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The mostly fearless leader of our favorite new adventuring party, Edgin Darvis is the man with the plan. The human bard, played by Chris Pine in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, knows a thing or two about pulling off a heist against all odds and living to tell the tale. And he tells it well. Edgin is a charming storyteller, a veteran thief, the leader of the party, and a loving dad. Can this jack of all trades wear all those hats without everything coming crashing down?

For info on updates to the Bard class in D&D 2024, click here!

Origin Story

No two bards in Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition are exactly alike, but they all share a love of stories. Edgin is no different. He once lived a life straight out of an adventure story with the Harpers of Waterdeep, a daring group of spies and operatives. But Edgin crossed the wrong people and lost just about everything dear to him, including his joy for performing music.

It wasn’t until he met Holga, his sister in arms, that Edgin picked up his lute again and found a new passion. Granted, that passion was stealing things, but they really are quite good at it. 

Bard Characteristics

Bards bring music and magic together. They’re always on the hunt for the next great tale to tell. To keep the attention (and occasionally the gold pieces) of an audience, above all else bards must be charismatic. Think about your bard’s area of expertise when you begin character creation. Are they a lute-playing minstrel, like Edgin? Or perhaps they specialize in dance, oration, or poetry? Who taught them to love the arts?

Bards like Elgin wear sturdy clothes, like his stylish gray doublet, or other light armor. His weapon of choice is a dagger, easily concealed. Other bards carry longswords, rapiers, or shortswords, but Elgin prefers to keep his cards close to his chest.

Bards are also adept at inspiring their friends and allies to go above and beyond. Sometimes it’s with a song, sometimes it’s with a rousing speech. Edgin is particularly good at talking just about anyone into anything. How would your bard give Inspiration to the people in the party?

Creating Your Own Bard Like Edgin

Ready to join the party’s ranks as a musically-inclined thief like Edgin? Here’s how to get started! 

Bards use Charisma for their spellcasting ability; that means that Charisma should be the character’s highest ability score. Bards use their Charisma modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a spell and when making an Attack roll against a menacing enemy. Their other saving throw is Dexterity. Make that the character’s second highest ability score.

To specialize in smooth-talking subterfuge as a bard, pick up Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything. With that book in hand you can choose the College of Eloquence for your character’s Bard College when they reach 3rd level. These bards have the gift of gab and can talk themselves out of almost every tricky situation. Also at 3rd level, your character can choose two skill proficiencies; pick Persuasion and Sleight of Hand as a nod to Edgin.

Is your bard the plan maker in the party? Take a look at the Gambler background from Acquisitions Incorporated. Like Edgin, these characters have a knack for considering the odds to make the right play. They’ll also gain Skill Proficiency in Deception and Insight, both incredibly handy skills for a scoundrel to have.

Finally, choose at least one Feat when leveling up, and make it Tavern Brawler from the Player’s Handbook to complete your Honor Among Thieves-inspired bard. Edgin’s been known to get into a good bar scrap or two. 

Stat Block

Ready to add the fast-talking bard from Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves to your D&D game as a sidekick or NPC? Here’s one suggestion for adding the thief with a heart of gold to your next game session.

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Edgin the Bard

Medium humanoid (human), chaotic good

Armor Class 13 (leather armor)

Hit Points 59 (5d8)

Speed 30 ft.

STR 9 (-1) DEX 15 (+2) CON 15 (+2) INT 13 (+1) WIS 11 (+0) CHA 17 (+3)

Saving Throws Dex +5, Cha +6

Skills Deception +6, Performance +6, Persuasion +9, Sleight of Hand +8

Senses passive Perception 10

Languages Common, understands Undercommon

Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)

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Spellcasting. Edgin is a 4th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell attacks). Edgin has the following spells prepared:

Cantrips (at will): friends, prestidigitation, vicious mockery

1st level (4 slots): charm person, healing word, heroism, sleep, thunderwave

2nd level (3 slots): suggestion, locate object, knock

3rd level (2 slots): motivational speech, fast friends

4th level (2 slots): confusion, dimension door

Song of Rest. Edgin can perform a song while taking a Short Rest. Any ally who hears the song regains an extra 1d6 Hit Points if it spends any Hit Dice to regain Hit Points at the end of that rest. The bard can confer this benefit on himself as well.

Tavern Brawler. Edgin is proficient with improvised weapons.

Actions

Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.

Bonus Actions

Taunt (2/day). The bard can use a bonus Action on its turn to target one creature within 30 feet of it. If the target can hear Edgin, the target must succeed on a DC 12 Charisma saving throw or have disadvantage on Ability Checks, Attack rolls, and Saving Throws until the start of the bard’s next turn.