As a Dungeons and Dragons (DND) player, one of the most thrilling aspects of the game is creating a character that is unique and powerful. One class that offers players the opportunity to do just that is the bard class. In this article, we will dive deep into the world of bard class dnd 5e colleges.
Introduction
First, let’s define what the bard class is in DND 5e. The bard is a versatile spellcaster that can fill many roles in a party, from support to damage dealer. What sets the bard apart from other spellcasters is their ability to use their music and charisma to cast spells and inspire their allies.
In DND 5e, bards must choose a college that represents their focus and style of play. There are six colleges to choose from, each providing unique skills, spells, and features. Choosing the right college is crucial in creating a well-rounded and effective bard character.
Overview of Bard Class DND 5e Colleges
Let’s take a brief look at each of the six bard colleges:
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College of Lore – This college focuses on knowledge and versatility, providing additional skills and spells to the bard’s repertoire.
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College of Valor – This college focuses on combat prowess, providing additional weapon and armor proficiencies, as well as combat-oriented skills and spells.
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College of Glamour – This college focuses on charm and enchantment, providing abilities to charm and manipulate others, as well as additional spells and features to enhance the bard’s performance.
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College of Whispers – This college focuses on deception and intrigue, providing abilities to extract information from others and manipulate them to the bard’s advantage.
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College of Swords – This college focuses on combat prowess, providing additional weapon proficiencies and combat-oriented skills and spells, as well as the ability to use weapons in a performance.
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College of Eloquence – This college focuses on persuasion and diplomacy, providing abilities to influence and manipulate others through speech, as well as additional spells and features to enhance the bard’s charisma.
Importance of Choosing a Bard College
Choosing a bard college is not just a matter of personal preference. The college that a bard chooses will greatly impact their playstyle, strengths, and weaknesses. It’s essential to consider the role that your character will play in the party and choose a college that complements their abilities.
In the upcoming sections, we will explore each college in more detail, including their skills, spells, and advantages and disadvantages. By the end of this guide, you will have a deeper understanding of the bard class and be able to choose the right college to unleash the full power of your bard character.
Bard Class DND 5e College Options
As mentioned earlier, the bard class in DND 5e has six colleges to choose from. Each college provides unique skills, spells, and features that enhance the bard’s abilities. In this section, we will delve into each college in more detail.
College of Lore
The College of Lore focuses on knowledge and versatility. Bards who choose this college can gain proficiency in three additional skills and learn cutting words, which allows them to use their bardic inspiration to reduce an opponent’s attack roll or ability check. They also gain access to additional spells from any class, further increasing their versatility.
One of the key features of the College of Lore is their ability to use their bardic inspiration to grant additional proficiencies or expertise in skills. This can be a game-changer in situations where a specific skill or ability is needed.
However, the College of Lore does have its drawbacks. Bards who choose this college may not have the same combat prowess as other colleges, as their focus is on knowledge and versatility rather than combat abilities.
College of Valor
The College of Valor focuses on combat prowess. Bards who choose this college gain proficiency in medium armor, shields, and martial weapons. They also gain combat-oriented skills and spells, such as extra attack and battle magic.
One of the key features of the College of Valor is their ability to inspire their allies in combat. Bards can use their bardic inspiration to grant their allies additional movement or an extra attack, making them a valuable asset in any fight.
However, the College of Valor does have its drawbacks. Bards who choose this college may not have the same versatility and knowledge as other colleges, as their focus is on combat abilities rather than versatility or charm.
College of Glamour
The College of Glamour focuses on charm and enchantment. Bards who choose this college gain abilities to charm and manipulate others, such as enthralling performance and mantle of inspiration. They also gain additional spells and features to enhance their performance, such as the ability to teleport.
One of the key features of the College of Glamour is their ability to charm and manipulate others to their advantage. Bards can use their abilities to persuade and charm NPCs, gather information, and avoid combat.
However, the College of Glamour does have its drawbacks. Bards who choose this college may not have the same combat prowess as other colleges, as their focus is on charm and manipulation rather than combat abilities.
College of Whispers
The College of Whispers focuses on deception and intrigue. Bards who choose this college gain abilities to extract information from others and manipulate them to their advantage, such as psychic blades and mantle of whispers. They also gain additional spells and features to enhance their abilities, such as the ability to impersonate others.
One of the key features of the College of Whispers is their ability to extract information and manipulate others to their advantage. Bards can use their abilities to gather information, infiltrate organizations, and sow discord among their enemies.
However, the College of Whispers does have its drawbacks. Bards who choose this college may not have the same combat prowess as other colleges, as their focus is on deception and intrigue rather than combat abilities.
College of Swords
The College of Swords focuses on combat prowess. Bards who choose this college gain proficiency in medium armor, shields, and martial weapons. They also gain combat-oriented skills and spells, such as blade flourish and defensive flourish.
One of the key features of the College of Swords is their ability to use weapons in their performance. Bards can use their weapons to enhance their performance and gain additional benefits, such as extra damage or additional movement.
However, the College of Swords does have its drawbacks. Bards who choose this college may not have the same versatility and knowledge as other colleges, as their focus is on combat abilities rather than versatility or charm.
College of Eloquence
The College of Eloquence focuses on persuasion and diplomacy. Bards who choose this college gain abilities to influence and manipulate others through speech, such as unsettling words and silver tongue. They also gain additional spells and features to enhance their charisma.
One of the key features of the College of Eloquence is their ability to persuade and manipulate others through speech. Bards can use their abilities to avoid combat, negotiate with NPCs, and gain information.
However, the College of Eloquence does have its drawbacks. Bards who choose this college may not have the same combat prowess as other colleges, as their focus is on persuasion and diplomacy rather than combat abilities.
College of Lore
The College of Lore is one of the most popular choices for bards in DND 5e. This college is all about knowledge and versatility, providing additional skills, spells, and features to the bard’s repertoire. Let’s take a closer look at what the College of Lore has to offer.
Overview of the College of Lore
The College of Lore is all about expanding the bard’s knowledge and abilities beyond their musical talents. This college allows bards to become masters of a wide range of skills, making them valuable members of any party.
Skills and Features
The College of Lore provides bards with three additional skills, which can be chosen from any skill in the game. This means that bards can become proficient in any skill that they feel will benefit their character and the party.
In addition to skills, the College of Lore also provides additional features, such as Cutting Words. Cutting Words allows bards to use their wit and charm to distract and hinder their enemies, reducing their effectiveness in combat.
Spells
The College of Lore provides bards with additional spells that focus on manipulation, disruption, and support. These spells allow bards to control the battlefield and influence the outcome of battles.
Some notable spells that the College of Lore provides include Dissonant Whispers, which deals damage and forces enemies to flee, and Counterspell, which allows bards to cancel out enemy spells.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Choosing College of Lore
The College of Lore is a great choice for bards who want to be versatile and knowledgeable. The additional skills and spells provided by this college allow bards to fill many roles in a party, from support to damage dealer.
However, the College of Lore does have its disadvantages. Bards who choose this college may not be as combat-focused as bards who choose other colleges, and they may lack the specialization and focus of other classes. Additionally, the additional skills provided by this college may not be as valuable in certain campaigns or parties.
Overall, the College of Lore is a strong choice for bards who want to be versatile and knowledgeable. By choosing this college, bards can become masters of many skills and spells, making them valuable members of any party.
College of Valor
The College of Valor is the perfect choice for bards who want to focus on combat prowess and physical strength. This college is for those who want to be in the thick of the battle, using their bardic abilities to inspire their allies and strike fear into their enemies.
Overview of the College of Valor
The College of Valor emphasizes martial prowess, providing additional weapon and armor proficiencies to the bard. In addition, bards in this college gain access to combat-oriented skills and spells, making them formidable fighters in any battle.
Skills and Features
Bards in the College of Valor gain proficiency with medium armor, shields, and martial weapons. They also gain the Combat Inspiration feature, which allows them to use their bardic inspiration to add to an ally’s attack roll or damage roll. At higher levels, bards gain the Extra Attack and Battle Magic features, allowing them to attack twice in one turn and cast a spell as a bonus action during combat.
Spells
Bards in the College of Valor gain access to a variety of combat-oriented spells, such as Thunderwave and Enthrall. They also gain access to higher-level spells like Hold Person and Freedom of Movement, making them even more effective in battle.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Choosing College of Valor
The College of Valor is an excellent choice for bards who want to focus on combat and physical strength. They are formidable fighters and can inspire their allies to greater heights in battle. However, this college may not be the best choice for bards who want to focus on support and healing. While bards in this college can still cast healing spells, their focus is on combat, making them less effective in a support role.
In conclusion, the College of Valor is an excellent choice for bards who want to focus on combat prowess. With additional weapon and armor proficiencies, combat-oriented skills and spells, and the ability to inspire allies in battle, bards in this college are a force to be reckoned with.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Bard Class DND 5e Colleges
Here are some commonly asked questions about the bard class DND 5e colleges:
1. Can I multiclass with a bard?
Yes, bards can multiclass with any other class in DND 5e. However, it’s essential to consider the impact that multiclassing will have on your character’s playstyle and abilities.
2. Which bard college is the best?
There is no one “best” bard college as each one offers unique skills and features. The choice of college depends on your character’s personality and playstyle, as well as the needs of your party.
3. Can a bard be an effective damage dealer?
Yes, bards can be effective damage dealers, especially with the right spells and equipment. However, it’s important to remember that the bard is not a primary damage dealer like a fighter or rogue.
4. Can bards heal?
Yes, bards have access to several healing spells and abilities, making them effective support characters.
5. Do bards have to sing or play an instrument to cast spells?
No, bards can use any form of performance to cast spells, including dancing, storytelling, or even poetry.
Answers to Common Queries
Q: What are some essential spells for a bard?
A: Some essential spells for a bard include Cure Wounds, Thunderwave, Invisibility, and Hypnotic Pattern.
Q: Can a bard use weapons?
A: Yes, bards have proficiency in several weapons, including swords, bows, and daggers.
Q: Can a bard charm enemies to fight for them?
A: No, bards cannot charm enemies to fight for them. However, they can charm them to avoid combat or gain information.
Q: Do bards have any weaknesses?
A: Bards can struggle in combat situations where their spells and abilities are not effective. They also have lower hit points than some other classes, making them vulnerable to damage.
Q: Can bards be played as a support character?
A: Yes, bards are excellent support characters, with access to healing spells, buffing abilities, and inspiration for their allies.
By answering these frequently asked questions, we hope to have provided you with a better understanding of the bard class DND 5e colleges. If you have any more questions, feel free to consult with your DM or fellow players.
Conclusion
In conclusion, choosing the right bard college is crucial in creating a powerful and effective character in DND 5e. Each college offers unique skills, spells, and features that will greatly impact your playstyle and abilities.
The College of Lore provides versatility and knowledge, making it an excellent choice for those who want to be a jack-of-all-trades. The College of Valor is ideal for those who want to be a combat-focused bard, while the College of Glamour and College of Whispers are perfect for those who want to manipulate and charm their way through the game. The College of Swords is an excellent choice for those who want to focus on weapon combat, while the College of Eloquence is perfect for those who want to be a persuasive diplomat.
When choosing your bard college, it’s essential to consider the role that your character will play in the party and choose a college that complements their abilities. By doing so, you’ll be able to unleash the full power of your bard character and enhance your overall gaming experience.
We hope that this comprehensive guide has provided you with the information you need to make an informed decision on which bard college to choose. Remember, the choice you make will greatly impact your character’s abilities and playstyle. Choose wisely and have fun exploring the world of DND 5e as a bard!
