Bards are the living heartbeat of every adventure—stories made flesh by wandering minstrels, court poets, and street‑song weavers. Their weapons are melody and wit, their armor conviction, and their art can turn fear into courage or sow doubt in a tyrant’s heart.
Core Build
- Primary Stats: Mind (drives Performance, Persuasion, Insight, and magical effects); Dexterity (fuels Acrobatics, Sleight of Hand, and nimble strikes).
- Secondary Stats: Body and Strength (sufficient for performance demands and light combat).
- Signature Skills: Performance, Persuasion, Insight, Sleight of Hand, Acrobatics, Dodge. These let you charm a crowd, pick a pocket, and slip away before fists fly.
Gear
A musical instrument of choice (lute, flute, drum, etc.), light armor (like Padded or Leather), a finesse weapon (Rapier or Dagger), potentially a Disguise Kit or basic Thieves’ Tools depending on focus, and a standard adventuring kit.
Channeling the Muse (Using Effects)
Not every bard wears robes or studies runes, but when you choose to shape the world with song or captivating performance, you use the same Magic -> MP -> Effects engine as any caster in Alacrity:
- Initiate Magic: You must spend 20 XP to add the Magic skill to your character sheet, starting at a percentage equal to your Mind score. This grants you a Mana Pool (MP) equal to your Magic skill percentage.
- Learn Effects: Each specific song-woven power or magical performance technique is an “Effect.” Once narratively discovered or permitted by the GM, you pay 5 XP to inscribe and learn it.
- Cast Effects: To use a learned Effect, spend its required MP cost, roll your Magic skill (applying any situational modifiers from the Difficulty Ladder), and apply the outcome (success, failure, critical) as detailed by the Effect’s description (often found in Appendix A or Chapter 7).
Signature Bard Effects
Bards commonly learn Effects that manipulate emotions, inspire allies, or hinder foes through their art. Typical examples include:
- Inspiring Anthem: Bolsters an ally’s resolve or skill (see Appendix A).
- Dissonant Chord: Creates a jarring effect to penalize an opponent (see Appendix A).
- (Other effects appropriate to the setting, such as charms or illusions, may be learned with GM approval).
The Power of Performance
Whether you calm a panicked village with lullaby or shatter enemy ranks with a battle-lusting ballad, a bard’s truest gift is shaping hearts—and in Alacrity, every note you sing can become a moment of legend.
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File Created: 05/05/2025 Last Modified: 05/05/2025