Overview
The Bard Class in Classical Atlantis is recognised as having several traits.
Changes to Rules in the PLAYERS HAND BOOK (Page 42)
and PHBR7 The Complete Bard's Handbook (Page 10)
These rules provide a list of Bard Rogue Abilities and limits these to Pick Pockets, Detect Noise, Climb Walls and Read Languages. These four skills do not match what would be appropriate to some of the Kits presented in the text. A Herald would not Pick Pockets or Climb Walls but would need to be able to Hide in Shadows and Move Silently to gather information when investigating. SO, the Bard Character may CHOOSE any three Rogue skills to train in - and must also take Read Languages.
The initial skill points permitted for each would be:
PICK POCKETS 10%
DETECT NOISE 20%
OPEN LOCKS 10%
FIND REMOVE TRAPS 5%
MOVE SILENTLY 05%
HIDE IN SHADOWS 05%
CLIMB WALLS 50%
READ LANGUAGES 05%
Classical Instruments
The Bards are associated not so much with the Mandolins, which are played in Atlantis, but more with the travel ready Lyres and Cithras of the day. These are much smaller instruments and far more robust, allowing for greater use on the road.
Specific Bardic Lore
Bards have a far greater affinity with death than the other classes, even Priests do not enjoy the privileges accorded to Bards.
Once a Bard has achieved 6th Level they may choose to learn Bardic Magic - this is a form of magic within the music.
Command Performance
A Bard over the course of their career can opt to start performing a series of 'command performances'. Each is a 'performance piece', requiring several actions, and quests, the completion of each gives the Bard a new version of existing abilities.
Arion's Road
To perform Arion's road the bard must have travelled to the Temple of Poseidon - called the Poseidion on Centre Reach, and cast the spell Arion's Dolphin in the Grotto there. The bard must also subsequently make their way to the coastline and have played the music in Hadean to a real Dolphin. Once this is done - the bard can cast
Arion's Dolphin in the Underworld/Hades, and the spell will allow him to ride a Lethean Porpoise or Styxian Dolphin to the Poseidion Temple if they find themselves in the Afterlife.
Comments