Ampersand: The Bard (merged)

[Baumi]

And again another awesome class that I would play in an instant

To bad that we didn't get to see some weapon-powers since I always pictured the Bard to be a mixture of Martial and Arcane Class (attacking with Weapons and Charming with spells). But I am quite sure that they concentrated on Implement Powers in this Article so that we can playtest them already.

Hmm... I just wonder if you count as a martial Class if you multiclass to a Rogue. That would enable you to become a Bard-Rogue Whip Master (Weapon-Multiclass needs you to be a Martial Character)

The Song of Rest is weak IMHO since in my experience you usually use your leader-healing in the restphase (10 minute Rest versus 5 minutes is normally not a problem). If the song would be as strong as Majestic Word at level 6+ then it would be awesome but at the moment I would only see use at low levels and if the whole group is down (where you might need half a dozen or more Healing Powers and therefore 30min+).

 

[Hadrian the Builder]

Does anyone else think there's a case for power creep here?

 

[Baumi]

Does anyone else think there's a case for power creep here?

Why?

He seems to me quite balanced to the Cleric and Warlord without stepping on their toes.

 

[Rechan]

To bad that we didn't get to see some weapon-powers

Echoes of the Guardian is a weapon power. See the Weapon keyword. It also attacks AC.

 

[Larrin]

Which stats does he use? Implements? I honestly hope we don't get instruments as an implement....i think i would cry.

 

[thecasualoblivion]

Which stats does he use? Implements? I honestly hope we don't get instruments as an implement....i think i would cry.

Which stats: Cha to attack, Int/Con secondary. Looks like Half-Elves and Gnomes line up perfectly

Implements: Wands, though there are things called Songblades which count as Bard implements, and some(though not all) magical instruments can be used as an implement. Primarily wands though.

 

[Rechan]

Why?

He seems to me quite balanced to the Cleric and Warlord without stepping on their toes.

The Cunning or Valor class features are pretty potent, considering that they function every round, rather than like the Warlord who only functions when action points are used.

The Song of Rest is pretty potent. No other class can do short-rest healing.

He's also sliding people about, friend and foe, which seems to be a controller/warlord thing.

So it has the illusion of being pretty dang powerful, or a hodgepodge of other classes. Not to mention the multi-class potentials.

 

[Rechan]

Anyone else notice there's only one power that keys off the Virtue of Cunning thing? That really disappoints me. I'd like the class features to be a little more influential.

 

[Cadfan]

Hmm.

Overall, I like it. I tend to think that the Virtue of Valor is way, way better than the Virtue of Cunning, but then my group tends to run with a lot of highly maneuverable melee pcs who don't particularly need someone to help them position themselves. They'd rather have the temporary hit points.

A lot of effects which slide allies. Remind me- can you refuse a slide that you do not want? I don't think this will be a problem at the table if you can't, because I permit table talk, and my players aren't jerks. "Want me to slide you?" "No." But I can see it being an issue for people on the internet tubes.

A whole lot of class features.

Words of Friendship could have just been a flat bonus. Making it per encounter is slightly different from a flat bonus, but not incredibly different. I'd probably have just simplified and made it a flat +3.

Fighters are the Leader's best friend, I'm noticing. Misdirected Mark + Fighter? Any kind of Warlord + Fighter? Etc, etc.

Vicious Mockery stacks with Psychic Lock... should be a lot of fun there at paragon tier.

What's the capital F in the keyword block?

More powers that affect allies and not yourself. Will have to keep my eye open for those.

Dissonant Strain is a triumph of the use of fluff to justify mechanics.

Unluck totally stole stuff I was going to give to my homebrew Hexblade! Even the name of the power! Hey!

I'm not really a fan of bards thematically, but mechanically, the class seems pretty sound. And for the most part it seems to capture the whole "bard" feel pretty well. The only thing that's missing from the preview that would have really helped with the "look and feel" of "bard" versus "generic leader" was instruments. Since Perform is dead as a skill*, the bard isn't tied all that tightly to the musicality of the class' flavor. Instruments in the preview would have helped.

* This is something I support, because I don't believe an entire skill should exist just for the Bard, and because I believe that Perform as a skill is malignant for other classes. It essentially forces you to give up important skills if you want a flavorful benefit like being able to sing halfway decently. There's really no balance reason, or even meaningful flavor reason, why "able to carry a tune" should trade off with "able to swim," unless you're a Bard.

 

[Weregrognard]

Heh. The Vicious Mockery at-will attack pretty much disproves the "sticks and stones" saying (psychic damage + effect)