Hey all this is the second in a series of blogs as we discuss our Classes and their design intentions. With each blog the Class' updated Playbook is going to be released so the Arcanist and Bard have received updates!

Bards

The Bards are masters of the performing arts, utilising art for inspiring and sometimes magical effects. This Class maintains its support role with the addition of more leadership abilities.

Core Aspects: These are much like the Bard Class they are based off of.

Unique Aspects: All Classes gain a unique Inspired action and Mark of Fate effect. For the Bard this allows you to spend a Mark of Fate to regain a use of your Bardic Inspiration Feature. While your Inspired action, to make a Skill Roll with a +5 bonus to the Test's TTV. With he Bard release you will also see some new Class Tags based on Class Families, these are Expert, Fighter, Mage, and Priest. They have no direct mechanical effects at the moment but Classes with common family tags may have similar effects such as Experts getting to choose any Skill rather than from a set list.

Arcane Potential

This is the biggest change for Bards. They when gaining this Feature have to make a Choice they may either become Spellcasters or Leaders. 

Spellcasting works like old Bard in that they are a full caster, however no they Prepare spells either from the Cosmic or Primordial Spell List (chosen when they gain the Feature), this is harkening back to Bard's roots in earlier editions being a Class that required druidic training. There are a number of aspects unique to the Bard when it comes to this Feature. A Bard can pick their Spellcasting Trait when they gain the Feature based on how they use their art, they always treat spells with the Tonomancy Spell Tag as being part of their Spell List, and when using Artisan Tools or Musical Instruments as a Spellcasting Focus, if the artistic medium used for the Spellcasting Focus is audible you can ignore the Somatic Components of the spell, whereas if the artistic medium used for the Spellcasting Focus is visual, you can ignore the Verbal Components of the spell. If the medium is both visual and audible you can only ignore one kind of Spellcasting Component. 

Inspiring Leader works by letting you pick a number of actions called Feats of Leadership to gain equal to the number of Cantrips known in the Bard Table. Leadership Trait is chosen much like Spellcasting Traits and these action allow you non-magical means of supporting your allies. It also provides a modified version of the Aid

Artist of Renown

This Feature offers you a choice between different Features aimed at where you may use your fame for a variety of RP effects. This isn't a powerful Feature but leans into the Class Fantasy of the Bard being a travelling artist.

Bardic Inspiration

This Feature works like the original Bard Feature, bar it is a reaction to bestow the die when a ally fails a Trait Test. As you gain Bard Levels it will gain additional triggers and effects. They can be used to power your Feats of Leadership and certain College effects.

Bardic Specialisation

We are now onto Level 2 with you making another choice based on what you want to specialise on. This Feature replaces Song of Rest and lets you choose between Destructive Focus, Directive Focus, Manipulative Focus, or Restorative Focus Class Feature. Each choice provides a different kind of party buff bestowed when your party completes a rest. If you chose Spellcasting you also gain a themed list of Spells that are always Prepared.

Bardic Training

This is a combination of Jack of all Trades and

Bardic College

This Feature is first gained at level 3 with further unlocks at levels 6, 10, and 14. As covered in the Arcanist Class preview, one difference to note from level 6 onwards is you can choose to either progress through a subclass's 4 tiers or to pick up the first tier of a different subclass. 

Feats

This Feature is first gained at level 4 with further unlocks at levels 8, 12, 16, and 19. Importantly each time you would gain this Feature you can increase one Trait's value by 1 AND gain a Feat. We would advise looking at the Spellcasting Feats such as the Rapid Caster or Rescuer's Summon Feats, while those choosing a leadership path find the Artistic Experience or Leadership Training Feats useful.

Bardic Knowledge

This Feature at level 5 allows an Bard to perform the Study action for 1AP. It also allows a Bard a special use of the Study action to see if, with your bardic knowledge, you know about local individuals of note, or legendary or noteworthy areas or items. This can also Identify Items as if you had cast the Identify spell

Quick Thinking

This Feature at level 5 gives Bards more RP some more skills, lets you use the Bardic Inspiration reaction multiple times within a turn, and lets you expend a Spell Slot to recharge your Bardic Inspiration uses.

Reliable Inspiration 

From 7th level, this buffs your Bardic Inspiration letting it target multiple entities (useful for aiding the party to avoid fireballs), and lets you use it to increase healing or damage dealt by spells and powers.

At Higher Levels

From here on many Features are building off the principles of lower levels, from modifying your Bardic Inspiration, more modifications based on your chosen specialisation, and of course Magical Secrets letting all Bards gain more spells, with spellcasters gaining expanded Spell Lists. 

Bardic Colleges

There are a number of Bardic Colleges that As can gain access to.

College of Bowsong

This college is based around mastering the use of the Lyrebow a Weapon that is both a Longbow and a Musical Instrument. This Features different songs you can play to buff your allies while also increasing your own combat effectiveness.

College of Chromaturgy

This college is based around mastering painting. When you complete a Long Rest you may produce different kinds of Painting which when used will cast certain spells. While other Features increase the effectiveness of your spellcasting. 

College of Chronicles

This college is based around recording the legend of your party and calling upon the stories of the past for knowledge to aid you. As the party's legend grows so does their chronicle, which you can call upon for aid. It also interacts with the Summon Limit Break option.

College of Fools

This college is based around physical comedy acts, the college of clowns, jesters, and fools. The college grants you ways to stay out of danger while dubuffing your enemies.

College of Heartdance

This college is based around dancing and thrown weapon combat. This Features different dances you can perform to buff your allies, especially a chosen dance partner, while also increasing your own combat effectiveness.

College of Leadership

This college is based around increasing the effectiveness of Bardic Inspiration and Feats of Leadership.

College of Lore

This college is follows its traditional counterpart.

College of Masks

This college is based around donning different persona based on character's from the stage. It has a heavy focus on espionage and disguises.

College of Veilsong

This college is based around divination magic and communing with the dead. This allows you to see the dead, make deals with them, and gain boons from them to grant you different combat effects.

College of Warverse

This college is based around martial combat. You gain the Martial Class Tag and can use martial weapons, its about weaving magic with attacks and being a spectacular duellist.  

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So that is the Bard I hope people find this Class interesting and feel free to ask questions or give feedback! The draft document has been updated to reflect the above. Hopefully it gives you a sign of where we are taking this game!