators. This guy is silver and forked of tongue. He'll sell you his grandmother if he can't convince you to buy your own back from him. This guy is all about tricking the world into paying him his dues. And Manipulators. Similar to negotiators but they prefer to arrange for things to happen to you than to deal with you personally. Hiring on assassins isn't beyond them but far better is to hire you to take on a lowly orc encampment without mentioning the score of trolls they keep caged as a last ditch defense. Then you have Mystics to move things along. A fellow with a few tricks up his sleeve who thinks he knows everything. He's the type who considers himself on par with the mage and lives by the credo of "experience trumps knowledge, and knowledge trumps ignorance." Of course we'll end with the classic wicked bard. The Charlatan. The I'm you're man type who has a half dozen plans and twice that many allies. Classic spies and double-dealers these guys aren't on your side or your enemies. They're on the winning one. Charlatans tend to love playing both sides against the middle.