Making a bard perform EPIC (as a DM)


Advice


Hi all,

For most character classes, its rather easy to tailor an encounter specifically for that class. Each has its strengths so when you give an enemy with high CR, but weaknesses against these, you can make them feel more epic.

In our group we have a bard, but I don't really get the class. The player itself isn't so fond of combat and has tailored his character so he has huge roleplay uses, but not so much combat uses. I would like to engage him and put him in the spotlight in a combat. In the past, we have had roleplay opportunities for him to be in the spotlight, but, we're ending with an invasion of an enemy base, and there aren't that much roleplay opportunities..
Our party consists of:
A sorceror
A magus
A cleric
A bard

The other characters I have no trouble finding a right stage to put them in the spotlight, for him though not so much. :(

Thanks,

Fjuri

Sovereign Court

Frankly if it is a social character, just have social encounters. Like they come to city and need to see a city official but the person is a fan of the local bard celebrity or opera singer, so your bard will have to best him to get the attention of the city official.

If you really insist on doing combat...maybe you could have a situation, like a monster is sleeping on a nearby island and people needs the help of said monster. The monster only responds to a good performance, so your bard can do his bardic performance to direct the monster in combat to fight off an invasion or save some people from a catastrophe. If you want to make it epic, use a Kaiju, take inspiration from Gamera, I guess.

Dark Archive

During combat have him inspire downtrodden troops(kinda what inspire courage is all about) and use one of those magical items that extends the area of his inspire courage to an area so he can just buff the entire army. You could have the other characters defend him as believe me that buff for an entire army will change the battlefield. He can still fight while performing as well if he's a high enough level. You could have them move around the enemy base to positions where he could target the losing combatants with his buff to give them the bonus they need to fight back.


In combat, Bards who mind-control the mooks can really turn the tide.


I'd say add potential roleplay elements to the base-invasion scenario: guards who can be fast-talked, princesses who can be wooed, that kind of thing. Also, you could try situations where the other side doesn't immediately leap into combat. There, the bardic Fascinate ability can come in handy.

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