D&D (2024) 2024 Player's Handbook reveal: "New Bard"

[OB1]

I'm not really sure about that, at least in damage dealing part. I feel valor bard can't fulfill the DPR output the whole team need and their Combat Inspiration become almost only applicable on themselve and dance bard.

True that the party DPR would be lower, but the groups ability to mitigate enemy DPR (healing, charm, defense buff) should prove enough to keep them well ahead of the curve in combat, not to mention being capable of avoiding combat all together in many situations.

 

[jolt]

In the next game I'm playing, I'm making a Bard who's an orator. Their name is Snarf Zagyg. I've submitted it to WotC I. I hope they make it the iconic Bard for the next edition. I think I've got a shot!

 

[Yaarel]

In the next game I'm playing, I'm making a Bard who's an orator. Their name is Snarf Zagyg. I've submitted it to WotC I. I hope they make it the iconic Bard for the next edition. I think I've got a shot!

Lawyers are Bards.

Lore Bards to be more precise.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

With the usual caveat of it being a potentially out of date source, here's the Lore Bard's Magical Discoveries feature from UA6:
View attachment 372260

As it is worded, this would be a way to get higher level spells as a multiclass chataracter. You only need spell slots of a certain level to get access.

I also allows swapping one more spell on level up, so you can migrate to higher levels prepared spells faster. So it stays a relevant ability level later on.
Also, it could be the only way to access cross class cantrips without spending a feat.

 

[ART!]

Lawyers are Bards.

Lore Bards to be more precise.

Especially if you say it with a Delco accent!

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Gonna be really, really hard picking between Glamour and Dance.

And maybe more than any other class, it feels like a party of 4 Bards with each of the subclasses would be an extremely capable group. Nice mix of magic and matial early, expertise covers a lot of skill check ground, and once they hit level 10 they have access to a massive range of spells to deal with higher level threats.

Edit: Once question I have. Do Bards now prepare spells after a long rest (like Clerics, Druids and Wizards), or can they just swap out 1 (or more) when they level up? Wasn't clear in the video.

Band on the Run

 

[Burnside]

This is kind of huge? But also not? In my experience most bards never did use Magical Secrets to grab from PAladins and Rangers, and Warlock had very little of interest. Most of the time when people made things like the Swift Quiver build it was pretty easily shown to not be worth it.

I have seen Lore bards grab Find Steed from the Paladin list, which was a pretty solid choice.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I love trantmonks commentary at the end of the bard video where he answers to the ranger complains everywhere.

He says, he just does not get the rage about the ranger's first level feature. I guess if treantmonk is fine with it, it is totally ok. He is more often right than wrong.

 

[Marandahir]

I'm so glad that they kept the Arcane/Divine/Primal spell lists in the forms of the Wizard/Cleric/Druid spell lists, since this clearly identifies that Bards are tapping into all 3 of these magical traditions. But more so, I prefer this to selecting one list and then getting all of them at 10 -- instead you get a Bard list that is sort of a hybrid of all three from the start and at level 10 you have the largest spell list in the game to draw on, and with that you can really craft an Arcane, Divine, or Primal Bard, or likely some wild fusion of any or all of these!

This is the best possible outcome for the Bard given the loss of the Power Source spell lists. I wish they hadn't left me worrying about this for months by never showing us the revised Bard after the death of the Power Source spell lists, but I guess I should have had more faith. I was literally holding my breath on whether I'd have to homebrew a Bard class variation that preserved this UA feature because it felt so RIGHT for my idea of Bards. Now I'm glad I don't have to tinker with the playtesting further myself. <3

 

[GarrettKP]

I love trantmonks commentary at the end of the bard video where he answers to the ranger complains everywhere.

He says, he just does not get the rage about the ranger's first level feature. I guess if treantmonk is fine with it, it is totally ok. He is more often right than wrong.

It’s always been a solid feature that people are blowing out of proportion. Glad Treant understands that and hopefully people start taking his view into consideration. I suspect when people like Chris and Colby (D4) start showing builds and numbers people will calm down about the whole thing.