ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS®

2nd Edition Player's Handbook Rules Supplement

The Complete Bard's Handbook

by Blake Mobley

Table of Contents

Introduction

Optional Rules

The Other Complete Books

How to Use This Handbook

Chapter One:

Character Creation

Qualifications

Core Abilities

Generating Ability Scores

Chapter Two:

Bard Kits

Kit Subsections

List of Kits

True Bard

Blade

Charlatan

Gallant

Gypsy-bard

Herald

Jester

Jongleur

Loremaster

Meistersinger

Riddlemaster

Skald

Thespian

Creating New Kits

Acquiring, Dropping, and Changing Kits

Chapter Three:

Demi-, Multi-, and Dual-Classed Bards

Demihumans as Bards

Demihuman Kits

Dwarven Chanter

Elven Minstrel

Gnome Professor

Halfling Whistler

Multi-Classed Bards

Dual-Classed Bards

Chapter Four:

Proficiencies

New Proficiencies

Compiled Proficiencies

Chapter Five:

Bard Abilities

Pick Pockets

Detect Noise

Climb Walls

Reading, Writing, and Speaking

Chapter Six:

Magic

Spell Books

Musical Components

New Spells

Alter Instrument

Sound Bubble

Silence 15' Radius

Improved Magic Mouth

Instant Audience

Wall of Sound

Conjure Cabinet

Magical Items

New Magical Items

Old Magical Items

New Twists on Old Items

Chapter Seven: Music

Throughout History

Instruments

Musical Proficiency

Cost and Weight

Glossary of Musical Instruments

Glossary of Sound

Fundamentals of Music

Common Musical Terms

Musical Items

Types of Songs

Sample Songs

Chapter Eight:

Role-Playing Bards

A Bard's Mind Isn't Barred

Experience

Reputation

Following a Performer

Local Reputation

Benefits of a Good Reputation

The Performer

The Effect on Role-Playing

Defining Your Bard's Personality

Performances

Chapter Nine:

Comrades

Bard Colleges

Common Events

Patrons

Initial Patrons

Gaining and Losing Patrons

Followers

Appendix: Original AD&D® Game

Tables

1: THE COMPLETE PHBR LINE

2: CLASS QUALIFICATIONS

3: ARMOR ALLOWED

4: EXPERIENCE LEVELS

5: LEVEL IMPROVEMENTS

6 SPELL PROGRESSION

7: BASE THIEF ABILITIES

8: BARD AVERAGE THIEF SKILLS

9: THIEF SKILL ADJUSTMENTS

10: ILLEGAL ARMOR ADJUSTMENT

11: PREGENERATED ABILITY SCORES

12: LEGEND LORE RESULTS

13: DEMI-BARDS

14: NONWEAPON PROFICIENCIES

15: DETECT NOISE MODIFIERS

16: CLIMBING MODIFIERS

17: BARD CLIMBING RATES

18: VERBAL COMPONENT

19: ERAS

20: MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

21: BARD EXPERIENCE

22: COMPLETE BARD EXPERIENCE

23: INITIAL REPUTATION

24: REPUTATION LADDER

25: REPUTATION MODIFIERS

26: FAME AND INFAMY

27: PRECEDING REPUTATION

28: BARD TRAITS

29: HOURLY STREET-SIDE INCOME

30: BOOKED INCOME

31: CARNIVAL SHARES

32: NIGHTLY ATTENDANCE PER PERFORMER

33: NUMBER OF PATRONS

34: TYPE OF PATRON

35: FOLLOWERS BY KIT