Bards in the empire are mavericks, with powers developed in a manner similar to that of true DragonMagic, yet limited in both scope and power. They are variously viewed as harmless quacks and dangerous upstarts. But to most people, bards are simply the best entertainment available - something to adore and praise.
All bards are performers, but not all make it the focus of their lives - some bards merely use their musical magic, rather than living it. Bardic magic is not sufficiently diverse to let a bard do anything with it - so bards tend to develop many mundane skills and abilities as well.
Limitations:
Restriction: Musical magic. Cannot use magic if silenced. Sound barriers between you and your target hinder your spells - and so can very strong noises. Nor can you wear extensive headgear. But this does not make bardic magic obvious - there is little difference between magical and a mundane performances.
Restriction: You can't cast spells when bound, encumbered, grappled, or hanging by your fingertips. Wearing armor incurs a Sorcery penalty equal to the Reflex penalty of the armor.
Allowed Schticks
Darkness, Divination, Enhancement, Familiar, Flux, Healing, Illusion, Influence, Law, Light, Summoning, Technomancy.