Lettered Bard (D&D Bard variant)

Unofficial rules compendium

A lettered bard prepares spells from a spellbook, much like a wizard does. She has no limit on spells known. A first-level lettered bard knows four level zero spells. For each level gained, the lettered bard adds one spell of any level she can cast to her spellbook for free; this represents personal research on the part of the lettered bard. Further spells are acquired the same way wizards do, by scribing.

The spellbook of a lettered bard is more of a collection of notes and lyrics than the arcane notations in a wizard's spellbook, but as far as they share spell lists, wizards and lettered bards can still copy each others' spellbooks. A lettered bard can also copy a spell from an arcane scroll or be tutored by another spellcaster, most commonly a normal bard.