The Half-Caster Bard
The Bard character class that appears in the Player's Handbook has always seemed somewhat overpowered, compared to the other "full caster" classes (i.e. the Sorcerer).
So, while I'm sure that this revision will not appeal to all players, I have revised the D&D 5th Edition Bard character class as a half-caster. Some features are slightly shifted to fit level progression, and cantrips are retained at 1st level (à la the Artificer). Magical Secrets sees the most change, granting bards a limited access to spells of a higher level than their spellcasting level would normally allow.
So: Is this class still balanced?
The Bard
| Level | Proficiency Bonus |
Features | Cantrips Known |
Spells Known |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +2 | Bardic Inspiration (d6), Spellcasting, Jack of All Trades |
2 | — |
| 2nd | +2 | Song of Rest (d6) | 2 | 2 |
| 3rd | +2 | Bard College, Expertise | 2 | 3 |
| 4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 3 | 4 |
| 5th | +3 | Inspiration (d8), Font of Inspiration |
3 | 5 |
| 6th | +3 | Countercharm, Bard College feature | 3 | 6 |
| 7th | +3 | Song of Rest (d8) | 3 | 7 |
| 8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 3 | 8 |
| 9th | +4 | — | 3 | 9 |
| 10th | +4 | Inspiration (d10), Expertise, Magical Secrets |
4 | 10 |
| 11th | +4 | Song of Rest (d10) | 4 | 11 |
| 12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 11 |
| 13th | +5 | — | 4 | 12 |
| 14th | +5 | Magical Secrets, Bard College feature |
4 | 12 |
| 15th | +5 | Inspiration (d12) | 4 | 13 |
| 16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 13 |
| 17th | +6 | Song of Rest (d12) | 4 | 14 |
| 18th | +6 | Magical Secrets | 4 | 14 |
| 19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 15 |
| 20th | +6 | Superior Inspiration | 4 | 15 |
Revised Bard features
| Bard Level | Features |
|---|---|
| 1st | Bardic Inspiration |
| 2nd | Spellcasting, Song of Rest |
| 6th | Additional Magical Secrets (College of Lore only) |
| 10th | Magical Secrets |
*Only revised features are included in this document.
All revisions are written in bold text.
Spellcasting
The Bard's spellcasting ability has the following changes.
Spells Known of 1st Level and Higher
At 2nd level, you know two 1st-level spells of your choice from the bard spell list.
Your spell progression grants you spell slots of a higher level at 5th level (2nd-level spells), and again at 9th (3rd-level spells), 13th (4th-level spells), and 17th level
(5th-level spells).
*To keep this revision to one page, I've omitted spell slots from the Class Table. Refer to the Artificer, Paladin, or Ranger class tables to review spell slot progression.
Bardic Inspiration
You gain a number of inspriation dice equal to 1 + your Charisma modifier (minimum of two).
Song of Rest
The extra hit points increases when you reach certain levels in this class: to 1d8 at 7th level, to 1d10 at 11th level, and to 1d12 at 17th level.
Magical Secrets
By 10th level, you have plundered magical knowledge from a wide spectrum of disciplines. Choose two spells from any class, including this one. A spell you choose must be 5th level or lower, or a cantrip. The chosen spells count as bard spells for you, but don't count against the number of bard spells known.
At 14th level, you can learn two additional spells of 7th level or lower, and at 18th level, you can learn two additional spells of 9th level or lower.
Any spell gained through this feature can be cast once per long rest (or at will if it's a cantrip), and if you have spell slots of the same level, you can cast the spell using those spells slots as well.
Additional Magical Secrets
College of Lore
At 6th level, you learn two spells of your choice from any class, and these spells are considered bard spells for you. A spell you choose must be 3rd level or lower, or a cantrip. Any spell gained through this feature can be cast once per short rest (or at will if it's a cantrip), and if you have spell slots of the same level, you can cast the spell using those spells slots as well.