BUILD A BETTER BARD | 10 Unique Ideas For Your Next Dungeons and Dragons Bard Character

[@rickthompson3843]

One of my favorite bards was played by a buddy of mine who took the military background. We affectionately called him "Sarge" and his way of giving us bardic inspiration was less strumming a lute to positive affirmation and more like R. Lee Ermey in Full Metal Jacket screaming at you to show him your war face. "Stop Playing With That Goblin And Hit Him With Your SWORD!" "Yes Sarge!"

[@minimalbstolerance8113]

"Wildemount? There's only two kinds from Wildemount: Drow and q****s, and you don't look much like a Drow!"

[@synthetic20]

One of my characters was a kenku bard that didn't believe he could be a hero, because he didn't have his own voice. With the help of his party, he discovered that he had an inner voice that came through in telepathy. One of the party was even able to project that back to him, so he learned his inner voice like he learned to mimic anything else. After a few weeks, he began to speak in his own voice confidently. He ended the campaign by becoming part angel (Avernus), and it was a pretty amazing transformation. Definitely one of my favorite characters.

[@TheClericCorner]

That's amazing! I think it would be so fun to play a bard that doesn't speak because it is so different. I think there is as much power in the spoken word as there is in unspoken word

[@CharlesUrban]

Aww, he got a voice and then he got to fly. That's a happy Kenku right there.

[@countbars151]

I want to create a bard kenku in one of the future campaigns. He'll want to find voice and sing his own songs, not only the others

[@LostSquire]

Bards are those that collect stories and preserve history. No need to preform, a bard can simply talk, write, and answer questions. I love the different origins, but I'll always be drawn to the 'possessed' section. Spirit bards are really, really cool, and the only ones (in my opinion) that go away from the instruments, singing, or dancing, and instead settle for the down to earth stories around a fire, and retelling stories of those long lost. Currently playing a spirit bard. She's sooo much fun to RP, as the DM and I designed 8 different spirits for her to call upon, each spirit possessing a mask that she can wear and channel their personality, memories, and actions. Got even cooler when I multiclassed into Undead Warlock, my patrons being the spirits bound to her, and the Form of Dread becomes a chance for them to get their bodies back for a brief while.

[@TheClericCorner]

Oooh, I got chills once you brought in the warlock flavor! Being a warlock of those spirits instead of some ancient creature. Love that, and agree with all of that for sure!

[@Tusker2zero2]

That sounds awesome! ❤️

[@Anna-dd1tb]

This sounds so cool and fun to play !

[@ironkeepgaming1936]

I’m playing as a painter mage character in our Strixhaven dnd game. He is heavily inspired by Bendy and the ink machine and Mario Sunshine. He could paint a door on a wall, paint a fist punching, or even a magnifying glass that shows the true nature of what you’re looking at, and they would work as long as you got the imagination to do so. Your Creator Bard idea inspired me to make a actual magic creator class in the future.

[@bronzedragon18]

I play a homebrew College of Satire Bard whose subclass is based on empowering Vicious Mockery and being tough. Imagine Vicious Mockery doing 1d8 damage and scaling. Her favorite weapons are her twin war fans and her daggers a close second,..

[@DaleyKreations]

My next campaign I might play a "Starlord/Isekai Bard" - someone from our world who got sucked into the Forgotten Realms and the process gave them magic. The make their living as a storyteller but all they are doing is recounting the plots of movies they remember from our world (Star Wars is very popular)

[@bronzedragon18]

Rather than singing her style is telling funny and/ or embarrassing stories, dance and juggling .. Talented but Daria is a holy terror in combat..!

[@alexanderlehane3459]

One of my favorite Bard ideas (That I've yet to play because I can never seem to get in a game, no I'm not bitter) would have to be that of a Tabaxi Lore Bard, by the name of Emerald in a Knapsack. He collects treasures that specifically have stories behind them, to retell to those around him, such as a sapphire that belonged to a Half Blue Dragon tyrant, or a pickled Beholder eye that a Hag kept as a trophy after killing the Beholder. Even his musical instrument has a story, a concertina that was once owned by a fearsome pirate king, which was snatched up during his last battle against the king.

[@Anna-dd1tb]

I've been thinking about something similar as well ! a character who is very curious and want to discover stories and collect stuff related to adventures and such.

[@paigefrydendahl]

I have a chef bard! Bardic inspo is promising people cookies

[@andrewtyrell4795]

After watching Tulok the Barbrarian's Gandalf build and a LotR lore video detailing the magic and abilities that Gandalf has/uses I became a big believer in the idea that Bards don't need to be performers or artists at all. Bardic Inspiration can be just encouraging words or even helpful advice (kinda like the artificer's flash of genius). To entertain my friends I made a build for Raine Sage from Tales of Symphonia and instead of making her a Cleric just because she's a healer I chose College of Lore Bard. And since she's a teacher I maxed her intelligence and put her expertise in the knowledge skills so she could outsmart and literally school her know-it-all brother. A Swashbuckler Rogue/Swords Bard makes for an excellent Zorro style swordfighter with their magic coming from their sheer panache and flair.

[@TheClericCorner]

Absolutely!!

[@edwardg8912]

One of my bards was a half elf, and the son of an elven noble woman and a human cult leader who was using his marriage to climb socially. My bard was college of eloquence, which he gained by watching his father persuade his followers into doing terrible things. He was of course disgusted by this and ended up running away, and the campaign happened. But the idea of learning in this way I felt was a pretty unique backstory.

[@TheClericCorner]

A very unique backstory!! A bard in charge of a cult seems so fun!

[@JohnDoe-dh5jg]

Rowan Abernathy was a Valor Bard that I played as more of a drill sergeant. He had a soldier background, was more tactical and antisocial, and a bat familiar named Nike, for the goddess not the shoe. His Bardic Inspiration was more like combat critique as he barked things like 'high guard' and 'go for the knee'. Even his Song of Rest, was more compliments and constructive criticism than anything. The party actually thought he was a ranger up until I handed out inspiration while fighting a manticore. That said, he's not all grit and vinegar. He writes his adventures in a journal, turning them into bedtime stories to be sent home to his wife and little girl.

[@TheClericCorner]

This is a FANTASTIC example! I love the song of rest flavor. Sounds like your doing something right!

[@Anna-dd1tb]

This is amazing and sounds really fun !

[@samueljerrik2567]

havent really gotten to play it yet, but i had an idea for a tortle bard who, instead of songs and speech, channeled his magic through cooking. He had originally been a human, but was transformed after he tasted something, and is on the hunt to re-trying that taste once again, potentialy turning him back to a human. always thought that would have been a fun twist, instead of just standing in the tavern, singing or telling stories, you are healing or persuading people with your magical kitchen skills; throwing chamomille powder when casting sleep, or, if playing a creation bard, having your animated performance be an amalgam of kitchen scraps or fresh food and vegetables, lol.

[@jackk8756]

I didn’t realize it would get rid of live comments. But my first bard and first character in a campaign was a kalashtar bard. She was a lounge singer type character who used her singing, natural psychic powers, and her emotions to use her magic. It was really fun too because our other spellcaster was an academic and in character that character and my character talked at least a couple times about the different sources of their magic. I’m really rooting for you to get this channel off the ground, I’m trying to get into the D&D personality/creator world as well by combining it with poetry. So I feel you and best of luck to you

[@TheClericCorner]

Ooh, I've never seen a lounge singer bard! But that's awesome you tied together a few sources! You should absolutely start one!! It's SO much fun and can't wait till I can do more stuff. Start today!

[@theRainyMute]

i was having a character idea for a college of whispers bard, im not a good talker in general but the idea of the bard having all these telepathic abilities for psychic damage and such, well what if for bardic inspiration they reached out and planted whispers and thoughts into an allies head that when used guide them that extra bit towards doing it better

[@TheClericCorner]

ooh, psychic manipulation! I love it!

[@jerrymajors8132]

I have a tiefling bard who was raised by satyrs ( so, she's got a bit of the Inheritor that you talked about) and just adventures to have a good time.

[@TheClericCorner]

Ooh, fun!!

[@goontubeassos7076]

My half minotaur half mermaid, is a normal human. Moms top, dads bottom. Go figure.

[@ChasoGod]

College of Dirge Bards are those who can stir or put to rest the dead taking on some aspects of Necromancers. College of Choirs Bards are those who have heard the call of a higher power taking on some aspects of Clerics.

[@hadosscott5841]

My Sword Bard was a travelling merchant until the caravans he travelled with were attacked by warriors mounted on flying beasts. He collected all the children into a single carriage and fled. The first town they entered was where they stayed. He became a teacher and guardian of the recently orphaned. But they eventually grew up and started having their own family. He set off on adventure after a couple of random adventures rolled into town. They had heard of monster riding monsters plaguing the region....

[@elivitolin874]

An idea I had but never played was The Liar- a pathological liar who isn't just convincing but also believes his own lies so much the Universe itself starts to believe them. Vicious Mockery from him is especially bad- he calls you ugly, and your body deforms. He calls you boring, and your friends' eyes glaze over when you speak.

[@phobiawitch835]

So I have only played a few sessions as a bard before. One was a Tiefling Lore bard named Garrias in 5e for one of the Yawning Portal adventures at a local library. Never got to finish that adventure sadly. Last session was abkut 6 months ago now. But he was a bit on the calm side, preferring to hang back, play a song and provide support (or throw a fireball). The bow of his violin was actually his rapier if he needed to get in melee. The other was only 1 session, and in Pathfinder. It was an overly convoluted character because the dm insisted I mix 3 ideas I had in mind for it, and it never really took off. It was the twin brither to my cleric who I’d been planning to retire (but the dm decided to miraculously fix up last minute, and throw an anti-bard encounter at the oarty the session he had me trying out the new character). So half orc. But, he was an Aasimar due to some heritage for their human dad’s side of the family (a thing the group talked about my cleric possibly beinf, though his celestial blood was “dormant”). But I’d been tempted to try a kobold, so the dm gave me the 3.5 Dragonborn template, which made a Dragonborn Aasimar Bard with this weird backstory of having a murdered fiancée that he would return to the grave of to play songs for her, all while hunting her murderer. If it had gotten more than a single session to expand on, and the dm hadn’t basically turned to me after weeks of working to have this character and said “nevermind, fuck your idea” and fixed a cleric that was only being retired because of how he ran his game, MAYBE it would have been more fun, lmao. Sorry, ranted. On a better note, I am working on a bard idea that is essentially an earth genasi dwelf (had an earth genasi elf dad and a dwarf mom) who will sing and perform for people, learning more about his magic and the world outside of the dwarf and elf cultures he was raised in the middle of. I planned to give him Fey Touched as a feat to mirror his dad’s heritage, and Spell Sniper too for a reflavored Eldritch Blast that is light refractions through his body causing bursts of force. Likely a Lore Bard as well, singing the songs of his cultures, with Spirit Guardians that are dancing figures that float around while he sings, and Steel Wind Strike for when things get serious.

[@Anna-dd1tb]

Just had an idea today about a bard who uses music to get shit done but not by playing music, by listening to music. They would have different playlists for fighting, for different kind of spells... the idea is that they have adhd and music helps them focus, put them in the Right Mood and make their brain Do The Thing. They could have disadvantage at random times because the brain does not cooperate, but also advantage or bonus for certain things because of hyperfixations and hyperfocus.

[@FlutesLoot]

Bards gaining power from fans and followers. Brilliant!

[@TheClericCorner]

Absolutely! The power of adoration 😊

[@liamfitzgerald1400]

Actually just started playing a character Friday night; I was changing characters, and I noticed our party didn't have any Charisma-focused characters, so just for the heck of it, I did a multiclass with every Charisma class. She is an astral elf from the new UA and she basically believes she is a chosen hero sent by the stars to destroy all evil. She draws all her power from this conviction (some call it delusion, only time will tell). She's been real fun so far!

[@TheClericCorner]

Oh interesting! So paladin/sorcerer/bard? How is that playing for you?

[@liamfitzgerald1400]

@@TheClericCorner And warlock haha! We didn't get to a lot of combat last session, but I feel pretty confident in the combo I set up. Worst comes to worst I'll just smite a lot, you know?

[@TheClericCorner]

@@liamfitzgerald1400 can't go wrong with that! 😂 Never pulled that combo myself, so excited for you!

[@dakeyes28]

OMG! The Broken Bard is all the Bards I've ever created!!!

[@TheClericCorner]

It's a fantastic roleplay bard!!

[@TheMightyBattleSquid]

I think bard is the most I've changed of any class. I've had a scribe/clergyman, a street magician, a flagbearer in the military, a Fossegrim (think siren but they're males who play nature sounds from their fiddle), a goblin scout who fancies himself a military leader, a GOOlock cultist, and a nature spirit.

[@BeautyBeatdown]

This is such a unique video. Thank you so much for all these ideas!

[@TheClericCorner]

Well thank you!! Hope to keep on delivering! 😊

[@BeautyBeatdown]

I'm very new to D&D. My husband (dm) convinced me to join his game (his world is 20 years old now) with some of our mutual friends he has been gaming with for a while. I didn't necessarily want to roll a Bard, but he convinced me to do so. So me and another player decided we left the circus in search of making more money. Sadly our two other unalive hobo game mates decided to try to attack the character that was set up for our backstory. I didn't even know that term before now lol...

[@TheClericCorner]

Oh no!! Hopefully it all worked out!

[@BeautyBeatdown]

@@TheClericCorner we will see on Sunday 🤣

[@brianzollo]

Currently playing a Satyr College of Glamour Bard / Sorcerer Wild Magic build... only level 2... but honestly one of my favorite characters I've played in a long time.

[@douglasphillips5870]

I would call my bard a manipulator. He's a social mover like the extrovert, except his power comes from knowing how the system works and bending it to his will, rather the adoration of the people. It doesn't matter if the people like him, although that makes things easier, but enemies have as many buttons to push as allies. An example would be the Patrician from Discworld.

[@TheClericCorner]

Unfortunately unfamiliar with the world of discworld, but solid idea and storytelling nonetheless!

[@douglasphillips5870]

@@TheClericCorner thanks for taking the time to respond. I like your approach to classes.

[@Mario.1997]

When I play bards I actually like to play them as a Middle ground between sorcerers and wizards.

[@benjaminboudreau2675]

Love the inheritor idea I got a Tiefling Bard that would go great with this

[@JCinLapel]

Here is one before Tashas background was out. before Mist walkers Gave us Hex Blood and collage of spirits. My Curse of Stradht Adventure League character is a Bard Half Elf variant Eldrin (DMG-Misty step once per long rest. She had been groomed to become a Hag but was saved. Took the Haunted one background. I used the Arcane Focus Crystal Ball swirl mists of different colors trinket. She dressed like a visanta and had the roguish scary charm of them. She had disguised her Armor as a leather Dress and the sling that was disguised as a bag of rune stones. She was all about Bane and Synaptic static. We had 3 warriors all taking protector fighting style and me with Viscous Mockery the whole ark she made 2 attack rolls and 3 healing spells in combat. We got named the double crit table because the DM pretty much needed a double crit to hit anyone.

[@Barquevious_Jackson]

Wow you're almost at 1,000 Subs by Christmas.

[@TheClericCorner]

Yeah!! Crazy right!! Community has been amazing, you included!

[@firelord1607]

The heart of gold is perfect for what I was thinking about multiclassing my character thank you.😄

[@minimalbstolerance8113]

Definitely using the Lockhart idea for my in-progress Tabaxi J-pop idol bard...

[@The482075]

Great ideas as always. I have another bunch of ideas. The Alternative: With Lore Bard, you could be any of the other spell casters. Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, Warlock, or Wizard. Your magic could come from any source. Even Psionics. For this you are not the Bard, you are just using Bard Features but are flavored as a different kind of spell caster. The Empath: You are in tune with the feelings of other people. Grab Insight and persuasion. For Subclass, none of them fit this idea so pick any. You serve as a counselor. A Diana Troy type character. Grab the Telepathic feat. Maybe your magic is more psionic in nature. Fear and Hypnotic Pattern could fit this kind of character. The Helper: Grab Lore Bard for that very handy Magical Secrets Guidance and Bless. Now with a combination of Guidance, Bless, and Bardic Inspiration, you are a person who helps out others. Grab skilled feat and pick 3 skills shared by other party members. You do not make skill checks, rather you either assist by providing advantage, use a Bardic Inspiration or Guidance. Heck, you don't even have to be the only party Face. Someone else has Persuasion, why not help them out instead of grabbing the glory for yourself. The Spectre: Grab Minor Illusion and The Telekinetic Feat. You have a Phantom who casts all the spells for you. Now all you have to do is stand there and look pretty. Maybe play a tune or two. Just let your Phantom do all the heavy lifting. If you have ever seen Stands from JoJo's Bizzare Adventure, you'll know what kind of character I'm talking about.

[@mantra_ephemera]

I love the idea of an event planner bard. I currently play a very tropey, slutty, horny bard that sings and I love it but a character based on J-Lo's character in the Wedding Planner is giving me inspiration!!

[@TheClericCorner]

Ooh!! I love it!!

[@robertswint4380]

I love your overall positivity and style, keep it up man😁

[@sporksabre]

Had a Bard that would draw in a note book, ripping out the page and flinging it into the air, and drawing on party members to cast spells.

[@ThyFloorestFloor]

One of mine was more of an antagonist to my party. He was a Lizardfolk who instead of using both his magical and musical abilities to create beautiful music to buff his Allies. He decided to become an annoying prick who plays bad music purposely to cast a wide variety of de-buffs and annoy his rivals during combat. His abilities work because the guy is genuinely good. He has studied music his entire life and put thousands of hours into it. All of that just so he can literally play the most scientifically correct annoying piece, ever.

[@TheClericCorner]

What makes your bard unique in your own game?

[@Anna-dd1tb]

(yes i am indeed on a quest to watch every single one of your videos completely out of order, as one does) Ok the Creator makes me want to do a knitter bard. bonus for stabbing with a needle. The Inner Child sounds really fun too ! And the Possessed is really inspiring.

[@MG-mh8xp]

my bard is technically a sorcerer. they're a shizai spirit of beauty and we use the fairy race as a stand-in due to having similar enough powers! and so, they're a glamour bard! their name is chen and they're just a pretty lil lady who poses as a beautiful and innocent princess to charm people into doing things for her. after all, she's so innocent! why wouldn't you do what she asks out of the kindess of your own heart?

[@TheClericCorner]

That's a PERFECT example!! Love that

[@GeNeReDeR]

id rather hoped to see suggestion to very unusual and extremely charming performers.... how about religious performers? a voodoo witch that uses creepy voodoo dolls for vicious mockery casting, a native american shaman with drums performing dances to cast spells or a snake charmer?

[@TheClericCorner]

I think you'll find those represented in other videos! And I'm sure you understand that these videos aren't exhaustive

[@ivanhetem1140]

I am planning a creation bard that's a (diminished) genie. His performance is muscle flexing.

[@beardlesswizard9197]

I always saw those who wanted to play a non-musical bard as a sort of magical jerry-rigger. A little bit of this and a little bit of that and BOOM, magic. They just sort of take bits of knoweldge on magic they have picked up and make it work. Sort of like someone who didn't have the patience for wizard school but an intuition and stubborness.

[@TheClericCorner]

Yeah, they were definitely the partiers in college that somehow, someway got high enough grades to pass 😂

[@beardlesswizard9197]

@@TheClericCorner Or almost a type of hedge magician -- passed down family magic or something like that. So much to think about!

[@TheClericCorner]

@@beardlesswizard9197 oh absolutely!!

[@sirspooks4968]

I’m playing a halfling sorrow bard that is a runaway prisoner that sings the song of his sorrowful life in hopes to inspire people going through hard times

[@draydendraconidae910]

I'm making a strength based valor bard, who is a bodybuilder and intimidates others with his muscles.

[@Greenknight3]

I once played a swords bard who I based on russian sword dancers.

[@RIVERSRPGChannel]

Very cool ideas

[@TheClericCorner]

Thanks! Hope they got the gears going!

[@ImprovandRPG]

Oooo I love it!!

[@ImprovandRPG]

My friend plays a bard based on spoken word poetry! It’s been a blast seeing her use her skills at the table. Really digging this material, thank you for the inspiration!!! 😊

[@TheClericCorner]

@@ImprovandRPG you bet! Thanks for the comment! Hope it got the gears turning!

[@keiroty7187]

What about a cooking bard who makes lovely meals

[@emmah1408]

Engagement

[@lunawolf1493]

Changelings getting genetic charisma sounds about right

[@TheClericCorner]

Ooh that's evocative and I love it! Changeling bards are dangerous

[@lunawolf1493]

@@TheClericCorner one of my players is one and we're doing the "swapped at birth" backstory based off folklore

[@TheClericCorner]

@@lunawolf1493 As a fellow DM, I can't wait for you to see how that plays out!

[@keiroty7187]

Pt 2

[@crazy36069]

Maybe there is a bard that is so bad at playing music, that it causes everyone to take brain damage? Just saying…

[@m0thernature730]

This reminds me of the greatest estate developer, with his ability with words and manipulation you would think him a bard but the man has a GOD AWFUL SINGING VOICE! to the point it is LEGITIMATELY A POWER HOW UGLY AND TONE DEF HE IS!!!

[@keiroty7187]

I have a magic bard tanu

[@pouncelygrin6699]

these are great ideas... I'm stealing them 😃...... jk 🤣 but seriously though these are great definitely gonna be using this for ideas on making a character 👍👍

[@TheClericCorner]

Lol create away! Definitely here for inspiration! :)

[@pouncelygrin6699]

@@TheClericCorner eyy thank you

[@thesmilyguyguy9799]

:)

[@mg-ew2xf]

Herby McGurdy plays a jaw harp. And only plays a jaw harp. Refuses to speak unless he has it to "autotune" his voice. The other players hate him.

[@DeadMeat991]

Any sane player hates bards.