I was curious about a Melee Bard
So I quickly made one up. It's unrefined, and I didn't buy much equipment, but it might give somebody else a base for how to proceed. I don't claim it's particularly powerful, just OK.
I decided to use the longsword 2 handed (with weapon focus) because 1d8+2 is better than a feat wasted on a bigger sword (to hit turned into damage via power attack).
Dwarven Bard Build
30 point buy
Dwarven 10th level Bard: Strength 20 (10 points +2 level ups +2 item), Dex: 14 (6 points), Con 20 (10 points +2 race +2 item), Wis 8 (0 points), Int 8 (0 points), Ch 14 (4 points +2 item).
Levels: Bard10
Feats: Power Attack; Weapon Focus (Longsword); Improved Toughness; Improved Bard Song (custom feat) or Cleave
Base Movement: 30’/round
Hit Points: 10 + 9*9 = 91 + IToughness (10) = 101
To hit: +5 (strength) +7 (BAB) + 1 (focus) + 2 (magic) = +15
After bone horn: +18 / +13 to hit
Damage: (Always uses longsword 2 handed) 1d8 + 7 (str) + 2 (magic) = 1d8 + 9
After bone horn; 1d8 + 12
Base Saves: 3/7/7 (Fort/Ref/Will) so total is +8/+9/+6 with stats (Dwarven bonuses not added)
AC: +2 Mithral Breast Plate (+7) +2 (dex) = 19
AC = 25 when in Troglodyte form
Equipment: +2 Charisma item, +2 Strength item, +2 Con item, +2 Longsword, other stuff as money permits
Abilities
1. Inspire Greatness (+2/+2) is (+3/+3) when using the bone horn with no save bonuses (bone horn in song & silence)
2. Other Bard class abilities
3. Dwarven abilities
Spells: (4/4/2) per day known is 4/4/4
1st level: CLW, Feather Fall, Grease, XXX
2nd level: Alter Self, Mirror Image, Glitterdust, Silence
3rd level: Dispel Magic, Haste, Gaseous Form, Blink
CONCEPT:
The Dwarven bard spends 1 round (MAX) buffing before each battle. Hopefully, your GM will allow an “improved bard song” feat that allows the bard to start inspiring courage as a free action; this is well within the feat power range granted to other classes (casting while in animal form for druids, divine metamagic for clerics, etc.). If this feat is available, 1 round buffing time is enough; as a MEA put bone hone to lips, blow, inspire courage as a free action, drop bone horn, cast buffing spell (often mirror image). Then wade into battle.
A dwarven bard has excellent saves, good con offsetting the bad fort saves some.
Mirror Image negates the disadvantage of a low AC when using a weapon with 2 hands. Unless your opponent has true seeing or whirwind attack, you are safe. The Dwarf bard always uses the longsword with 2 hands, and often burns his “bard bonuses” to hit to grant better damage.
For example, +3/+3 to hit/damage turns into +0/+9 damage after power attacking for 3.
This puts the dwarf’s output at +15/+10 to hit, for 1d8 + 21 damage per hit.
At 10th level, +15 is just barely adequate "to hit," not great, but the damage output is very solid (+21). A Fighter10 is doing more damage and hitting more often, of course, but this Bard is no slouch. Hit points are good as well (101). All in all, a reasonably capable melee tank type. If you want to hit more for less damage, drop the power attack to zero.
This Dwarven Bard can also use long-lasting Alter Self (100 min. per casting) to go into Troglodyte form and gain +6 natural bonus to AC. Giving a buffed AC of 25 – this without deflection or other bonuses. That’s good for a 2-handed weapon user. Could buy magic items to get this to 30 with some effort I suppose. Use buckler defense feat thing and use a +2 buckler for more AC if desired.
Of course Spell DC’s are terribly low, that’s why there are no attack spells. He’s a melee bard, not a spell slinger. Next level he gets level 4 spells; Freedom of Movement and Dimension Door are the biggies here!
At some point buy a +4 to Charisma item, perhaps at Bard level 12 or 13.
Ok back to real work.
