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Classes in Dungeons & Dragons are there to define a large part of the character. Primarily, they define what resources a character has in combat and suggests the best style to use them efficiently. There’s still a lot to put together, like race, background, and subclass. It can all be a little overwhelming for new players. So, we’re here to help in one of the grandest Dungeons & Dragons traditions of them all—taking inspiration from other media and bringing those characters to your table!
Whether you’re a player looking for inspiration or a Dungeon Master looking for a quick NPC, the characters we discuss here (and the ones suggested in the comments) will offer a variety of sources for your next great character. Our only rule is that we won’t be using any obvious fantasy inspirations since those are usually covered in the D&D books already. This week, we’re starting with everyone’s favorite entertainers: the bards!
Jareth the Goblin King
We probably could have picked a different David Bowie persona for each of the bard subclasses for this article and gone home early. We chose Jareth for a few reasons. He’s a pretty clear inspiration for the College of Glamour bard for one. Those connections to the fey as a power source also offer some great opportunities to take the PCs to the Feywild for some strange adventure. Ultimately, it’s his drive to be feared, obeyed and loved that make him a good charact to use as inspiration. Bards are often the butt of jokes because of their theatrical tendencies, and this bard has had enough of it. If they won’t take you seriously, make them take you seriously.
Kubo
This stop motion film offers a great story full of Asian influences, but it also offers a great example of a bard who gets things done. Kubo’s shamisen offers an exotic sound to any campaign that uses music during a game. He has a divine lineage that he explores through the film and makes an interesting take on the College of Valor. He knows these legends because he’s directly related to them. They could be powerful allies…or they can complicate his life more than he likes. Kubo’s ability to animate origami also works a fun way to retheme spells to fit a character. Magic missile could just as easily be origami cranes swooping to sting a target. (Now wouldn’t THAT be cool.)
Tenacious D
Kyle Gass and Jack Black’s rock duo aren’t entirely fictional…but they are clearly influenced by the time spent playing D&D in their youth. While there is not an official College of Rock, a character featuring Black’s personality would be a great fit for the College of Blades, while Kyle’s quiet mastery makes him a great choice for the College of Lore. Every wanted to know what a bard’s song about heroic details of their battles would sound like? Look no futher than the duo’s Wonderboy, complete with a totally D&D music video.
Tell us in the comments: who would you choose to model a bard after?
Want more RPG goodness?
- Follow up with our Beginner’s Guide to creating a Bard!
- Here are some 1st-level spells to put a little spring in your misty step.
- Not sure about a class? Here’s our guide to which are the easiest to play.
Images Credits: The Henson Company, Dreamworks Animation, New Line Cinema
Rob Wieland is an author, game designer and professional nerd. He’s worked on dozens of different tabletop games ranging from Star Wars and Firefly to his own creations like CAMELOT Trigger. He can be hired as a professional Dungeon Master for in-person or remote games. His Twitter is here. His meat body can be found in scenic Milwaukee, WI.