5 Backstory Ideas for Your Bard in Dungeons and Dragons (D&D)

Bards are one of the most variable classes in the game, able to provide useful skills, a variety of spells and serve as a group’s main support. Now it’s time to come up with a backstory to help bring your character to life. Here are five intriguing ideas to use in your game, or to build off of to create a unique character you’ll love to play.

#1: Bardic Colleges

The simplest and most straightforward methods of elaborating on your bard’s backstory is to determine where your Bard learned his craft. While some bards might have learned these skills naturally or through a wandering mentor, the majority of bards actually went to academies known as Colleges in earlier editions of D&D. From the Fochlucan College in Silverymoon, fabled allies with the Harpers, to Mac-Fuirmidh of the Moonshae Isles, there are many established Bardic Colleges in the Forgotten Realms to choose from that your character might have attended.

Even if you aren’t playing in the established D&D world for 5e, creating a Bardic College is a simple way of establishing your character in the world. It allows you to create classmates, professors, and gives you a spot to return home to in the campaign world. It also provides your DM a menagerie of NPCs he might want to build, and if your character was a particularly memorable graduate, your former professors might have quests to spur along your adventures. The possibilities are endless!

#2: Wandering Minstrels or Circus

Another entertaining idea for your bard is to be part of a troupe of entertainers. Maybe your bard used to be part of a band of minstrels, travelling from town to town. Maybe there was a disagreement with your partners, or maybe you just wanted to strike out on your own for a while. Another large entertaining industry is the circus! With a bard's unique set of skills for entertaining, whether it be speaking or playing your instrument, you’d fit right in amongst the circus.

This is another example of a backstory idea that allows you to present an organization to your DM that you’ll be able to work on together. Deciding who your bandmates or fellow circus performers can give you friends and contacts to fall on, or if your departure went poorly, even minor villains and rivals to bring up in the future. Either way, it’s sure to be entertaining!

#3: The Jester or Royal Fool

This backstory fits in for any player who wants to be a part of a noble’s or king’s court. You’ve spent your life entertaining for the higher-ups, likely paid more than the average entertainer you were able to spend your life in a reasonable amount of comfort, but of course you had to humiliate yourself to do so. So why did you leave? What forced you out onto the road?

Perhaps your antics were not so well received by a visiting diplomat. Or perhaps you were caught up in an affair with a noble’s husband or wife. Perhaps you insulted the king himself, and you had to flee or be executed. Either way, your character has fallen from comfort to being a fugitive from powerful individuals. Decide if you want to retain connection to power and nobility or if your character has cast off that old life, either by choice or not.

#4: The Spy

Bards are the perfect face characters, with high Charisma and lots of skills. True skill-monkey archetypes like the Lore Bard fit into this niche the best. The Spy either works freelance or for an organization. It could be nobility, the army, or even the Harpers ( a well known bardic spy organization). Either way, you grew up learning the skills to be other people, to use your charisma to blend in instead of stand out.

Perhaps you’ve been sent off on a secret mission with the party, or maybe your cover was blown and you had to flee in the dead of night. Either way, your backstory will provide levels of intrigue and daring that others might not. In addition, the DM has the ability to provide you with quests, and make the shady looking NPC in the corner of the tavern your friend. Have fun with your spy, are they more James Bond or Carmen Sandiego, you decide.

#5: The Instrument

The most outlandish idea on this list, bardic instruments are famous for their powers and magic. What if your instrument was magic, could be part of a prophecy or it could have a quest all its own. If you want to make it truly special, ask the DM if your instrument might be sentient. Perhaps a great bard (or something else) has long since been trapped inside. However you want to play it, the magical instrument makes for an extra special backstory.

Perhaps before you found the violin in the basement of that run down tavern you weren’t anyone special at all, but now when you pick it up to play you can do things you never dreamed of. Maybe the soul inside the instrument isn’t a mentor or a tutor but a fiendish force, and you wield its power only with the promise that you will one day be forced to release it upon the world. Let your imagination run wild!

If you like this article or any others I have written, consider liking, subscribing, tipping or pledging here on Vocal as it really helps me continue writing! If you're looking for other Bard articles follow the links below!

• Archetypes for Bards
• Backstories for Bards Pt. 2
• Magic Items for Bards
• Best Spells for Bards
• Best Feats for Bards

If you're looking for Backstory Ideas for other classes, check out the links below!

• Barbarian
• Bard
• Cleric
• Druid
• Fighter
• Monk
• Paladin
• Ranger
• Rogue
• Sorcerer
• Warlock
• Wizard