[Base] d20 Bard Class Variant

These materials represent the Incarna i20™ approach based on ©D20 system & d20 use.

ONLY Applicable to the i20 Variant

Story Emphasis: It is strongly suggested that all characters have some story for the important elements of their characters.

Universal for all classes: Starting Equipment and Money = By campaign setting – DO NOT USE THE ©PLAYERS HANDBOOK.

Primary Aptitude(s): Occult (College of Lore), Kinetic (College of Valor).

LEVEL-UP: The GM rewards a character a level based on Merit. By default, i20™ assumes by campaign milestone and limited by Experiences using Improvement Limits. Multiclassing follows i20 multi-class parameters in addition to the base requirements. Sanity increases by 1 every 4 character levels.

Magic/Spell Changes

[d20-summary-magic-changes]

They come from the Mystic Tradition of Tutelage or Inspiration (once chosen, it cannot be changed). This class uses traditional Manifold type castings for determining Casting Constraints. It also uses song and instrument for Expressing casting.

  1. Tutelage Tradition: The bard does not switch out spells or cantrips at each level. The spells they learn are inscribed in a Spellbook; They have no limit on how many they may learn.
  2. Inspiration Tradition: The character handles spells as normal, but must be a follower of a Divine Principle to support this.

Changes to PHB Bard Class

  1. Bardic Inspiration: In addition to the normal amount of uses, a bard gains a number of uses equal to their Proficiency Bonus.
  2. Musical Instruments: The character may trade all their three (3) starting Musical Instrument proficiencies for the Performance skill. For a Bard, this skill includes a rudimentary ability to play a single instrument as an accompaniment; The playing is not enough to base a career on, only to support the interplay of magic with the mind of the player. If the Bard gets a new skill proficiency after Character Inception, they may trade it for proficiency in three (3) Musical Instruments with which they are accomplished.
  3. Jack-of-all-Trades: This is replaced with the Studious feature and an instance of Studious Consumption. A Bard character must always possess Law 1 as a Lore.
  4. Role-Play ++

    This presents a good opportunity for adding Roleplaying elements to the Character.

    The Bard’s Spellcasting Focus is by definition their voice and playing. By this measure, they should not be able to cast spells without the ability to sing and/or play an instrument. The following change applies to this:
    • Masked Casting: A bard can hide their spell casting using their natural musical abilities with a DC 10 Charisma (Performance) check. Otherwise, anyone observing it knows it is a ‘casting’. An instrument can suffice as a Material component.
    • Focus Point: A bard will also have a powerful keepsake or memento that reminds them of their struggles and performances. This is the equivalent of an Arcane Focus.
  5. Tasha’s Cauldron: Additional Bard Spells (Optional Feature)
  6. Xanathar: [GM Approval Required] School of Glamour & Schhol of Spirits (Can always choose Hero or Friends instead of rolling.)

Incarna d20™ Class List