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

[WanderingMystic]

If Clerics still get wrathful smite on their list like they did in ua7 then Magic Initiate cleric will be a strong feat for a Dance or especially Valor bard who does want more melee.

 

[Marandahir]

If Clerics still get wrathful smite on their list like they did in ua7 then Magic Initiate cleric will be a strong feat for a Dance or especially Valor bard who does want more melee.

I think there was major pushback on this. I would expect that the way they'd go about this is give Wrathful Smite to the War Cleric on its Domain list, so that it's not poachable?

 

[Marandahir]

Yeah, I was actually a bit shocked to realize that, other than the reaction which costs a bardic inspiration... they don't HAVE any mobility features. It feels like they should honestly, even if it is something minor like a +10 movement speed.

might be a good feat choice, but yeah, that's shocking to me too. I wonder if there's a "let your ally move again spell" that will be on the Bard list?

 

[Burnside]

I'm surprised that the revised Valor Bard doesn't look more like the Swords bard, as the Swords bard always felt like an attempt to fix the Valor bard to me.

 

[Marandahir]

I'm surprised that the revised Valor Bard doesn't look more like the Swords bard, as the Swords bard always felt like an attempt to fix the Valor bard to me.

I mean, it looks more like Bladesinger Wizard and Eldritch Knight Fighter, but doesn't have to be about Swords. So in this regards its its own fix for v5.0-5.1 Valour.

 

[Burnside]

I mean, it looks more like Bladesinger Wizard and Eldritch Knight Fighter, but doesn't have to be about Swords. So in this regards its its own fix for v5.0-5.1 Valour.

I mostly meant that I expected them to replace Combat Inspiration (pretty bad) with the Sword bard's flourishes (pretty good).

 

[Marandahir]

I mostly meant that I expected them to replace Combat Inspiration (pretty bad) with the Sword bard's flourishes (pretty good).

My issue with that is that it pigeon-holes College of Valour into Sword-Bard.
Bow is a very viable Valour option, as are other weapons. It's a broader concept.

 

[Burnside]

My issue with that is that it pigeon-holes College of Valour into Sword-Bard.
Bow is a very viable Valour option, as are other weapons. It's a broader concept.

Yes - I thought they'd go the BG3 route and make the flourishes applicable to ranged attacks.

The Swords bard also got a Fighting Style, which I think the Valor Bard should have, but I'm not really 100% clear on how Fighting Styles will now work anyway.

 

[Marandahir]

Yes - I thought they'd go the BG3 route and make the flourishes applicable to ranged attacks.

I guess in that regards the College of Swords is a very specific call back to the knife-eating performer, the Blade kit of 2e. College of Valour is the Bardic Warlord.

 

[mellored]

I'm not really 100% clear on how Fighting Styles will now work anyway.

End result is pretty much the same.

You pick from +2 to hit with ranged attacks, +1 AC, +modifier damage when you two weapon fight, ect...
Protection got buffed somehow.

They have just shuffled into feats.

Kind of like how ability score boost have moved from race to background, but the total is still the same.