Bard

Bard Type Elemental/Mental Semi Spell Circles Minor Elemental, Bard Base Prime Requisites Influence, Aura Mana Statistics Influence, Aura

Physical Skills Skill Cost Ranks Two Weapon Combat 3/2 2 Armor Use 5/0 2 Shield Use 5/0 2 Combat Maneuvers 8/4 2 Edged Weapons 3/1 2 Blunt Weapons 4/1 2 Two-Handed Weapons 7/2 2 Ranged Weapons 4/2 2 Thrown Weapons 3/1 2 Polearm Weapons 6/1 2 Brawling 3/1 2 Ambush 4/4 1 Multi Opponent Combat 7/3 1 Physical Fitness 4/0 2 Dodging 6/6 2

Magical Skills Skill Cost Ranks Arcane Symbols 0/4 2 Magic Item Use 0/4 2 Spell Aiming 3/10 1 Harness Power 0/5 2 Elemental Mana Control 0/6 1 Mental Mana Control 0/6 1 Spirit Mana Control 0/12 1 Spell Research 0/17 2 Elemental Lore 0/8 1 Spiritual Lore 0/20 1 Sorcerous Lore 0/18 1 Mental Lore 0/8 1

General Skills Skill Cost Ranks Survival 2/2 2 Disarming Traps 2/3 2 Picking Locks 2/1 2 Stalking and Hiding 3/2 2 Perception 0/3 2 Climbing 3/0 2 Swimming 3/0 2 First Aid 2/1 2 Trading 0/2 2 Pickpocketing 2/1 2

Bards are a profession of singers, dancers, and performers that specialize in the magic created by the sound of music. Bardic magic is elemental and mental in nature, and bards are considered a semi profession that makes them effective in both the use of magic and the use of weaponry.

Bards have the ability to perform loresinging, which can divine the special properties of items. In some cases, loresongs may bring out a story from a particular item, often called a loresong itself.

Combat Maneuvers List

Bards also have the ability to train in the following combat maneuvers. None of which are exclusive to the bard profession.

• Charge
• Cheapshots
• Combat Focus
• Combat Mastery
• Combat Movement
• Cunning Defense
• Dirtkick
• Disarm Weapon
• Feint
• Garrote
• Hamstring
• Multi-Fire
• Precision
• Shield Bash
• Side by Side (prereq: Combat Movement at rank 2)
• Spin Attack
• Subdual Strike
• Sweep
• Trip
• Unarmed Specialist

Bard Statistic Growth Rates

For more information see the page on statistic growth rates.

Bard Stat Growth Rates

Profession	Strength	Constitution	Dexterity	Agility	Discipline	Aura	Logic	Intuition	Wisdom	Influence
Bard	25	20	25	20	15	25	10	15	20	30

Note: The table above is the baseline statistic growth rates. These values are actually modified for every race in GemStone IV, including humans.

Resources

• A beginner's guide to playing a bard (work-in-progress)
• SONG (verb)
• Guides by Whirlin: Two Hander, One Hander, Archer, Pure, Two Weapon Bard Guide
• Officials main folder
• Loresinging and Purifying Gems Guide

Bard Profession
Spell Circles:	Bard Base Minor Elemental
Professional Highlights:	Sonic Weapons, Shields, & Armor Purifying Gems Loresinging Bardic Luck Talismans
Popular Archetypes:	Spellblade Lancer Sonic Disruptor ("Pure Bard")