One D&D Playtest 6: Bard

Here follow my notes on the Playtest 6 Bard class.

For more context and my Standard Disclaimer, check out the introduction to this series.

Base Class

  • Proficiencies: Still just Simple weapons, so still no rapiers.
  • Starting Equipment: In the previous UA, Bards started with 1 dagger, 1 shortsword, and 18 gp. They now start with 2 daggers and 26 gp. Probably because shortswords are back to being Martial weapons?
  • Bardic Inspiration: Has mostly reverted to the 2014 form, where it is given as Bonus Action in anticipation of future use. Now it’s used explicitly where the recipient knows they’ve failed a d20 Test, and it can be retained for up to an hour. The healing option from the previous UA apparently backfired and led to resource hoarding. I was a fan of having this be an in-the-moment reaction, so while this version has some improvements, the overall reversion is kind of disappointing.
  • Spellcasting (level 1): Bards now choose a primary spell list from one of the Big Three: Arcane, Divine, or Primal, and they have access to the whole list. This is a BIG improvement over the previous UA iteration, yes please and thank you. This list determines which cantrips are available (fine). One cantrip can be replaced during level ups. A big change from the previous UA iteration is that prepared spells can no longer be replaced after long rests; changing spells only happens on level ups, and only one previously prepared spell can be replaced. This is probably fine, but some play testers may see it as a nerf. Curiously, the language is “spells prepared” even though this is now clearly a “spells known” mechanic. I’m guessing this is to make the language consistent from one class to another, but gosh, folks on Reddit are sour about it.
  • Expertise (level 2, was level 3 in PHB) remains unchanged. Guess we just get it earlier now, okay.
  • Jack of All Trades (level 2, was level 5 in UA, was level 2 in PHB) is back at level 2. Okay, good.
  • Song of Rest/Songs of Restoration (removed! Formerly level 2) are just gone entirely now. I guess that’s the cost of getting access to Divine and Primal spell lists!
  • Subclass (level 3): Same as it ever was for Bards, but it’s officially the new standard for all classes, which I like.
  • Ability Score Improvement (level 4): An ASI or a Feat; curious that the language has reverted to ASI from Feat in the previous UAs. Does this signal leaning away from Feats?
  • Font of Inspiration (level 5, was level 7 in UA, was 5 in PHB) is back to level 5 (GOOD!) and now lets you convert a spell slot to a Bardic Inspiration use if you’re all out. That kind of resource exchange seems to be a common theme for many classes now, which is a reasonable choice. The prior UA’s “roll a 1, and it doesn’t use up the Bardic Inspiration Die” rule has been eliminated (kind of a bummer).
  • Subclass Feature (level 6): Same as prior UA and PHB. Okay.
  • Countercharm (level 7, gone from UA, level 6 in PHB) is back in, though now instead of granting advantage, it lets the Bard use their reaction to cause the save to be re-rolled with advantage. I’m kind of iffy on this — it gives one party member a much better chance to save, but doesn’t do the group buff any more. On the other hand, it only consumes a reaction instead of an entire action, so you could now attack and Countercharm, or cast a spell and Countercharm.
  • Ability Score Improvement (level 8): Or a Feat, same as on 4.
  • Expertise (level 9, level 10 in PHB) stays where it was in the prior UA. Fine.
  • Magical Secrets (level 10, level 11 in UA, level 10 in PHB) is back at level 10 and now unlocks all three of the ”Big Three” spell lists. Nice! Note however that you still only gain one spell at this level under the ”spells prepared” model.
  • Dead Level (level 11). Back to being a dead level, as it was in the 2014 PHB. +1 spell known, +1st level 6 spell slot.
  • Ability Score Improvement (level 12): Or a Feat, same as on 4.
  • Dead Level (level 13). This was also a dead level in the previous UA. In the PHB, Song of Rest was upgraded here. Now it’s just +1 spell known, +1 level 7 spell slot.
  • Subclass Feature (level 14): Same as the prior UA. In the PHB this also had another round of Magical Secrets.
  • Dead Level (level 15). Just a Bardic Inspiration Die upgrade as it was in previous iterations, and +1 spell known, +1 level 8 spell slot.
  • Ability Score Improvement (level 16): Or a Feat, same as on 4.
  • Dead Level (level 17). This was also a dead level in the previous UA. In the PHB, Song of Rest was upgraded here. Now it’s just +1 spell known, +1 level 9 spell slot.
  • Superior Inspiration (level 18, level 18 in UA, level 20 in PHB) was “Superior Bardic Inspiration” in the prior UA, but is back to the 2014 name. Subtly, it now only refreshes Bardic Inspiration uses if you’ve got none left, instead of always refreshing two uses when rolling initiative. I like neither of these changes, but it’s still better and sooner than in the 2014 PHB.
  • Ability Score Improvement (level 19): Or a Feat, same as on 4.
  • Words of Creation (level 20) replaces the Epic Boon from the prior UA (disappointing since Epic Boons were starting to get cool) but it’s a better capstone than the 2014 PHB’s version of Superior Inspiration. What I struggle with here is that they stated Twinned Spell was overpowered for the Sorcerer, while giving Bards a zero-extra-cost twinned casting of Power Word Kill or Power Word Heal. My grumbles are probably moot as it’s not like anyone will ever get here anyway.

College of Dance

  • Dazzling Footwork (level 3) encourages the Bard to not wear armor, giving them AC based on DEX and CHA; letting them make an extra unarmed strike when expending a Bardic Inspiration; and using DEX for unarmed strikes. Sure, I guess?
  • Inspiring Movement (level 3) moves the Bard, and helps an ally to move, without provoking Opportunity Attacks, as a reaction, at the cost of a Bardic Inspiration. Maybe cool? I could see this being situationally useful, and something to help make combat positioning more dynamic.
  • Leading Evasion (level 6) is basically “Group Evasion”, and one level sooner than the Rogue’s Evasion. Super handy if you’re clustered up and get hit with a Fireball, breath weapon, etc. Could be very cool.
  • Tandem Footwork (level 6) uses Bardic Inspiration to give members of your party a bonus to initiative rolls. Nice!
  • Irresistible Dance (level 14) permanently adds Otto’s Irresistible Dance to your repertoire, and lets you cast it for free once per long rest. Kind of a weird way to cap off a subclass, but it’s at least on brand.

College of Glamour

  • Beguiling Magic (level 3, formerly Enthralling Performance) focuses on Enchantment and Illusion. Charm Person and Mirror Image are always prepared, and once per long rest you can try to charm or frighten a target immediately after casting a spell from these schools. This feels far more practical than the version from Xanathar.
  • Mantle of Inspiration (level 3) has been modified to give 2 x a Bardic Inspiration Die roll temp hit points instead of a static number of hit points. There’s definitely risk here from rolling a 1 or 2, but any better than that and the reward is great. Could lead to some fun moments, I guess?
  • Mantle of Majesty (level 6) is tweaked to permanently add Command to your repertoire and allows the feature to be recharged in exchange for a level 3 spell slot. If you liked the previous one, this is even better.
  • Unbreakable Majesty (level 14) now only triggers when you’re hit for the first time, and completely nullifies the attack if the attacker fails their save. Successful saves no longer give the attacker disadvantage to save against the Bard’s spells. Crawford giveth, and Crawford taketh away.

College of Lore

  • Bonus Proficiencies (level 3) have been restored to any three skills. Good.
  • Cutting Words (level 3) can once again reduce damage rolls as well as ability checks and attack rolls. It’s back because Bardic Inspiration no longer has healing capabilities. Fine.
  • Magical Discoveries (level 6) is the new “Additional Magical Secrets” and now allows replacing one of the additional spells on level ups. Nice!
  • Peerless Skill (level 14) now benefits attack rolls as well as ability checks (good!). Like the previous UA, it specifically triggers when you fail one of these rolls, so there’s less chance that you waste it on what would’ve already been a success.

Unfortunately a couple of fun things got removed. Pour one out for Cunning Inspiration (which let users of Bardic Inspiration dice take the better of two rolls) and Improved Cutting Words (which added psychic damage to Cutting Words). I’m particularly sad about Improved Cutting Words, but presumably I will feel better about it in the context of the updated, harder-hitting Vicious Mockery.

College of Valor

  • Combat Inspiration (level 3) now triggers its defense on a hit (less wasteful, more exciting), and the offensive option applies to all attacks, not just weapon attacks. These are both good changes.
  • Martial Training (level 3) is the new Bonus Proficiencies. In addition to the far better name, it allows the use of a Simple or Martial weapon as a spellcasting focus. Small changes both, but welcome.
  • Extra Attack (level 6): same as the 2014 version. If it ain’t broke…
  • Battle Magic (level 14) is slightly reworded, but mechanically identical to the 2014 version.

Hot Takes

  • The Bard Base Class here is a mixed bag. Some features are definitely better (and I really like the “pick a spell list” thing), but there are a fair number of disappointments where interesting things have been reverted or removed instead of refined.
  • The College of Dance makes sense thematically that it should exist, and the Inspiring Movement, Leading Evasion, and Tandem Footwork abilities are useful. I don’t personally find the fantasy of it appealing, but I think the people who like it will really like it.
  • The College of Glamour changes seem positive for the most part. I’m fine with it, though I don’t see it changing my interest in actually playing it. (Now, give me a College of Gilmour that focuses on sweet electric guitar solos and I’m in!)
  • The College of Lore is a mixed bag. It’s an improvement over the 2014 version, but disappointingly abandons fun ideas from the previous UA.
  • The College of Valor changes are pretty minor. While the tweaks are good, they’re just that. Nice, but not super inspiring.

I have enjoyed playing a Bard in the past, and would probably play one of these Bards in the future. Of the offerings here, I’m most likely to play College of Valor or College of Lore.

Lukewarm Takes

I have recently read some discussion about the drawbacks of reaction-based Bardic Inspiration, and I have to admit they’ve got a point. It is kind of a bummer to only be able to use BI to support a single party member in a given turn and it is kind of a bummer to forego other reaction-based abilities and spells.

So, in short, there’s just no winning.