Player's Handbook L— Edition Rules Supplement

TheComplete

Bard'sHandbook

by Blake Mobley

TSR Inc.

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Table of Contents

Introduction 5Optional Rules 5The Other Complete Books 5How to Use This Handbook 7

Chapter Four:Proficiencies 64New Proficiencies 64Compiled Proficiencies 65

Chapter One:Character CreationQualificationsCore AbilitiesGenerating Ability Scores

Chapter Five:Bard Abilities 68Pick Pockets 68Detect Noise 68Climb Walls 69Reading, Writing, and Speaking . . . 72

Chapter Two:Bard KitsKit SubsectionsList of Kits

True Bard . . .Blade

CharlatanGallantGypsy-bardHeraldJesterJongleurLoremasterMeistersingerRiddlemasterSkaldThespian

Creating New KitsAcquiring, Dropping, and Changing Kits

Chapter Three:Demi-, Multi-Classed, andDual-Classed BardsDemihumans as Bards . . .Demihuman Kits

Dwarven ChanterElven Minstrel . . .Gnome ProfessorHalfling Whistler

Multi-Classed BardsDual-Classed Bards

151515161821252831343638414447495252

535354545658616363

Chapter Six:Magic 74Spell Books 74Musical Components 74New Spells 75

Alter Instrument 75Sound Bubble 75Instant Audience 75Silence 15' Radius 77Improved Magic Mouth 77Wall of Sound 78Conjure Cabinet 78Magical Items 78New Magical Items 78Old Magical Items 81New Twists on Old Items 81

Chapter Seven:Music 84Throughout History 84Instruments 84

Musical Proficiency 85Cost and Weight 85

Glossary of Musical Instruments 92Glossary of Sound 96Fundamentals of Music 96Common Musical Terms 97Musical Items 98Types of Songs 98Sample Songs 99

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Chapter Eight:Role-Playing Bards 101A Bard's Mind Isn't Barred 101Experience 101Reputation 102

Following a Performer 102Local Reputation 105Benefits of a Good Reputation 105

The Performer 106The Effect on Role-Playing 106Defining Your Bard's Personality 107Performances 110

Chapter Nine:Comrades 115Bard Colleges 115

Common Events 115Patrons 117

Initial Patrons 118Gaining and Losing Patrons 118

Followers 120

Appendix: 1st Edition Bards 121

Bard Character Record Sheet 123

Bard Kit Record Sheet 126

Index 127

TSR, Inc.POB756Lake Geneva,Wl 53147U.S.A.

TSR Ltd.120 Church End,

Cherry HintonCambridge CB13LB

United Kingdom

Thie book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Anyreproduction or unauthorized use of the material contained herein is prohibited withoutthe express written permission of TSR, Inc.Random House and Its affiliate companies have worldwide distribution rights in thebook trade tor English language products of TSR,lnc. Distributed to the book andhobby hade in the United Kingdom by TSR Ltd. Distributed to the toy and hobby tradeby fSQiooH distributors.ADVANCED C) DUNGEONS & DRAGONS and AD&D are registered trademarks owned byTSR, Inc.The TSR logo Is a trademark oPrinted In the U.S.A.

wnedbyTSR, Inc.

• 1992 TSR, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

ISBN 1-S607&4604 2127

Tables

1: THE COMPLETE PHBR LINE 62: CLASS QUALIFICATIONS 83: ARMOR ALLOWED 84: EXPERIENCE LEVELS 95: LEVEL IMPROVEMENTS 96: SPELL PROGRESSION 107: BASE THIEF ABILITIES 108: BARD AVERAGE THIEF SKILLS 109: THIEF SKILL ADJUSTMENTS 11

10: ILLEGAL ARMOR ADJUSTMENT 1211: PREGENERATED ABILITY SCORES 1312: LEGEND LORE RESULTS 1813: DEMI-BARDS 5314: NONWEAPON PROFICIENCIES 6415: DETECT NOISE MODIFIERS 6916: CLIMBING MODIFIERS 7017: BARD CLIMBING RATES 7118: VERBAL COMPONENT 7419: ERAS 8520: MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 8621: BARD EXPERIENCE 10122: COMPLETE BARD EXPERIENCE 10223: INITIAL REPUTATION 10224: REPUTATION LADDER 10325: REPUTATION MODIFIERS 10326: FAME AND INFAMY 10427: PRECEDING REPUTATION 10528: BARD TRAITS 10829: HOURLY STREET-SIDE INCOME I l l30: BOOKED INCOME 11231: CARNIVAL SHARES 11332: NIGHTLY ATTENDANCE

PER PERFORMER 11433: NUMBER OF PATRONS 11934: TYPE OF PATRON 11935: FOLLOWERS BY KIT 120

CREDITSDesign: Blake MobleyDesign Resource: Tim BeachEditing: Mike BreaultBlack and White Art: Terry Dykstra, Valerie ValusekColor Art: Carol Heyer, John and Laura Lakey, Glen Orbik,

Clyde CaldwellTypography: Angelika LokotzProduction: Paul Hanchette

Table of Contents • 3

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In every era and every region throughout theworld, traveling musicians wanderedthroughout the land. They moved from townto town, making a living by plying their tradeas artists of sound and motion. In the AD&D®game, adventurers who do this are calledbards.

Historically, bards were the poet-musiciansof the Celtic peoples living in the British Isles(the Irish, Welsh, and Scots). Bards composedmusic, sang songs, and entertained their mas-ters. Usually they worked for noblemen andspent their time honoring these noblemen andtheir families in song and music. Bards oftenaccompanied their songs on the crwth, a typeof lyre. Since their music wasn't writtendown, most of it has vanished.

During the early Middle Ages, bards hadconsiderable political power and influence inthe royal houses. However, in 1284 A.D.,Edward I conquered Wales; the resulting tur-moil reduced the importance of bards. Noble-men had more pressing concerns, and bardswere left to fend for themselves. A few lin-gered on, into the 17th and 18th centuries inIreland and Scotland as folk singers and musi-cians, but they eventually vanished alongwith their music.

During the 19th century, a determined ef-fort was made to revive the bardic tradition.Folk music gatherings took place in and nearWales. These neo-bardic activities caught onamong the public, and today the annual Eis-teddfod folk festival is a popular and growingevent in this region of the world.

Thus, bards have shown a cunning knack tosurvive through the ages. In one form or an-other, bards have been around for nearly1,000 years. Besides the Eisteddfod festival,the bard has been immortalized in the genre offantasy. Now you have a chance to continuethe bardic tradition. This book covers not on-ly the traditional bard, but expands the classwith new and unique character kits. All ofthese kits involve some form of live entertain-ment, as all bards are entertainers at heart.

Nearly half of these kits entertain through mu-sic in one form or another: poetry, song, in-struments, etc. But some present such diversenew kits as the Blade, who entertains throughcreative weapon displays, knife throwing,and sword swallowing. Read on and enjoy.

Optional RulesWithin this book are many new rules, bard

kits, suggestions on role-playing, details of in-struments, and new proficiencies. This infor-mation adds to the rules presented in thePlayer's Handbook.

It is important to note that this book is asupplement to the Player's Handbook. All ofthe rules presented here are optional. As aplayer, you must have your Dungeon Master'sconsent before using any of these new rules.

The Complete Bard's Handbook is a bookof supplemental rules for adding depth, spice,and life to the bard character class. However,even if your Dungeon Master should decidethat none of the rules within this book canused in his campaign, you can still gain a lotby reading the pages that follow. Most of theimportant tables from the Player's Handbook(e.g., level advancement, bard abilities, etc.)are compressed into one convenient sectionwithin this book. It is also possible to mimicmost of the new bard kits within the existingbard class. This book answers many questionsabout bardic abilities and presents an exten-sive list of instruments available to medievalbards, along with illustrations. And, finally,this book has a lot of good information tohelp gamers to better role-play their bardcharacters.

The Other Complete BooksThe Complete Bard's Handbook is the sixth

book of the PHBR series. If you find this bookuseful in your gaming, you may want to lookinto the other PHBRs.

Introduction • 5

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Table 1: THE COMPLETE PHBR LINE

DesignatorPHBR1PHBR2PHBR3PHBR4PHBR5PHBR6

TopicFighter'sThief'sPriest'sWizard'sPsionicsBard's

Stock #211021112113211521172127

All of these books contain much informa-tion that can enhance your bard. Some of themore useful information is listed below.

The Complete Fighter's Handbook: The"Character Creation" section provides an in-depth look into the armorer proficiency.Those bard kits able to wear non-standard ar-mor will find this topic particularly interest-ing. Weapon quality and its effects on combatare also discussed. The "Role-Playing" sectionprovides a list of warrior personalities, some

of which could be adopted by bard characters.Since some bards are adept with numerousweapons, the section on combat rules appliesto certain bards (particularly the expandedweapon proficiency rules, which allow a char-acter to learn multiple weapons while expend-ing only a few proficiency slots). Fightingstyles, martial arts, and other odd combatrules are also presented here. Even joustingtournaments are covered (ideal for the Gallantkit). Within the "Equipment" section is a siz-able collection of new weapons, new armor,and new magical items.

The Complete Thief s Handbook: As youmight expect, this handbook has a great dealof useful information for the bard class. With-in are more useful rules than can be listedhere. However, general topics you may findhelpful include the following: role-playingthieves, new proficiencies, guilds (construc-tion, maintenance, and types), thief tools,thief equipment, new magical items, classiccons (especially good for the Charlatan), newthief rules, and a description of the thief-basedcampaign.

The Complete Priest's Handbook: There islittle information in this handbook that is per-tinent to the bard character class.

The Complete Wizard's Handbook: Chap-ter 4 discusses campaign worlds with varyinglevels of magic. Chapter 5 covers wizards andcombat. Chapter 6 describes spell casting un-der water, spell functioning on various planes,and impaired casting. Chapter 7 presents acommentary on new applications for oldspells, adjudicating illusions, spell research,and magical item research. Chapter 8 givesall-new spells ranging from 1st to 8th level. Fi-nally, Chapter 9 contains a number of usefulwizardly lists.

The Complete Psionics Handbook: Thereare two useful elements within this book.Most important are the wild talents in Chap-ter 1. It is possible for a bard to have a fewwild psionic talents (the process for determin-ing this is given in Chapter 1). If a wild talent

6 • Introduction

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