Bard Character Handbook
The Simple Approach Edition November 2024
The Bard Character Handbook is a deep dive into one of the most beloved archetypes in fantasy roleplaying, the bard. But before you roll your eyes, this isn't your average "sing songs and tell stories" bard fluff. This system-agnostic sourcebook is packed with fresh takes on how to make bards stand out, offering tons of creative possibilities for any fantasy roleplaying setting. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a first-timer, you’ll find something here that breaks away from the same tired stereotypes.
What makes this handbook different? It’s all about the storytelling, collaboration, and most importantly, your agency as a player. Every decision you make as a bard shapes the narrative and affects the world around you. It's designed for players who want to lean into roleplaying, where your words have weight, your songs stir emotions, and your stories can change the course of an entire campaign. The focus here isn’t on mechanics; it’s on how you play the character. You won't just be a supporting act to the fighter's sword-swinging and the wizard’s spell-slinging. You'll be the linchpin, the one who ties the group together, drives the narrative, and influences the setting in ways no one else can.
But let’s be clear: this isn't about making the bard some overpowered demigod. It’s about adding depth and nuance, providing the tools you need to craft a bard that feels essential to the story, whether that means talking your way out of a confrontation or using your wit and charm to rally a kingdom. And because this is system-agnostic, you can plug it into any fantasy roleplaying game you're already playing, without worrying about having to tweak the mechanics.
Fans of heroic fantasy roleplaying will appreciate how Bard Character Handbook brings a familiar archetype into new, imaginative territory. If you're tired of playing the same old "buff the party" bard, this book gives you everything you need to break free and build a character with personality and purpose. It doesn’t hand you all the answers, it gives you the tools to craft your own, within the collaborative storytelling environment of your favorite roleplaying system.
A Universal Sourcebook
An earlier edition of this book was originally created as a system-agnostic toolkit, and retails that function in this edition. However, it’s now fully compliant with The Simple Approach and games using that system and philosophy, including The Foragers Guild. You don’t need it to play one of our games to use this material, so feel free to throw its elements into any other roleplaying system your choice.
If you’re looking to use it with a different roleplaying system, don’t worry. For advice on translating material between systems, grab the Lightspress Handbook,available wherever you found this book.
Navigating This Book
Here’s what you can expect inside these pages:
Background: First off, we break down what it means to be a bard. Whether you’ve played a dozen or are new to the character type, we dive into the appeal of bards in modern roleplaying. Bards have a reputation for being the silver-tongued entertainers, but there’s more beneath the surface. This section explores why bards have stuck around in fantasy for so long and why they’re more relevant than ever in today’s character-driven narratives.
Traits: What makes a bard a bard? You’ll find a comprehensive list of common traits and abilities that define this character type. These traits are designed to be easily slotted into any system you’re using or to inspire you to create your own unique abilities. Whether you’re interested in the traditional role of a bard as a social manipulator or want to expand their magical and combat capabilities, the tools are here.
Resources: Bards don’t just rely on their charm and wit. They have access to a wealth of resources that make them valuable both in and out of combat. This section covers equipment, contacts, and other assets that bards might call upon. From enchanted instruments to a network of informants, you’ll find everything you need to outfit your character for success.
Variants: Bored of the same old bard? We’ve got you covered. This section offers creative twists on the bard archetype, showing how this versatile profession can fit into different settings. Whether you're playing in a high-fantasy world or a low-magic setting, we’ve got ideas to inspire you to create your own take on the bard. These variants allow for customization and versatility, ensuring that no two bards are ever the same.
Worldbuilding: To support the existence of bards in your setting, you’ll need to think about the world around them. This section provides insights on how to craft a world where bards thrive, whether as wandering minstrels, court advisors, or revolutionary figures. What does a setting need to allow bards to flourish? What implications does the existence of bards have on your world’s culture, politics, and magic? We answer these questions and more.
Factions: Bards rarely operate in a vacuum. This section examines the various factions, guilds, and organizations that bards might be part of, or opposed to. From artistic societies to political networks, we explore the different groups that bards can interact with, and how these connections can shape their stories.
Adventures: Creating adventures for a bard? We’ve got advice on that too. Bard-led adventures are unique, leaning into themes of persuasion, manipulation, and performance. This section shows how to craft stories that play to a bard’s strengths, ensuring they’re not just along for the ride but driving the narrative forward.
Artifacts & Relics: Bards have ties to powerful artifacts, sacred relics, or items of cultural significance. This section is filled with bard-centric magical items, from enchanted instruments to relics of lost civilizations, offering MacGuffins for your fantasy adventures.
Creatures of Influence: Bards have a unique relationship with creatures, as allies or adversaries. Here, we explore bard-inspired creatures and their connections to the profession. These creatures can play a significant role in your adventures, whether as foes to be outwitted or allies to be won over.
Reference: We finish up with a handy reference section that includes stock characters, factions, creatures, and equipment, along with notes on how to convert this material into your system of choice. There’s also a glossary of frequently used terms and a bibliography of the works we drew from while creating this handbook.
216 pages. PDF and epub files included.
The Simple Approach Edition November 2024
The Bard Character Handbook is a deep dive into one of the most beloved archetypes in fantasy roleplaying, the bard. But before you roll your eyes, this isn't your average "sing songs and tell stories" bard fluff. This system-agnostic sourcebook is packed with fresh takes on how to make bards stand out, offering tons of creative possibilities for any fantasy roleplaying setting. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a first-timer, you’ll find something here that breaks away from the same tired stereotypes.
What makes this handbook different? It’s all about the storytelling, collaboration, and most importantly, your agency as a player. Every decision you make as a bard shapes the narrative and affects the world around you. It's designed for players who want to lean into roleplaying, where your words have weight, your songs stir emotions, and your stories can change the course of an entire campaign. The focus here isn’t on mechanics; it’s on how you play the character. You won't just be a supporting act to the fighter's sword-swinging and the wizard’s spell-slinging. You'll be the linchpin, the one who ties the group together, drives the narrative, and influences the setting in ways no one else can.
But let’s be clear: this isn't about making the bard some overpowered demigod. It’s about adding depth and nuance, providing the tools you need to craft a bard that feels essential to the story, whether that means talking your way out of a confrontation or using your wit and charm to rally a kingdom. And because this is system-agnostic, you can plug it into any fantasy roleplaying game you're already playing, without worrying about having to tweak the mechanics.
Fans of heroic fantasy roleplaying will appreciate how Bard Character Handbook brings a familiar archetype into new, imaginative territory. If you're tired of playing the same old "buff the party" bard, this book gives you everything you need to break free and build a character with personality and purpose. It doesn’t hand you all the answers, it gives you the tools to craft your own, within the collaborative storytelling environment of your favorite roleplaying system.
A Universal Sourcebook
An earlier edition of this book was originally created as a system-agnostic toolkit, and retails that function in this edition. However, it’s now fully compliant with The Simple Approach and games using that system and philosophy, including The Foragers Guild. You don’t need it to play one of our games to use this material, so feel free to throw its elements into any other roleplaying system your choice.
If you’re looking to use it with a different roleplaying system, don’t worry. For advice on translating material between systems, grab the Lightspress Handbook,available wherever you found this book.
Navigating This Book
Here’s what you can expect inside these pages:
Background: First off, we break down what it means to be a bard. Whether you’ve played a dozen or are new to the character type, we dive into the appeal of bards in modern roleplaying. Bards have a reputation for being the silver-tongued entertainers, but there’s more beneath the surface. This section explores why bards have stuck around in fantasy for so long and why they’re more relevant than ever in today’s character-driven narratives.
Traits: What makes a bard a bard? You’ll find a comprehensive list of common traits and abilities that define this character type. These traits are designed to be easily slotted into any system you’re using or to inspire you to create your own unique abilities. Whether you’re interested in the traditional role of a bard as a social manipulator or want to expand their magical and combat capabilities, the tools are here.
Resources: Bards don’t just rely on their charm and wit. They have access to a wealth of resources that make them valuable both in and out of combat. This section covers equipment, contacts, and other assets that bards might call upon. From enchanted instruments to a network of informants, you’ll find everything you need to outfit your character for success.
Variants: Bored of the same old bard? We’ve got you covered. This section offers creative twists on the bard archetype, showing how this versatile profession can fit into different settings. Whether you're playing in a high-fantasy world or a low-magic setting, we’ve got ideas to inspire you to create your own take on the bard. These variants allow for customization and versatility, ensuring that no two bards are ever the same.
Worldbuilding: To support the existence of bards in your setting, you’ll need to think about the world around them. This section provides insights on how to craft a world where bards thrive, whether as wandering minstrels, court advisors, or revolutionary figures. What does a setting need to allow bards to flourish? What implications does the existence of bards have on your world’s culture, politics, and magic? We answer these questions and more.
Factions: Bards rarely operate in a vacuum. This section examines the various factions, guilds, and organizations that bards might be part of, or opposed to. From artistic societies to political networks, we explore the different groups that bards can interact with, and how these connections can shape their stories.
Adventures: Creating adventures for a bard? We’ve got advice on that too. Bard-led adventures are unique, leaning into themes of persuasion, manipulation, and performance. This section shows how to craft stories that play to a bard’s strengths, ensuring they’re not just along for the ride but driving the narrative forward.
Artifacts & Relics: Bards have ties to powerful artifacts, sacred relics, or items of cultural significance. This section is filled with bard-centric magical items, from enchanted instruments to relics of lost civilizations, offering MacGuffins for your fantasy adventures.
Creatures of Influence: Bards have a unique relationship with creatures, as allies or adversaries. Here, we explore bard-inspired creatures and their connections to the profession. These creatures can play a significant role in your adventures, whether as foes to be outwitted or allies to be won over.
Reference: We finish up with a handy reference section that includes stock characters, factions, creatures, and equipment, along with notes on how to convert this material into your system of choice. There’s also a glossary of frequently used terms and a bibliography of the works we drew from while creating this handbook.
216 pages. PDF and epub files included.
The Simple Approach Edition November 2024
The Bard Character Handbook is a deep dive into one of the most beloved archetypes in fantasy roleplaying, the bard. But before you roll your eyes, this isn't your average "sing songs and tell stories" bard fluff. This system-agnostic sourcebook is packed with fresh takes on how to make bards stand out, offering tons of creative possibilities for any fantasy roleplaying setting. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a first-timer, you’ll find something here that breaks away from the same tired stereotypes.
What makes this handbook different? It’s all about the storytelling, collaboration, and most importantly, your agency as a player. Every decision you make as a bard shapes the narrative and affects the world around you. It's designed for players who want to lean into roleplaying, where your words have weight, your songs stir emotions, and your stories can change the course of an entire campaign. The focus here isn’t on mechanics; it’s on how you play the character. You won't just be a supporting act to the fighter's sword-swinging and the wizard’s spell-slinging. You'll be the linchpin, the one who ties the group together, drives the narrative, and influences the setting in ways no one else can.
But let’s be clear: this isn't about making the bard some overpowered demigod. It’s about adding depth and nuance, providing the tools you need to craft a bard that feels essential to the story, whether that means talking your way out of a confrontation or using your wit and charm to rally a kingdom. And because this is system-agnostic, you can plug it into any fantasy roleplaying game you're already playing, without worrying about having to tweak the mechanics.
Fans of heroic fantasy roleplaying will appreciate how Bard Character Handbook brings a familiar archetype into new, imaginative territory. If you're tired of playing the same old "buff the party" bard, this book gives you everything you need to break free and build a character with personality and purpose. It doesn’t hand you all the answers, it gives you the tools to craft your own, within the collaborative storytelling environment of your favorite roleplaying system.
A Universal Sourcebook
An earlier edition of this book was originally created as a system-agnostic toolkit, and retails that function in this edition. However, it’s now fully compliant with The Simple Approach and games using that system and philosophy, including The Foragers Guild. You don’t need it to play one of our games to use this material, so feel free to throw its elements into any other roleplaying system your choice.
If you’re looking to use it with a different roleplaying system, don’t worry. For advice on translating material between systems, grab the Lightspress Handbook,available wherever you found this book.
Navigating This Book
Here’s what you can expect inside these pages:
Background: First off, we break down what it means to be a bard. Whether you’ve played a dozen or are new to the character type, we dive into the appeal of bards in modern roleplaying. Bards have a reputation for being the silver-tongued entertainers, but there’s more beneath the surface. This section explores why bards have stuck around in fantasy for so long and why they’re more relevant than ever in today’s character-driven narratives.
Traits: What makes a bard a bard? You’ll find a comprehensive list of common traits and abilities that define this character type. These traits are designed to be easily slotted into any system you’re using or to inspire you to create your own unique abilities. Whether you’re interested in the traditional role of a bard as a social manipulator or want to expand their magical and combat capabilities, the tools are here.
Resources: Bards don’t just rely on their charm and wit. They have access to a wealth of resources that make them valuable both in and out of combat. This section covers equipment, contacts, and other assets that bards might call upon. From enchanted instruments to a network of informants, you’ll find everything you need to outfit your character for success.
Variants: Bored of the same old bard? We’ve got you covered. This section offers creative twists on the bard archetype, showing how this versatile profession can fit into different settings. Whether you're playing in a high-fantasy world or a low-magic setting, we’ve got ideas to inspire you to create your own take on the bard. These variants allow for customization and versatility, ensuring that no two bards are ever the same.
Worldbuilding: To support the existence of bards in your setting, you’ll need to think about the world around them. This section provides insights on how to craft a world where bards thrive, whether as wandering minstrels, court advisors, or revolutionary figures. What does a setting need to allow bards to flourish? What implications does the existence of bards have on your world’s culture, politics, and magic? We answer these questions and more.
Factions: Bards rarely operate in a vacuum. This section examines the various factions, guilds, and organizations that bards might be part of, or opposed to. From artistic societies to political networks, we explore the different groups that bards can interact with, and how these connections can shape their stories.
Adventures: Creating adventures for a bard? We’ve got advice on that too. Bard-led adventures are unique, leaning into themes of persuasion, manipulation, and performance. This section shows how to craft stories that play to a bard’s strengths, ensuring they’re not just along for the ride but driving the narrative forward.
Artifacts & Relics: Bards have ties to powerful artifacts, sacred relics, or items of cultural significance. This section is filled with bard-centric magical items, from enchanted instruments to relics of lost civilizations, offering MacGuffins for your fantasy adventures.
Creatures of Influence: Bards have a unique relationship with creatures, as allies or adversaries. Here, we explore bard-inspired creatures and their connections to the profession. These creatures can play a significant role in your adventures, whether as foes to be outwitted or allies to be won over.
Reference: We finish up with a handy reference section that includes stock characters, factions, creatures, and equipment, along with notes on how to convert this material into your system of choice. There’s also a glossary of frequently used terms and a bibliography of the works we drew from while creating this handbook.
216 pages. PDF and epub files included.