| Bard Customization Costs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ability | Cost | Notes |
| Alter Moods | 5* | Standard, as per PH2 |
| Armor Bonus | 5/10 | Can use magic with leather/chain and lighter armors |
| Climb Walls | 5* | Standard, as per PH2 |
| Combat Bonus | 10 | Thaco progression as Priest |
| Contacts | 5* | Underworld contacts |
| Countersong | 5* | Standard, as per PH2 |
| Defense Bonus | 5 | +2 to AC when unarmored and unencumbered |
| Detect Illusion | 5/10* | Standard, as per PO:S+P, gained at 10th/1st level |
| Detect Magic | 5/10* | Standard, as per PO:S+P, gained at 10th/1st level |
| Detect Noise | 5* | Standard, as per PH2 |
| Druid Items | 5 | Can use magical items usable by Druids (bards with druid ability only) |
| Empathy with Animals | 10* | Ability to befriend animals, as with PO:S+M Priest |
| Find/Remove Traps | 5* | As per PH2 |
| Followers | 5/10 | Standard, as per PH2/at 4th level, 5 points required |
| Gymnastics | 10 |
As per Unearthed Arcana |
| Hide in Shadows | 5* | As per PH2 |
| Hit point bonus | 10 | Gains d8 hit points per level |
| Inspire Allies | 5* | Standard, as per PH2 |
| Lore | 5* | Standard, as per PH2 |
| Move Silently | 5* | As per PH2 |
| Multiple attacks | 10 | Multiple attacks, as Fighter |
| Open Locks | 5* | As per PH2 |
| Pick Pockets | 5* | Standard, as per PH2 |
| Read Languages | 5* | Standard, as per PH2 |
| Scroll Use | 5/10 | Standard, as per PH2, gained at 10th/1st level |
| Sound Resistance | 5 | +2 to saves vs. musical or sound-based attacks/effects |
| Spell Use | 10/20 | Standard at 20 point cost, spells as per PH2/-1 spell per spell level |
| Thieve's Cant | 3 | As per PH2 |
| Thieving Bonus | 1/point | Extra thieving points at each level |
| Weapon Bonus | 5 | Standard, use of any weapon allowed |
| Wizard Items | 10 | Can use magical items usable by Wizards (bards with magical ability only) |
| Limitation | Cost | Notes |
| Armor Restriction | -5 | Cannot use thieving skills while wearing any sort of armor |
| Combat Penalty | -10 | Thaco as Mage |
| Hit Point Penalty | -10 | Gains d4 hit points per level |
| Musical Casting | -5 | Spells require singing and/or a musical instrument to cast |
| Slow Casting | -5 | Spells take 3 additional segments to cast |
| Weapon Restrictions | -5 | Weapons limited to short blades, dart, sling, staff |
| Thieving Penalty | -1/point | Standard 5 points, reduced thieving points at each level |
Bards start with 75 points to spend on their bard ability and skills. They can choose abilities and limitations from the list above in any combination. The basic bard abilities are all labelled in bold type, and include some not found in the Player's Handbook. The percentile-based abilities are marked with an *, and may be improved out of the pool of thief points at each level. Under these rules, bards receive the same 60 initial points as thieves, with an additional 30 points per level.
Contacts, Detect Noise, Find/Remove Traps, and Read Languages may each be improved by only 1/3 of the total thief points at each level, the others may be improved by 1/2 of the total thief points.
Bard skills can be improved to 95% plus any relevant racial and stat bonuses or penalties. Improving past this point can be done at double the normal cost of thief points.
Bards that take either Combat Bonus, Multiple Attacks, or Hit Point Bonus use the cleric table for advancement. There is no additional penalty for taking more than one of the above.
Bards must choose one of three types of magic before beginning the name: dabbler, druidic, and song. Each bard can learn only one of the three schools.
Dabblers can use any of the wizard spells listed in AD&D products, and learn spells according to the rules set out in the Player's Handbook. Dabblers are not allowed to buy the Armor Bonus ability, they are restricted from casting spells while in any armor other than elven chain mail. They are also barred from taking the Musical Casting limitation, but not from Slow Casting.
Druidic bards choose their spells from the Druid spell lists, with all "cure wounds" spells at one level higher than their listed level. The neutralize poison spell is treated as 3rd level spell for Druidic bards. Druidic bards may take Armor Bonus ability if they desire, and they are required to take Musical Casting as well.
Song magic is a new school of magic, based on casting through voice or instrument. Singing bards may take Armor Bonus if they desire, and are required to take both Musical Casting and Slow Casting.