Bard (4E)

4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons

So far, the 4E bard is just a playtest version, and quite a bit of fiddling around might be needed to make it good.

Virtue of Cunning: When an enemy attack misses you or an ally within a number of squares of you equal to 5 + your Intelligence modifier, you can slide the target 1 square as a free action. You cannot slide an ally on that ally's turn.

Original Virtue of Cunning: Once per round, when an enemy attack misses an ally within a number of squares of you equal to 5 + your Intelligence modifier, you can slide that ally 1 square as a free action.

Canny Strike Bard Attack 1

You trick your enemy into making a tactical mistake.

At-Will ✦ Arcane, Weapon

Standard Action      Melee weapon

Attack: Charisma vs. Will Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier damage. Choose an ally within 5 squares, the target grants combat advantage to this ally until the end of your next turn. Increase damage to 2[W] + Charisma modifier at 21st level.

Like this the best, as it gives rogues, of which we have plenties, the same kind of support as the marking ability

(which it is going to replace) gives to a fighter.

Only problem I see is that if the monsters end up between two rogues in initiative order - i.e. you end up

bard-rogueA-monsters-rogueB, you will probably end up heavily favorizing rogueA over rogueB with it. But that

is a general problem with a fixed initiative order and single-ally buffs...

--Mats 11:40, 7 December 2008 (CET)

Courageous Strike Bard Attack 1

You deliver an attack that inspires your ally to fight harder.

At-Will ✦ Arcane, Weapon

Standard Action      Melee or Ranged weapon

Target: One creature. Attack: Charisma vs. AC. Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier damage, and one ally within 5 squares of you gains a +2 power bonus to attack until the end of your next turn.

Inciting Strike Bard Attack 1

Your attack encourages an ally to keep fighting.

At-Will ✦ Arcane, Weapon

Standard Action      Melee or Ranged weapon

Target: One creature. Attack: Charisma vs. AC Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier damage and one ally you can see within 5 squares gain temporary hit points equal to half your level plus your Constitution modifier. Increase damage to 2[W] + Charisma modifier at 21st level.

Warning Shout Bard Attack 1

You scream at your opponent, giving your ally enough time to recover.

At-Will ✦ Arcane, Thunder, Implement

Standard Action      Close burst 5

Target: One enemy within burst. Attack: Charisma vs. Will. Hit: 1d6 + Charisma modifier thunder damage and one ally within burst chooses to shift 1 square or make a saving throw. Increase thunder damage to 2d6 + Charisma modifier at 21st level.

Revised Powers

Fast Friends Bard utility 1

You sing a tune of false friendship, leaving your foe in a reverie.

Encounter ✦ Arcane, Charm, Implement

Standard Action      Ranged 5

Attack: Charisma vs. Will Hit: The target cannot attack you or your allies character until the end of your next turn or until you or one of your allies attacks the target.

Ghost Song Bard Attack 1

You hum an eerie tune that makes your opponents uneasy..

Encounter ✦ Arcane, Implement, Psychic

Standard Action      Close burst 2

Target: Each enemy in burst. Attack: Charisma vs. Will. Hit: 1d8 + Charisma modifier damage, and the target takes a -2 penalty to Will defense until the end of your next turn.

Phantom Blow Bard Attack 1

After you strike, shadows seem to leap at the opponent from every angle, opening up potential assaults.

Encounter ✦ Arcane, Weapon

Standard Action      Melee or Ranged weapon

Target: One creature. Attack: Charisma vs. AC. Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier damage and target grants combat advantage until the end of your next turn.

Accelerated Strike Bard Attack 1

You strike hard and fast, inciting your allies to follow your example.

Daily ✦ Arcane, Weapon

Standard Action      Melee or Ranged weapon

Target: One creature. Attack: Charisma vs. AC. Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier damage. Effect: Until the end of the encounter, you and allies within 5 squares can shift 1 square as a minor action. Virtue of Cunning: Until the end of the encounter, you and allies within 5 + your Intelligence modifier squares can shift 1 square as a minor action.

Defensive Bulwark Bard Attack 1

Today, nobody dies!

Daily ✦ Arcane, Weapon

Standard Action      Melee or Ranged weapon

Target: One creature. Attack: Charisma vs. AC. Hit: 3[W] + Charisma modifier damage. Effect: Allies within 5 squares of you gain a +1 power bonus to all defenses until the end of the encounter. Virtue of Valor: You and allies within 5 squares gain 5 + your Constitution bonus temporary hit points.

Fey Call Bard Attack 1

Your melody pulls the target towards you.

Daily ✦ Arcane

Standard Action      Ranged 20

Target: One creature. Attack: Charisma vs. Will Hit: You pull the target twice its speed + your Intelligence modifier squares. This movement provokes opportunity attacks. Target is immobilized until the end of your next turn. Sustain minor: The effect continues. You cannot sustain the effect if the target has taken any damage since your last turn.

Grease Bard Attack 1

By humming a little comic ditty, you make the ground slick and treacherous.

Daily ✦ Arcane, Implement, Zone

Standard Action      Area burst 2 within 10 squares

Target: Each creature in burst. Attack: Charisma vs. Reflex. Hit: Target is knocked prone. Effect: Until the end of the encounter, any creature that enters or moves within the zone is subject to another attack. You can dismiss this effect as a minor action.

Hunter's Horn Bard Attack 1

A short blast of music precedes your and your allies assault.

Daily ✦ Arcane, Implement, Psychic

Standard Action      Close burst 2

Target: Each enemy in burst. Attack: Charisma vs. Will. Hit: 2d6 + Charisma psychic damage. Target is weakened until the end of your next turn. Effect: Allies within the burst gain a +2 power bonus to attack rolls until the end of your next turn.

Lively Step Bard Utility 2

A quick fanfare is all it takes to march faster.

Daily ✦ Arcane

Standard Action      Close burst 5

Target: You and each ally in burst. Effect: Until the next short rest of for the next ten hours, the targets speed increases by 2 squares.

During combat too? --Mats 11:40, 7 December 2008 (CET)

Bladeweave Bard Attack 3

Your weapon shifts and weaves, dizzying your opponent as you strike.

Encounter ✦ Arcane, Weapon

Standard Action      Melee weapon

Target: One creature. Attack: Charisma vs. AC. Hit: 2[W] + Dexterity modifier damage and the target is dazed until the end of your next turn.

Pyrotechnics Bard Attack 3

With a wave of your hand and a snap of your fingers, a flash of fire erupts, followed by a cloud of black smoke.

Encounter ✦ Arcane, Implement, Fire

Standard Action      Ranged 10

Target: One creature. Attack: Charisma vs. Reflex. Hit: 1d10 + Charisma modifier fire damage, and the target's space and all adjacent squares are totally obscured until the end of your next turn. The obscurement moves with the target.

Glitterdust Bard Attack 5

You throw a stream of shining dust that sticks to your foe’s armor and eyes.

Daily ✦ Arcane, Implement, Radiant

Standard Action      Area 2 in 20 squares

Target: Each creature in burst. Attack: Charisma vs. Reflex. Hit: 1d6 + Charisma modifier radiant damage and the target is blinded (save ends). Effect: The cannot benefit from concealment or invisibility for the rest of the encounter.

Singing Blade Bard Attack 5

The sound of steel resounds with each blow.

Daily ✦ Arcane

Standard Action      Burst 5

Target: You or one ally in burst. Attack: Charisma vs. Reflex. Effect: Target makes one melee basic attack. This attack and all attacks the target makes until the end of the encounter inflict 1d6 extra thunder damage on a hit.

External Links

• Bard Discussion at WotC