Making Dex-Bards Viable

[Dr. B]

Dexterity-based Bards conjure the familiar trope of a debonair and beguiling swashbuckler. Unfortunately, they have virtually no damage sources and can be quite lackluster. Here, therefore, is a suggestion:

This applies to characters who (1) have two-third (~66.6%) or more of their character levels in Bard* and (2) have the weapon finesse feat. If the character meets those criteria, the following goes into effect:

1. The character no longer adds their strength modifier to damage.

2. Rather, their damage is now modified by their dexterity.

3. Moreover, the modifier is staggered to be +1 damage for every 4 points in dex, instead of every two (so 1+1 at 14, +2 at 18, etc). This means they will do less damage than a strength-based character, but their damage will still be acceptable.

*The two-thirds requirement is prevent some cheesiness that could result from certain multiclass combinations.

[Irongron]

Rejected.