// HOME

Arcane Bard

Requirements: Minimum INT 9
Prime requisite: CHA, DEX
Hit Dice: 1d6
Maximum level: 14
Armour: Leather, chainmail, no shields
Weapons: Any
Languages: Alignment, Common

Bard Level Progression										Bard Spell Progession				Bard Skill Progession
level	XP	Title	HD	THAC0	D	W	P	B	S	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	CS	HN	PP	RL
1	0	Rhymer	1d6	19[0]	13	14	13	16	15	-	-	-	-	77	2 in 6	20	40
2	2,000	Lyricist	+1d6	19[0]	13	14	13	16	15	1	-	-	-	78	2 in 6	25	50
3	4,000	Sonnateer	+1d6	19[0]	13	14	13	16	15	2	-	-	-	79	3 in 6	30	60
4	8,000	Skald	+1d6	19[0]	13	14	13	16	15	3	-	-	-	80	3 in 6	35	70
5	16,000	Troubadour	+1d6	17[+2]	12	13	11	14	13	3	1	-	-	81	3 in 6	40	80
6	32,000	Ministrel	+1d6	17[+2]	12	13	11	14	13	3	2	-	-	82	3 in 6	45	82
7	64,000	Muse	+1d6	17[+2]	12	13	11	14	13	3	3	-	-	84	4 in 6	55	84
8	120,000	Lorist	+1d6	17[+2]	12	13	11	14	13	3	3	1	-	84	4 in 6	65	86
9	240,000	Bard	+1d6	14[+5]	10	11	9	12	10	3	3	2	-	85	4 in 6	75	88
10	360,000	Bard, 10th lvl	+2	14[+5]	10	11	9	12	10	3	3	3	-	86	4 in 6	85	90
11	480,000	Bard, 11th lvl	+2	14[+5]	10	11	9	12	10	3	3	3	1	87	5 in 6	95	90
12	600,000	Bard, 12th lvl	+2	14[+5]	10	11	9	12	10	3	3	3	2	88	5 in 6	105	90
13	720,000	Bard, 13th lvl	+2	12[+7]	8	9	7	10	8	3	3	3	3	90	5 in 6	115	90
14	840,000	Bard, 14th lvl	+2	12[+7]	8	9	7	10	8	4	4	3	3	91	5 in 6	125	90

Bards are musicians and poets drawn to a life of wandering and adventure. They pick up a wide range of abilities in their travels, becoming jacks-of-all-trades.

Prime requisites: A bard with at least 13 CHA and DEX gains a 5% bonus to experience. A bard with a score of 16 or higher in one prime requisite, and a 13 or higher in the other gains a 10% bonus.

Anti-Charm

While the bard plays music and sings, allies within 30’ are immune to song-based magical effects and the beguiling powers of sylvan creatures or fairies. Allies already under the effect of such magic gain another saving throw with a +4 bonus.

Combat

Bards can use leather armour or chainmail but do not have the training required to use plate mail or shields. They can use all weapons.

Arcane Magic

See Magic in Old-School Essentials for full details on arcane magic.

Spell casting: From 2nd level, bards can cast arcane spells, owning a spell book in which the magical formulae for the spells they know are recorded. The level progression table (opposite) shows both the number of spells in the bard's spell book and the number they may memorize, determined by the character’s experience level. A bard's spells are selected by the referee (who may allow the player to choose). The list of spells available to bards is provided in Old-School Essentials (bards have the same spell selection as magic-users).

Using magic items: As spell casters, bards are able to use magic scrolls of spells on their spell list. They can also use items that may only be used by arcane spell casters (e.g. magic wands).

Bard Skills

Bards can use the following skills, with the chance of success shown opposite:

▶ Climb sheer surfaces (CS): A roll is required for each 100’ to be climbed. If the roll fails, the bard falls at the halfway point, suffering falling damage. This skill may not be used if the bard is wearing chainmail.
▶ Hear noise (HN): In a quiet environment (e.g. not in combat), a bard may attempt to listen at a door or to hear the sounds of something (e.g. a wandering monster) approaching.
▶ Pick pockets (PP): If the victim is above 5th level, the bard’s roll is penalised by 5% for every level above 5th. There is always at least a 1% chance of failure. A roll of more than twice the percentage required for success means that the attempted theft is noticed. The referee should determine the reaction of the victim (possibly using the reaction table under Encounters, in Old-School Essentials).
▶ Read languages (RL): A bard can read non-magical texts in unknown languages (including dead languages and basic codes). If the roll does not succeed, the bard may not try to read that particular text again until they reach a higher level of experience.

Lore

From 2nd level, a bard has a 2-in-6 chance of knowing lore pertaining to monsters, magic items, or heroes of folktale or legend. This ability may be used to identify the nature and powers of magic items.

After Reaching 11th Level

A bard can establish a manor. 2d6 apprentice bards of 1st level will come to study under the character.