D&D (2024) Bard houserule: Bard's get the same starting weapon proficiency as Rogues

[Kobold Avenger]

In the 2024 PHB Bards only get proficiency in all simple weapons, and lose proficiency in rapiers and whips. I'm aware that for many Bards they'll probably never bother to use a rapier unless they take one of the subclasses that grant them all weapon proficiencies at 3rd level, but using a rapier was something that I felt was thematic for many Bards. So one of the things I'd do about the Bard is to houserule them to have proficiency in all simple weapons and martial weapons that have the light or finesse properties.

 

[Xeviat]

Works for me. The only "concern" is it does make True Strike better, and the bard has lower damaging cantrips all around. But we're talking about +1 damage over most simple weapons when you go up to a d8, and light crossbow is already a d8, so I'm not overly concerned.

 

[Ashrym]

Works for me. The only "concern" is it does make True Strike better, and the bard has lower damaging cantrips all around. But we're talking about +1 damage over most simple weapons when you go up to a d8, and light crossbow is already a d8, so I'm not overly concerned.

Bards don't use shields so they can truestrike with a great club, spear, or staff for d8 anyway too. The difference is without truestrike the bard is only really likely to use daggers and a light crossbow.

It's benefitting the bard who might start with blade ward and minor illusion instead, for example. The difference is practically cosmetic in the long run and won't hurt anything.

 

[aco175]

Bards don't use shields so they can truestrike with a great club, spear, or staff for d8 anyway too. The difference is without truestrike the bard is only really likely to use daggers and a light crossbow.

I can see a spell that copies truestrike but with CHA instead of INT. Maybe just open up the spell for both.

 

[DrJawaPhD]

I can see a spell that copies truestrike but with CHA instead of INT. Maybe just open up the spell for both.

True Strike already uses Charisma if that is your spellcasting ability, so it works great for Bards as is

 

[Horwath]

Just start as 1st level fighter... everyone is doing it...