A Dungeon World Wiki
Bard


Race[]

  • Elf: When you enter an important location (your call) you can ask the GM for one fact from the history of that location.
  • Human: When you first enter a civilized settlement someone who respects the custom of hospitality to minstrels will take you in as their guest.


Alignment[]

  • Chaotic: Spur others to significant and unplanned decisive action.
  • Good:: Perform your art to aid someone else.
  • Neutral:: Avoid a conflict or defuse a tense situation.


Classic DW Names[]

  • Elf: Astrafel, Daelwyn, Feliana, Damarra, Sistranalle, Pendrell, Melliandre, Dagoliir
  • Human: Baldric, Leena, Dunwick, Willem, Edwyn, Florian, Seraphine, Quorra, Charlotte, Lily, Ramonde, Cassandra


Classic DW Look[]

Choose One From Each:

  • Knowing Eyes, Fiery Eyes, or Joyous Eyes
  • Fancy Hair, Wild Hair, or Stylish Cap
  • Finery, Traveling Clothes, or Poor Clothes
  • Fit Body, Well-fed Body, or Thin Body


Stats[]


Starting Moves[]

Bardic Lore[]

Choose 1 area of expertise:

When you first encounter an important creature, location, or item (your call) covered by your bardic lore you can ask the GM any one question about it; the GM will answer truthfully. The GM may then ask you what tale, song, or legend you heard that information in.


Arcane Art[]

When you weave a performance into a basic spell, choose an ally and an effect:

  • Heal 1d8 damage+1d4 forward to damage
  • Their mind is shaken clear of one enchantment
  • The next time someone successfully assists the target with aid, they get +2 instead of +1

Then roll+Cha.

  • On a 10+, the ally gets the selected effect.
  • On a 7-9, your spell still works, but you draw unwanted attention or your magic reverberates to other targets affecting them as well, GM’s choice.


Charming and Open[]

When you speak frankly with someone, you can ask their player a question from the list below. They must answer it truthfully, then they may ask you a question from the list (which you must answer truthfully).

  • Whom do you serve?
  • What do you wish I would do?
  • How can I get you to __________?
  • What are you really feeling right now?
  • What do you most desire?


A Port in the Storm[]

When you return to a civilized settlement you’ve visited before, tell the GM when you were last here. They’ll tell you how it’s changed since then.


Classic GW Gear[]

  • You have dungeon rations (5 uses, 1 weight).

Choose one instrument, all are 0 weight for you:

  • Your father’s mandolin, repaired
  • A fine lute, a gift from a noble
  • The pipes with which you courted your first love
  • A stolen horn
  • A fiddle, never before played
  • A songbook in a forgotten tongue

Choose your clothing:

  • Leather armor (1 armor, 1 weight)
  • Ostentatious clothes (0 weight)

Choose your armament:

  • Dueling rapier (close, precise, 2 weight)
  • Worn bow (near, 2 weight), bundle of arrows (3 ammo, 1 weight), and short sword (close, 1 weight)

Choose one:

  • Adventuring gear (1 weight)
  • Bandages (0 weight)
  • Halfling pipeleaf (0 weight)
  • 3 coins


Classic DW Bonds[]

  • This is not my first adventure with __________. .
  • I sang stories of __________ long before I ever met them in person.
  • __________ is often the butt of my jokes.
  • I am writing a ballad about the adventures of ___________. .
  • __________ trusted me with a secret.
  • __________ does not trust me, and for good reason.


Level 2-5 Moves[]

When you gain a level from 2-5, choose from these moves.

Healing Song[]

When you heal with arcane art, you heal +1d8 damage.


Vicious Cacophony[]

When you grant bonus damage with arcane art, you grant an extra +1d4 damage.


It Goes To Eleven[]

When you unleash a crazed performance (a righteous lute solo or mighty brass blast, maybe) choose a target who can hear you and roll+Cha.

  • On a 10+ the target attacks their nearest ally in range.
  • On a 7–9 they attack their nearest ally, but you also draw their attention and ire.


Metal Hurlant[]

When you shout with great force or play a shattering note choose a target and roll+Con.

  • On a 10+ the target takes 1d10 damage and is deafened for a few minutes.
  • On a 7–9 you still damage your target, but it’s out of control: the GM will choose an additional target nearby.


A Little Help From My Friends[]

When you successfully aid someone you take +1 forward as well.


Eldritch Tones[]

Your arcane art is strong, allowing you to choose two effects instead of one.


Duelist’s Parry[]

When you hack and slash, you take +1 armor forward.


Bamboozle[]

When you parley with someone, on a 7+ you also take +1 forward with them.


Multiclass Dabbler[]

Get one move from another class. Treat your level as one lower for choosing the move.


Multiclass Initiate[]

Get one move from another class. Treat your level as one lower for choosing the move.


Ultra-Advanced Moves[]

When you gain a level from 6-10, choose from these moves or the level 2-5 moves.


Healing Chorus[]

Replaces: Healing Song When you heal with arcane art, you heal +2d8 damage.


Vicious Blast[]

Replaces: Vicious Cacophony When you grant bonus damage with arcane art, you grant an extra +2d4 damage.


Unforgettable Face[]

When you meet someone you’ve met before (your call) after some time apart you take +1 forward against them.


Reputation[]

When you first meet someone who’s heard songs about you, roll+Cha.

  • On a 10+, tell the GM two things they’ve heard about you.
  • On a 7-9, tell the GM one thing they’ve heard, and the GM tells you one thing.


Eldritch Chord[]

Replaces: Eldritch Tones When you use arcane art, you choose two effects. You also get to choose one of those effects to double.


An Ear For Magic[]

When you hear an enemy cast a spell the GM will tell you the name of the spell and its effects. Take +1 forward when acting on the answers.


Devious[]

When you use charming and open you may also ask “How are you vulnerable to me?” Your subject may not ask this question of you.


Duelist’s Block[]

Replaces: Duelist’s Parry When you hack and slash, you take +2 armor forward.


Con[]

Replaces: Bamboozle When you parley with someone, on a 7+ you also take +1 forward with them and get to ask their player one question which they must answer truthfully.


Multiclass Master[]

Get one move from another class. Treat your level as one lower for choosing the move.


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