Bards

With access to any spell and the ability to continuously improve their spell abilities, bards are not very far behind wizards in terms of sheer magical power. While they do not gain spell abilities until they reach 2nd level, they always use their actual character level for calculating level-based effects in a spell; they have no separate “casting level,” like rangers and paladins.

Bards often employ a different system of magic than wizards, since their spells can represent ancient songs or enchantments woven from the interplay of voice, instrument, and dance. Certainly, some systems of magic—alienists or warlocks, for instance—would be inappropriate for the bard’s magical skills. The bard’s spell point progression is described in Table 36 : Bard Spell Point Progression.

Generally, bards follow the rules described for wizards in this chapter for memorizing and casting spells. Like wizards, they may devote extra spell points to memorize free magicks, memorize spells for greater effect, use spells at reduced cost, and any other options the DM deems appropriate. Bards are limited to seven spells of any one level, but continue to gain spell points after they reach 20th level.

Table of Contents