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This page is specifically for the bard class in Baldur's Gate LOGOBG00001 Icon SoDBaldur's Gate:
Enhanced Edition
(2012)
This icon indicates content from the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition campaign.
, Siege of Dragonspear LOGOSOD00001 Icon SoDBaldur's Gate:
Siege of Dragonspear
(2016)
This icon indicates content from the Siege of Dragonspear campaign of the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition.
, and BGIIlogoonlyBaldur's Gate II
Classic & Enhanced

This icon indicates content from all games of the 2nd Baldur's Gate instalment – all editions and expansions. This may include The Black Pits II.
.

For the version in Baldur's Gate GTRBPSK Icon BG1Baldur's Gate (1998)
This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate campaign.
and Tales of the Sword Coast IconBaldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast (1999)
This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast campaign.
, refer to Bard (Baldur's Gate).

Introduction[]

Bards are jacks-of-all-trades, a result of a lifetime spent on the road, singing in taverns to earn their keep and learning about local legends and tales. Through these varied experiences, they learn many different abilities. They are able to cast up to 6th level wizard spells and pick pockets like thieves, while enjoying a wider selection of usable armor and weapons than thieves, and are able to use most wands. Their broad range of skills comes at the price of not being specialized in any of them, as mages are better at casting spells, thieves are able to use a wide variety of thieving abilities, and fighters can achieve grand mastery in weapons and have the widest selection of weapons and armor.

Bards are generally neutral characters, tending toward the chaotic -- they travel where they wish, and are usually not bound by obligations, countries or organisations. There aren't many bards who are either good- or evil-aligned. [citation needed]

In order for bards to cast a spell, first they need to successfully scribe an arcane spell scroll into their spellbook (scroll lost in process regardless of success or failure). A bard may have a number of spells scribed and available to memorize, limited by their intelligence score. Their intelligence can be raised however, for example by drinking one or more Potions of Genius, when scribing scrolls to their spellbook, so this limit can be surmounted, even if the intelligence score is only temporarily boosted so high. They must choose which spells they will have available for immediate use by placing them into a limited number of spell slots. The bard must then rest for eight hours to memorize the spells, which prepares them for casting. Since most armor prohibits arcane casting and bards can't wear most mage robes, Bracers of Defense and Rings of Protection or bard spells like Ghost Armor are the best sources of armor class until Elven Chain Mails are obtained.

Only humans and half-elves can become bards.

Bards may not dual class.

Character abilities table[]

Character Ability Score Minimum Score
Strength 3
Dexterity 12
Constitution 3
Intelligence 13
Wisdom 3
Charisma 15

During character creation, rolls below the minimum value for the class will be rerolled until the minimum is met. This table uses the values for Humans, other Races have modified ability scores.

Special abilities of the bard[]

Bard song[]

The signature ability of the bard is their battle song. While active, the party (including the bard) will be fortified against fear, both natural and magical. Specifically, the party will be rendered immune to magical fear, will have any such existing effects removed from them and their morale will be gradually restored to its baseline while they hear the song. Most Bard songs work within a limited range, roughly fireball-sized, and the singer’s view must not be blocked by doors, corners; however, the unkitted Bard's song in the Enhanced Editions affects all of your party members (unfortunately, this doesn't include summoned or charmed creatures) wherever they may be, even if they're in a different area. The Blade's song, despite sharing an effect with the unkitted Bard's song (increasing luck) works like most bard songs, in that it has a limited range and will affect summoned and charmed creatures.

In EE version 2.0+, Bard song of the same type no longer stacks (keep in mind that the unkitted Bard's and the Blade's songs are different and will stack to achieve a +4 luck for party members), and all songs break invisibility, but the patch does give unkitted normal bard song a +1 Luck bonus to all allies at Bard level 1, +2 at level 15, and +3 at level 20 ("all allies" includes the Bard).

Gameplay

  • The song effects take 1 to 6 seconds to kick in from the time the Bard starts singing. They also take as much time to go away when the Bard stops singing. So it is possible to instruct the bard to stop singing and do something else, like cast a spell, and then switch back to singing, while the party maintains the song benefits all the time. This depends on exactly how long it will take for the Bard to complete the indermediate action and for the song effects to wear-off after the song is over and to take effect again after the song resumes. So, the effects might be interrupted by a Bard's indermediate action, but they might not be if the timing is right. This is easier to do after the acquisition of the Bard Hat in SoD.
  • A silenced Bard can't sing his song, and party members can't get the benefits if they're deafened.
  • There's an exploit in classic versions to chorus using Vhailor's Helm's sim and/or Mislead images, granting massive THAC0 and damage rolls bonus to the entire party

Pick pockets[]

A bard can attempt to steal items from other characters. The chance to steal an item depends on the percentage, which automatically increases with the Bard's level, up to a maximum score of 115 at level 16, plus dexterity modifier.

Lore[]

Bards have the highest Lore rating of any class, allowing them to identify many of the magical items they or their party discover.

Wizard spellbook[]

Bards unlock their first wizard spells at level 2, where they acquire a level 1 spell slot. They can reach up to level 6 spells once they reach level 16. [bug] Bards can still cast level 7 to 9 spells from spell scrolls, even without acquiring Use Any Item (but spells cast from scrolls use a fixed caster level of 10, so those spells that scale by caster level will be significantly weaker than if cast by a mage / sorcerer, who have actual spellslots for those levels). HLA spells like Improved Alacrity are completely unavailable to Bards, as they don't exist as scrolls and can only be learned by Wizards.

Bards level up faster than mages. It means that, at equivalent XP, spells cast by Bards will tend to do slightly more damage or last slightly longer than spells cast by mages. This gap is due to many spells scaling with level, and is bridged as soon as scaling reaches its cap — at level 10 for Fireball, level 15 for Sunfire, level 20 for most spells. Dispel Magic and Remove Magic are a unique case in that their growth is not capped, making the Bard better than a mage at dispelling throughout the game, as well as making their own spells harder to dispel for enemies. This fact is one of the main reasons why players who attempt Solo saga campaigns select a bard, and especially the Blade kit.

A downside of the Bard is the late unlocking of new spell levels: Level 3 spells are unlocked at 40,000 XP for a Bard, but 20,000 XP for a mage. Level 4 spells at 160,000 XP for a Bard, but 70,000 XP for a mage. Etc.

Class kits[]

Bard[]

The Bard is a rogue, but is very different from the Thief. The Bards' strength is their pleasant and charming personality. With it and their wits, they make their way through the world. Bards are talented musicians and walking storehouses of gossip, tall tales, and lore, they learn a little bit about everything that crosses their paths and are jack-of -all-trades but master of none. While many Bards are scoundrels, their stories and songs are welcome almost everywhere.

Class features:

  • May not wear armor heavier than chain mail (Spells cannot be cast while wearing armor)
  • May not equip shields larger than bucklers
  • May only become Proficient (one slot) in any weapon class
  • May only become Proficient (one slot) in any fighting style
  • Thieving abilities: Pick Pockets
  • Increased Lore score
  • May cast wizard spells starting at 2nd level
  • May use Bard Song ability. While active, the Bard Song has the following effects: Restore morale to its average value, remove fear, protection from fear. Up to +3 Luck bonus in EE version 2.0+
  • Alignment restricted to any neutral
  • Hit Die: d6

Gameplay

  • All four bard companions in game are males, with Eldoth and Garrick being unkitted bards

Blade[]

The Blades are the expert fighters and adventurers whose bardic acting abilities make them appear more intimidating and fearsome. This Bard's fighting style is flashy and entertaining, but is also lethally dangerous.

Advantages:

  • May place 3 slots in Two-Weapon Style
  • May use the Offensive Spin and Defensive Spin abilities once per day. Gains one use each at level 1 and an additional use each every 4 levels thereafter.

Disadvantages:

  • Only has one half the normal Lore value
  • Only has one half the normal Pick Pockets skill, the dex modifier to this skill is also halved. Blades will reach up to 57 in pickpocketing at lv16, and with 25 dex, they'll have the combined score of 80 [bug]
  • Bard Song does not become better with levels [bug]

Gameplay

Jester[]

Jesters are well versed in the arts of ridicule and hilarity, and use their abilities to distract and confuse their enemies, cavorting madly during combat. Do not mistake them for true fools, however, as they can also be quite deadly.

Advantages:

  • The Jester's song does not help allies, it causes confusion, slow and sleep on enemies when they fail their saves.

Gameplay

Skald[]

Skalds are Nordic bards who are also warriors of great strength, skill, and virtue; their songs are inspiring sagas of battle and valor, and the Skalds devote their lives to those pursuits.

Advantages:

  • -1 bonus to THAC0 and  +1 to damage rolls with all weapons
  • The Skald's song is different from the typical Bard's and varies with level:
    • 1st level: Grants allies a -2 bonus to THAC0, +2 bonus to damage rolls, and a -2 bonus to AC
    • 15th level: Grants allies a -4 bonus to THAC0, +4 bonus to damage rolls, -4 bonus to AC and immunity to fear
    • 20th level: Grants allies a -4 bonus to THAC0, +4 bonus to damage rolls, -4 bonus to AC, immunity to fear, stun, and confusion

Disadvantage:

  • Only has one quarter the normal Pick Pockets score, and one-fourth of the dex modifier to the score. At lv16 skalds will reach up to 28 in pickpocketing, and with 25 dex, they’ll have the combined score of 40.

Gameplay

High-level class abilities[]

Bards have almost the same high-level class abilities as thieves, but instead of Assassination, they have enhanced bards song and magic flute, despite no skill points into Set Traps the traps HLAs available to the Bard will never fail or accidentally trigger on the Bard.

1 Can be taken multiple times.

Spell slots progression[]

Spell lvl /
Bard lvl
1 2 3 4 5 6 Total # of
spell slots
1 0
2 1 1
3 2 2
4 2 1 3
5 3 1 4
6 3 2 5
7 3 2 1 6
8 3 3 1 7
9 3 3 2 8
10 Baldur's Gate LOGOBG00001 Icon SoDBaldur's Gate:
Enhanced Edition
(2012)
This icon indicates content from the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition campaign.
3 3 2 1 9
11 3 3 3 1 10
12 Siege of Dragonspear LOGOSOD00001 Icon SoDBaldur's Gate:
Siege of Dragonspear
(2016)
This icon indicates content from the Siege of Dragonspear campaign of the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition.
The Black Pits LOGOTBP00001 Icon SoDThe Black Pits (2012)
This icon indicates content from the Black Pits campaign in the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition.
3 3 3 2 11
13 3 3 3 2 1 12
14 3 3 3 3 1 13
15 3 3 3 3 2 14
16 4 3 3 3 2 1 16
17 4 4 3 3 3 1 18
18 4 4 4 3 3 2 20
19 4 4 4 4 3 2 21
20 4 4 4 4 4 3 23
21 5 4 4 4 4 3 24
22 5 5 4 4 4 3 25
23 Shadows of Amn LOADCNTR00004 Icon SoABaldur's Gate II:
Shadows of Amn
(2000)
This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn campaign.
5 5 5 4 4 3 26
24-27 5 5 5 5 4 3 27
28-29 5 5 5 5 5 3 28
30-37 5 5 5 5 5 4 29
38-40 Throne of Bhaal LOADCNTR00004 Icon ToBBaldur's Gate II:
Throne of Bhaal
(2001)
This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal campaign.
Shadows of Amn LOGOSOA00001 Icon BG2EEBaldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition – Shadows of Amn (2013)
This icon indicates content from the Shadows of Amn campaign of the Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition.

Gladiators of Thay LOGOTBP00001 Icon BG2EEThe Black Pits II:
Gladiators of Thay
(2013)
This icon indicates content from the Black Pits II: Gladiators of Thay campaign in the Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition.
5 5 5 5 5 5 30

Experience and character stats table[]

Level Level
Cap
XP
Required
Hit Dice Weapon
Proficiency
THAC0 Saving throws
D/W/P/B/S
Pick Pockets[1] No. of HLA
1 0 1d6 +2 20 13/14/12/16/15 25
2 1,250 2d6 20 13/14/12/16/15 30
3 2,500 3d6 19 13/14/12/16/15 35
4 5,000 4d6 +1 19 13/14/12/16/15 40
5 10,000 5d6 18 12/12/11/15/13 45
6 20,000 6d6 18 12/12/11/15/13 50
7 40,000 7d6 17 12/12/11/15/13 55
8 70,000 8d6 +1 17 12/12/11/15/13 60
9 110,000 9d6 16 11/10/10/14/11 65
10 Baldur's Gate LOGOBG00001 Icon SoDBaldur's Gate:
Enhanced Edition
(2012)
This icon indicates content from the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition campaign.
160,000 10d6 16 11/10/10/14/11 70
11 220,000 10d6+2 15 11/10/10/14/11 75
12 Siege of Dragonspear LOGOSOD00001 Icon SoDBaldur's Gate:
Siege of Dragonspear
(2016)
This icon indicates content from the Siege of Dragonspear campaign of the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition.
The Black Pits LOGOTBP00001 Icon SoDThe Black Pits (2012)
This icon indicates content from the Black Pits campaign in the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition.
440,000 10d6+4 +1 15 11/10/10/14/11 80
13 660,000 10d6+6 14 10/8/9/13/9 85
14 880,000 10d6+8 14 10/8/9/13/9 90
15 1,100,000 10d6+10 13 10/8/9/13/9 95
16 1,320,000 10d6+12 +1 13 10/8/9/13/9 100
17 1,540,000 10d6+14 12 9/6/8/12/7 100
18 1,760,000 10d6+16 12 9/6/8/12/7 100
19 1,980,000 10d6+18 11 9/6/8/12/7 100
20 2,200,000 10d6+20 +1 11 9/6/8/12/7 100
21 2,420,000 10d6+22 10 8/4/7/11/5 100
22 2,640,000 10d6+24 10 8/4/7/11/5 100
23 Shadows of Amn LOADCNTR00004 Icon SoABaldur's Gate II:
Shadows of Amn
(2000)
This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn campaign.
2,860,000 10d6+26 10 8/4/7/11/5 100
24 3,080,000 10d6+28 +1 10 8/4/7/11/5 100 1
25 3,300,000 10d6+30 10 8/4/7/11/5 100 2
26 3,520,000 10d6+32 10 8/4/7/11/5 100 3
27 3,740,000 10d6+34 10 8/4/7/11/5 100 4
28 3,960,000 10d6+36 +1 10 8/4/7/11/5 100 5
29 4,180,000 10d6+38 10 8/4/7/11/5 100 6
30 4,400,000 10d6+40 10 8/4/7/11/5 100 7
31 4,620,000 10d6+42 10 8/4/7/11/5 100 8
32 4,840,000 10d6+44 +1 10 8/4/7/11/5 100 9
33 5,060,000 10d6+46 10 8/4/7/11/5 100 10
34 5,280,000 10d6+48 10 8/4/7/11/5 100 11
35 5,500,000 10d6+50 10 8/4/7/11/5 100 12
36 5,720,000 10d6+52 +1 10 8/4/7/11/5 100 13
37 5,940,000 10d6+54 10 8/4/7/11/5 100 14
38 6,160,000 10d6+56 10 8/4/7/11/5 100 15
39 6,380,000 10d6+58 10 8/4/7/11/5 100 16
40 Throne of Bhaal LOADCNTR00004 Icon ToBBaldur's Gate II:
Throne of Bhaal
(2001)
This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal campaign.
Shadows of Amn LOGOSOA00001 Icon BG2EEBaldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition – Shadows of Amn (2013)
This icon indicates content from the Shadows of Amn campaign of the Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition.

Gladiators of Thay LOGOTBP00001 Icon BG2EEThe Black Pits II:
Gladiators of Thay
(2013)
This icon indicates content from the Black Pits II: Gladiators of Thay campaign in the Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition.
8,000,000 10d6+60 +1 10 8/4/7/11/5 100 17
Total 12 17

Stronghold[]

Bards protagonists may run the Five Flagons Inn stage after they rescue Raelis and Haer'Dalis from the planar prison

Class exclusive items[]

Some instruments, such as The Captive Audience and Methild's Harp, and some other items are only usable by bards. Among them the Bard's Gloves, that have no ability by themselves but can be upgraded to the Wondrous Gloves.

Note that the Peacock Cap Siege of Dragonspear LOGOSOD00001 Icon SoDBaldur's Gate:
Siege of Dragonspear
(2016)
This icon indicates content from the Siege of Dragonspear campaign of the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition.
is better for Bards.

Class Group exclusive items[]

Arcane Spellcasters exclusive items[]

Bugs[]

  • Shadows of Amn LOADCNTR00004 Icon SoABaldur's Gate II:
    Shadows of Amn
    (2000)
    This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn campaign.
    Throne of Bhaal LOADCNTR00004 Icon ToBBaldur's Gate II:
    Throne of Bhaal
    (2001)
    This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal campaign.
    Though correctly stated in the kit description, the by the half reduced ability to pick pockets isn't implemented in the classic version of the game, including its expansion: the Blade gains progress as the regular Bard, reaching 115% at level 16.
  • Enhanced Editions two letters logoBaldur's Gate I & II: Enhanced Editions
    This icon indicates content from all Enhanced Editions of the Baldur's Gate games. May situationally encompass Siege of Dragonspear and The Black Pits I & II content as well.
    On the other hand, the disadvantage "Bard Song does not become better with levels" is removed from the Enhanced Editions' kit description, but still applicable.[2]
  • Bards can erroneously scribe spells of levels 7 to 9 to their spellbook, but can never prepare them, making this a waste of scrolls.

Gameplay (community)[]

~Write your insights below, different from the Gameplay section above, you may use your signatures here, example page~

Bards are really fun to play, but a little difficult to handle.

Skalds are very helpful with a group. Usually cast "Mislead" to keep singing while they do other things like casting "Remove magic" versus Mages (It works slower but better than with an Inquisitor like Keldorn). Skalds are a little too passive and sometimes may be a little boring. However, skalds make excellent player controlled/generated NPCs. That way you can enjoy the bonuses (amazing buff song throughout the whole saga, free no hassle item identification, auxiliary spell support, etc), while still having a different, exciting main character to act as your avatar.

Don’t underestimate the immunity from stun and confusion on the Lvl 20 skald song. I just got it on my skald right before entering the mind flayer tunnel in the Underdark and it made dealing with them surprisingly easy. Intelligence drain is a lot less lethal, when you are able to run away after taking a hit or two.

Blades aren´t very good at the front line at beginning of the game, but with some items they can become amazing. With Tenser Transformation, dual wielding (Kundane or Belm in the offhand), Improved Haste, they can be very effective.

Once you get Enhanced Bard Song, I think Blades are more versatile. They stop using Tenser and use Mislead (like a Skald), they can be in the front line or they can cast Remove Magic versus Mages.They can become invulnerable versus Liches. In addition, they can set traps in the way they need. If you want to start melee then cast Improved haste, set a Time Trap and bring a group to start the battle. On the other hand if you want a fast kill versus Mages, just set a Spike Trap and that´s all.

There are many tricks to use them appropriately.

-- Added by a FANDOM user (talk) 4:38, June 23, 2019 (UTC)

Bard Songs overview[]

As the bard song has been changed somewhat between different editions of the games, here is an overview of the most current effect of the different songs:

  • Every bard kit has its own type of song: unkitted / "normal" Bard Song, Skald Song, Jester Song and Blade Song. Also, every bard kit can take the Enhanced Bard Song as high-level class ability, once the Bard hits level 24. The Enhanced Bard Song completely overwrites the kit's previous song.
  • Songs of the same type never stack, but songs from different kits do stack.
    • Example 1: Two level 1 bards singing will only give +1 luck to the party, but a level 1 Bard and a Blade singing adds for +2 luck.
    • Example 2: A level 20+ Skald and someone with Enhanced Bard Song (e.g. if Haer'Dalis takes it) singing at the same time stacks and improves THAC0, armor class and damage by 8. If that Skald were to take Enhanced Bard Song later, then they would no longer stack.
  • Songs can be sung by a Simulacrum. This is not cumulative with the Bard themself singing, but it allows the Bard to do something else instead.
  • Singing a song breaks invisibility.
  • A silenced Bard can't sing, and a deafened character is not affected by the song.
  • Bards should acquire the Bard Hat, as it allows them to keep the song up while doing other things.
  • The different song types have different areas of effect:
    • The unkitted / normal Bard Song affects all party members globally on the map. It does not affect summons or other allies.
    • All other songs only affect allies in an area of 16 ft around the Bard, but also benefits summons and other (blue circled) allies. Jester song affects enemies within 16 ft instead.
  • Normal Bard song and Blade song improve Luck. Skald song and Enhanced Bard Song affect THAC0 (hit-rate) and damage directly, plus increasing armor class. Luck also has a positive effect on hit-rate and damage, but not as much as directly improving those values, and luck does not benefit armor class. On the other hand, luck also provides several other bonuses.
Song type Area Effect at level 1-14 Effect at level 15-19 Effect at level 20+
Bard song global Bard and party members: Bard and party members: Bard and party members:
Blade song 16 ft Bard and all allies:
Skald song 16 ft Bard and all allies: Bard and all allies: Bard and all allies:
Enhanced Bard Song

(requires level 24)

16 ft Bard and all allies:
Jester song 16 ft Enemies:
  • save vs. Spells at +2 bonus or be confused
Enemies:
  • save vs. Spells at +2 bonus or be confused
  • save vs. Spell or be slowed
Enemies:

Mod content[]

Mods icon This section is about unofficial content that is only available via fan-made mods.

Installation of the Rogue Rebalancing mod makes a number of gameplay revisions and changes to all Rogues, including their kits. It is a comprehensive modification to nearly all aspects of the Rogues (Bards and Thieves) abilities and strives to bring them closer to their Pen and Paper AD&D counterparts. New and revised abilities are included, as well as new equipment and rogue specific items. Separate user installed components are available to customize selection of content and changes. Go to the link for further information. Other changes applicable to most Bards:

True Bard

The Bard's song has been altered as it was almost completely non-functional in the original game. The revised Bard song is based on the Pen and Paper version of this ability. The updated kit description reads as follows:

BARD: The bard is also a rogue, but he is very different from the thief. His strength is his pleasant and charming personality. With it and his wits he makes his way through the world. A bard is a talented musician and a walking storehouse of gossip, tall tales, and lore. He learns a little bit about everything that crosses his path; he is a jack-of-all- trades but master of none. While many bards are scoundrels, their stories and songs are welcome almost everywhere and are often inspirational to the listeners. A bard can rally his allies by singing heroic songs or weaving inspiring tales about how his companions will overcome their foes and win the day. The effect of the bard's song varies according to his level:

1st: +1 to hit and all saving throws, song raises morale 9th: +2 to hit and all saving throws, song removes fear 18th: +3 to hit and all saving throws, song protects from fear

Bard High Level Ability revisions

This component will remove all Traps and other Thief-specific HLAs from the Bard High Level Ability table and replace them with new abilities which are more fitting for the Bard class. These new HLAs are: Mass Charm, Sound Burst, Enthralling Melody, Lingering Song, Resonating Weapon and Sound Barrier. Furthermore, the Magic Flute and Alchemy HLAs will be revised and each Bard kit will get a unique version of the Enhanced Battlesong HLA. See the Mod link to read up on the specifics.

Proper spell progression for Bards

This component will restore the proper PnP AD&D spell progression to Bards, effectively granting them the ability to cast 7th and 8th level spells once they reach the appropriate experience levels. See the Mod Link for the spell progression table.

For Bard Kit specific changes see the Blade, Jester and Skald pages.

External Links[]

References

  1. SKILLBRD.2da
  2. FJBLADEB.spl
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