Creating a Thematic Bard
Through Bardic Magical Secrets, any Bard can pick up any 6-8 spells of their choosing depending on their subclass. I thought I’d go through some thematic options for a Bard to choose from to cater to different themes and archetypes the Bard aspires to do. For each, I will offer the 8 spells I would recommend if you were to play as a Lore Bard, and if you pick a different subclass, just elimate two of the options.
HEAVENLY CHOIR
6th Spiritual Weapon, Spirit Guardians
10th Flame Strike, Destructive Wave
14th Holy Weapon, Summon Celestial
18th Divine Word, Holy Aura
THAT INFERNAL BARD
6th Hellish Rebuke, Summon Lesser Demons
10th Summon Greater Demon, Planar Binding
14th Summon Fiend, Tasha’s Otherworldly Guise
18th Planar Ally, Shapechange
WOODLAND WOODWINDS
6th Spike Growth, Plant Growth
10th Grasping Vine, Wrath of Nature
14th Transport Via Plants, Wall of Thorns
18th Tree Stride, Guardian of Nature
NECRODANCER
6th Animate Dead, Summon Undead
10th Spirit of Death, Danse Macabre
14th Create Undead, Finger of Death
18th Negative Energy Flood, Antilife Shell
PYRODANCER
6th Scorching Ray, Fireball
10th Ashardalon’s Stride, Flame Strike
14th Immolation, Investiture of Flame
18th Fire Storm, Meteor Swarm
CRYODANCER
6th Ice Knife, Rime’s Binding Ice
10th Ice Storm, Cone of Cold
14th Investiture of Ice, Otiluke’s Freezing Sphere
18th Wall of Ice, Control Weather
WET T-SHIRT CONTEST
6th Tidal Wave, Wall of Water
10th Control Water, Maelstrom
14th Watery Sphere, Summon Elemental
18th Tsunami, Water Breathing
TAKE THE WORLD BY STORM
6th Thunder Step, Lightning Bolt
10th Control Winds, Storm Sphere
14th Chain Lightning, Investiture of Wind
18th Whirlwind, Storm of Vengeance
DOWN TO EARTH
6th Max’s Earthen Grasp, Erupting Earth
10th Stone Shape, Wall of Stone
14th Bones of the Earth, Move Earth
18th Investiture of Stone, Earthquake
A DANCE OF DRAGONS
6th Chromatic Orb, Dragon’s Breath
10th Elemental Bane, Summon Draconic Spirit
14th Fizban’s Platinum Shield, Draconic Transformation
18th Illusory Dragon, Shapechange
BARDS GONE FEYWILD VOL VII
6th Summon Fey, Spirit Guardians
10th Conjure Woodland Beings, Healing Spirit
14th Heal, Conjure Fey
18th Mass Heal, Wish
FIND ME SUMMON TO LOVE
6th Conjure Animals, Summon Undead
10th Summon Aberration, Summon Draconic Spirit
14th Summon Fiend, Summon Celestial
18th Summon Construct, Summon Elemental
ROCKY HORROR NIGHTMARE SHOW
6th Dissonant Whispers, Fear
10th Phantasmal Killer, Dream
14th Mental Prison, Feeblemind
18th Maddening Darkness, Weird
CLOAK AND DAGGER
6th Counterspell, Pass Without Trace
10th Death Ward, Steel Wind Strike
14th Contingency, Simulacrum
18th Feeblemind, Foresight
NECROSIS
6th Inflict Wounds, Wither and Bloom
10th Blight, Enervation
14th Harm, Finger of Death
18th Abi’s Horrid Wilting, Destructive Wave
STEP THREE: PROPHET
6th Augury, Clairvoyance
10th Divination, Commune
14th True Seeing, Detect Thoughts
18th Astral Projection, Foresight
GLOWING REVIEWS
6th Blinding Smite, Spirit Guardians
10th Destructive Wave, Wall of Light
14th Sunbeam, Crown of Stars
18th Guiding Bolt, Sunburst
SIMPLY PSIONIC
6th Mind Spike, Tasha’s Mind Whip
10th Raulothim’s Psychic Lance, Telekinesis
14th Rary’s Telepathic Bond, Synaptic Static
18th Telepathy, Psychic Scream
SONG OF WAR
6th Hunter’s Mark, Spiritual Weapon
10th Staggering Smite, Steel Wind Strike (or) Swift Quiver
14th Holy Weapon, Blade Barrier
18th Conjure Volley, Blade of Disaster
SHIELD MASTER
6th Armor of Agathys, Shield
10th Otiluke’s Resilient Sphere, Wall of Force
14th Fizban’s Platinum Shield, Globe of Invulnerability
18th Forecage, Invulnerability
MAGIC MIKE
6th Magic Missile, Glyph of Warding
10th Arcane Eye, Bigby’s Hand
14th Arcane Gate, Symbol
18th Demiplane, True Polymorph
SPELLBREAKER
6th Absorb Elements, Counterspell
10th Circle of Power, Synaptic static
14th Fizban’s Platinum Shield, Forecage
18th Feeblemind, Antimagic Field
SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED
6th Spiritual Weapon, Spirit Guardians
10th Guardian of Faith, Bigby’s Hand
14th Mordenkainen’s Sword, Blade Barrier
18th Max’s Earthen Grasp, Blade of Disaster
TWO-FACED
6th Alter Self, Water Breathing
10th Guardian of Nature, Stoneskin
14th Tasha’s Otherworldly Guise, Draconic Transformation
18th Animal Shapes, Shapechange
MASTER OF ILLUSIONS
6th Blur, Pass Without Trace
10th Phantom Steed, Creation
14th Mental Prison, Nystul’s Magic Aura
18th Illusory Dragon, Weird
A DANCE WITH DEATH
6th Wither and Bloom, Vampiric Touch
10th Blight, Enervation
14th Contingency, Soul Cage
18th Clone, Invulnerability
MERCY MAIN
6th Aura of Vitality, Beacon of Hope
10th Aura of Purity, Aura of Life
14th Heal, Regenerate
18th Mass Heal, True Resurrection
PLAGUED BY GUILT
6th Hex, Bestow Curse
10th Vitriolic Sphere, Contagion
14th Eyebite, Harm
18th Feeblemind, Weird
BLUE EXORCIST
6th Counterspell, Remove Curse
10th Dispel Evil and Good, Banishing Smite
14th Forbiddance, Plane Shift
18th Forecage, Imprisonment
BARD EX MACHINA
6th Elemental Weapon, Tiny Servant
10th Fabricate, Creation
14th Animate Objects, Summon Construct
18th Mighty Fortress, Blade of Disaster
CONCLAVE OF THE HOUND DOG
6th Hunter’s Mark, Conjure Animals
10th Swift Quiver, Conjure Volley
14th Guardian of Nature, Dominate Beast
18th Animal Shapes, Insect Plague
OATH OF MERRIMENT
6th Blinding Smite, Crusader’s Mantle
10th Find Greater Steed, Destructive Wave
14th Staggering Smite, Banishing Smite
18th Circle of Power, Holy Weapon
And of course, you can always mix and match. Going for a Fire Dragon theme? Mix the Pyrodancer and A Dance of Dragons spell lists. As an example:
LOVE AMONG THE DRAGONS
6th Dragon’s Breath, Fireball
10th Flame Strike, Summon Draconic Spirit
14th Investiture of Flame, Draconic Transformation
18th Illusory Dragon, Meteor Swarm
These are all the bard themes I could think of, but if you can think of some more that I missed, or have better suggestions for some of my choices, let me know your own thematic magical secrets builds. Obviously, these were made with the Lore Bard in mind, since it gets the most magical secrets, but I’m sure some synergize better with other bard types, such as Song of War with the College of Valor. I just used Lore as the default. How well do these magical secrets builds work for you?
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How to Play as Bugs Bunny in DnD 5e
That’s right, today we’re building the epic icon of Bugs Bunny. As the star of Looney Tunes, I could think of nobody better to start with than Bugs Bunny. Now, Bugs has a lot of tricks up his sleeve. He’s a master of disguise, misdirection, manipulation, he can pull items out of the hammerspace behind his back, and defy the laws of physics. So, clearly Bugs is some kind of all-powerful trickster. But how do we build him?
For his race, Bugs is a Harengon, a type of rabbitfolk from the feywild. We’ll give him +2 CHA, +1 DEX. As a Harengon, Bugs is a Fey type creature immune to the effects of spells like Charm Person and Hold Person that specify a humanoid target. He also gains proficiency with Perception, adds his proficiency bonus to his initiative rolls, add a d4 to a failed DEX saving throw, and jump five feet times his proficiency bonus.
For his background, Bugs is most famous for his ability to pull things over on unsuspecting maroons. We’ll label him as a Charlatan. Now, why is he not a Performer? Because Charlatans get automatic proficiency with the Disguise Kit. If there’s anything he’s known for, it’s his disguises.
In terms of Alignment, Bugs tap dances on the border between Chaotic Good and Chaotic Neutral.
BARD
COLLEGE OF CREATION
Bugs is undeniably a Bard. He has a long history as a Vaudeville type performer, even canonically being a famous performer in numerous cartoons. In one, his gags with Elmer Fudd even began as a comedy routine they performed on stage, and later evolved to make them a famous comedy duo. In others, he’s a famous celebrity famed for his career in show business. So, he’s definitely a Bard. But, what College? Well, that would be the college of creation. They can create musical notes that attack people, they can pull items out of nowhere, which by 14th level can be Huge items, they can animate objects around them like some old black-and-white cartoon from the 20s or 30s, and by late game, he can make multiple items at once. As a Bard, we get any three skills, and we’ll take Performance, Persuasion, and Stealth.
Name: Bugs Bunny
Race: Harengon
Background: Charlatan
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
STATS
STR 8 DEX 20 CON 12 INT 12 WIS 14 CHA 20
SAVING THROWS
STR -1 DEX +11 CON +1 INT +1 WIS +2 CHA +11
HP: 123
AC: 15
PB: +6
SDC: 19
SAB: +11
PP: 24
Initiative: +11
Bardic Inspiration: (5) 1d12
SKILLS
Deception (+17)
Perception (+14)
Performance (+11)
Persuasion (+17)
Sleight of Hand (+17)
Stealth (+11)
SPELLS
C Friends, Mage Hand, Minor Illusion, Prestidigitation, Vicious Mockery
1 Charm Person, Command, Disguise Self, Silvery Barbs, Tasha’s Hideous Laughter
2 Mirror Image, Enthrall, Gift of Gab, Suggestion
3 Antagonize (UA), Dispel Magic
4 Charm Monster, Confusion, Polymorph
5 Dream, Geas, Mislead
6 Mass Suggestion, Otto’s Irresistible Dance
7 Teleport (how he often ends up in the wrong place)
8 Glibness
9 True Polymorph
BARDIC MAGICAL SECRETS
10th Counterspell, Fly
14th Fabricate, Creation
18th Contingency, Reverse Gravity
WHY NOT ROGUE?
Some may wonder why I didn’t even consider the Rogue for Bugs Bunny. After all, Rogue does have some useful features. Uncanny Dodge and Evasion go a long way to make Bugs as slippery as he is, and that’s a good point. They also get another skill, giving him the chance to pick up Insight proficiency. Sneak Attack bonus also lets Bugs capitalize on his sneaky underhanded tactics. But, there’s a good reason why I chose Bard. Firstly, Arcane Trickster Rogues work off Intelligence, and Bugs is not book smart. He’s a wise guy and a charmer, but one of his common running gags is mispronouncing common sayings, like saying maroon instead of moron. Arcane Tricksters are also cut off at the 4th level, cutting Bugs off from great spells like Creation and Mislead, which go so well with his tactics. Any other type of rogue doesn’t get any spells, which deviates from where Bugs Bunny shines as a DnD Character.
Bugs is a character I’ve wanted to build for a while. I was going to do him when the Harengon came out, and then I just kind of forgot and left him sitting on a backburner. But he can do everything I would hope for. He’s clever, charming, and most importantly of all, great at manipulating people without outright brainwashing them. Just exploiting their stupidity. And since the Bard of Creation can create just about anything out of thin air, it really lets the player let their imagination run wild. Let’s see how intimidating Strahd is after he’s had an anvil dropped on his head.
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