A Geek’s Guide: How to Play a Bard in Dungeons and Dragons

My first ever character was a Rogue, but that just didn’t suit me. Being the stealthiest and the first to react was fun, but playing a Bard just levelled up D&D for me and turned it from something good to something great.
Here’s how to effectively play a bard in D&D!

Are you the life and soul of the party? Do you mind getting a little silly? I mean, you’re playing D&D so you probably don’t mind getting into character. If you love role playing, then you might want to try being a bard – often performers, they require a lot more role play than a smash-and-grab fighter might and they really come into their own during RP sequences…

That’s not to say you can’t be a bard regardless, just you might want to steer away from it if you’re a bit shy. If you’re normally quite flamboyant, bubbly or outgoing but find you can’t RP as it’s your first time playing, don’t worry! Your character will grow with you as you get more comfortable.

Beholder's Gaze Dice How to play a bard in Dungeons and Dragons blog post
GameOver Jumper from BooHoo, Dice from Beholder’s Gaze

When Rolling up Pick your Stats Right!

When you’re rolling up for your attributes before you begin, if you roll a variety of scores, your top score should be allocated to Charisma, and the second should be put towards Dexterity. Pick things which as a bard, you’re going to need! Charisma will help with things like performance checks – something you’ll need if you use your instruments!

Pick Complimentary Spells

Bards can have some pretty handy spells if you use them tactically! Ranged spells are usually best, and if your party doesn’t have a healer then healing spells can be pretty useful. (Although Clerics are definitely the best for that.) My spells are a lovely balanced mix of healing, psychic damage, protection, evasion and manipulation – something which all bards will boss.

How to play a bard in Dungeons and Dragons blog post Nerdy blog

Don’t take yourself too Seriously!

Quite often, people can play D&D way too seriously, which is why bards tend to get this bad rep (people say that they’re annoying, don’t do anything useful or are cowards.) Quite the contrary, I feel like I’ve done more to benefit the party as Quinver, my changeling bard, than I have as my previous rogue character. It’s all about how you can use your charisma to help the team.

Pick a Race that Compliments the Class

Depending on what playable races your DM is choosing, you could play as a race that compliments bardic nature. As a changeling, who can shape-shift at will, it really helps with the actor side of the bard as I can change my appearance as much as I please. If you’re working from the Player’s Handbook, you’d be well suited to something with natural charm and charisma… like an elf.

How to play a bard in Dungeons and Dragons blog post
D20 from Beholder’s Gaze – Opal Calm set

Don’t run into the Fight!

You’ll notice as you level up, your spells will not cause as much damage as other people’s and you’ll be quite squishy compared to others when it comes to HP… Invisibility spell has saved my character more times than I can count! Where bards really come into their own, is during RP sequences and tasks which require cunning, avoidance or deception, and also helping others to succeed!

Don’t forget to be Inspiring!

One of the best things you can do to help your fellow players, is inspire them! Of course, by playing the game FABulously but also, within combat. If you use your bonus action to inspire other players, then the dice counts towards their attack rolls or checks. It could be the difference between a hit and a miss against an enemy creature!

How to play a bard in Dungeons and Dragons blog post Bardic Inspiration
Got those D8’s at the ready, to inspire my party!

Hope this helpful guide encourages you to play a bard!

If you’ve ever played D&D before, leave me a comment with your character! Or let me know what you think about Bards?? Personally, I think they’re a severely under-rated class! Although a party of bards would get NOTHING done…

5 Comments

  1. Winona
    28th May 2019

    I play an elf bard modelled after Jonathan Van Ness- it’s so much fun! What are your thoughts on the different bard colleges?

  2. John Sharp
    29th May 2019

    I feel like I’d enjoy playing a bard, but it is one of two classes I never have (the other being paladin – I think I have played everything else at one point or another in one edition or other). I think I’d probably want to put a spin on it, take it a bit away from the tropes a little bit and perhaps move it towards a historian or counsellor of laws/statutes (or rather the equivalent given that in a fantasy setting such things woul generally be more likely to be associated with story and tradition). Either that or a spy like one of the harpers from the sword coast setting, I imagine that could be quite fun. Thanks for sharing

  3. Mariah Kaercher
    29th May 2019

    I wish I would have been a bard. I chose an Elf, but I realize my character’s personality should have been a bard.

  4. Nat
    29th May 2019

    Aww I love this post so damn much! πŸ˜€ I love being a bard and honestly I’m so glad you’re one so I knew who to go to for advice.

    I had my second session with my character Sunday gone and I really started to get more into it. As you advised though, I won’t always be the one who kills people and most of last week I had to stay back because there just wasn’t much I could do.

    I do love my little dragonborn bard. πŸ™‚

    https://theremightbecoffee.wordpress.com/

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