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Summary
Bards are a well-loved class inDungeons & Dragonsfor good reason.
Let’s make an outstanding Bard, shall we?
It can flesh out your skillset or provide a springboard for building roleplaying moments.
The rules for how backgrounds work have changed between the 2014 and 2024 Player’s Handbook.
Talk to your DM to confirm whichever background you’re selecting works with their table.
Feature
Skilled:You gain proficiency in any combination of three skills or three tools of your choice.
you’re free to take this feat more than once.
The flavor of the charlatan background offers a lot of fun opportunities for characterization.
The Forgery Kit proficiency is also nothing to sneeze at.
7Artisan
Investigation, Persuasion, Artisan’s Tools.
The Artisan background gives players a lot of flexibility in terms of tools right off the back.
Investigation and Persuasion are another duo of skills that are great for bards later on in their campaign.
Or are these somehow connected?
Perhaps your bard’s art form is sculpture or painting.
Spy Contact: You have an NPC handler who can provide intel, procure equipment, and carry messages.
Charlatan background image by Luca Bancone.
A ranking of all the official Bard subclasses from worst to best.
5Folk Hero
2014 Player’s Handbook
Animal Handling, Survival, Land Vehicles, One Artisan Tool.
Rustic Hospitality: Commoners who know your reputation will aid you by providing shelter.
Artisan Background by Luca Bancone
A Folk Hero is a background that is intended for a martial class.
All of this happening before reaching level one may strain the credulity of some games.
The bardic spin on the folk hero is that it doesn’t need to be a true story.
Criminal Background by Noor Rahman
4Entertainer
Acrobatics, Performance, One Musical Instrument.
Don’t limit yourself to a single key in of entertainment.
A charismatic bard can become a master of poetry, stand-up comedy, fire-swallowing, and song.
Heroes Feast by Raluca Marinescu
Library Access: you might access an impressive archival library without wasting time, money, or political connections.
Bards havemore in common with wizardsthan most other spell casters.
History is a useful proficiency for any bard.
Entertainer background image by Kenny Vo.
2Noble
History, Persuasion, One Kind of Gaming Set.
Your other starting item, a signet ring, can be used as a symbol of reputation.
Feywild Connection: Friendly fey creatures will provide help when in the Feywild.
The Scrying Spell by Gaboleps
Fey Mark: You have a visible fey characteristic resulting from your time in the Feywild.
Deception is a useful skill proficiency to have, while survival is outside your typical skillset.
Noble background image by Noor Rahman.
The Wild Beyond The Witchlight By Katerina Ladon
