D&D 5E Anyone else think the Bard concept is just silly?

[Brandegoris]

[MENTION=6867337]Brandegoris[/MENTION] I highly recommend you read Guy Gavriel Kay's Song For Arbonne. It is an excellent book, but it also gives a good view of a culture in which one would be hard pressed to argue that a troubadour is "silly".

Unless you view art, in general, as inherently silly, in which case...I don't even know because I can't fathom any human being thinking that, and not immediately disliking them! LOL

I will certainly check it out. I would Like very much to NOT find the bard silly and contrary to what some may believe I love music and art .
Granted if I made a Bard character I might have to make a 1/2 Orc that regurgitated Metallica songs, But its a start

 

[BookBarbarian]

Count how many times the word MUSIC was mentioned in your post and then tell me its not about music....:/

That'a a pretty terrible point. One can't argue against something without mentioning that thing, and suggesting that mentioning it is always an argument for it is downright silly.

 

[Garthanos]

I am happily surprised that others that didn't share my viewpoint decided to chime in because it actually has changed my perspective a bit .

I was happily surprised to hear that as well as "changing of perspectives" is not necessarily common or commonly owned up to.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[thewok]

Count how many times the word MUSIC was mentioned in your post and then tell me its not about music....:/

Sixteen. It's not about music.

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[Brandegoris]

Sixteen. It's not about music.

Sent from my SM-G935V using EN World mobile app

Wrong.. I mean I guess we can disagree about it all day really. I will just agree to disagree. I mean if No one denies the fighter classes primary focus is fighting, The wizards is spells, etc, But for some reason we are all going to be obtuse in the quest to prove some point and willingly ignore the fact that Bard=Music to most people that hear the word uttered. I get the "Definition" is Poet, But in common every day usage it invokes images of the classic bard to the majority of people that hear the name.
If you completely minimize or remove the musical aspect of the Bard then he isn't really a bard in the classical sense. Rename that "Poetwizardthief"

 

[Chaosmancer]

Wrong

Such a wonderful comment filled with all the logic and discussion of... yeah, I'm too tired for sarcasm.

There is a difference between quantity and purpose.

You could read a book about the old south, and the heat and dryness of summer could be mentioned 100 times. The book is not about hot summers.

Just because the bard does have music tied into their identity does not mean that the entirety of their identity is music.

To throw out some examples off the top of my head. Both Einstein and Sherlock Holmes are famous and famously played the violin. They are not famous for playing the violin, in fact despite their musical prowess being quite above that of the average hobbyist, they would not be considered musicians, despite being proficient.

If you don't want the bard playing the lute in combat, don't have them do it. Done, they work just as well without it.

 

[Brandegoris]

Such a wonderful comment filled with all the logic and discussion of... yeah, I'm too tired for sarcasm.

There is a difference between quantity and purpose.

You could read a book about the old south, and the heat and dryness of summer could be mentioned 100 times. The book is not about hot summers.

Just because the bard does have music tied into their identity does not mean that the entirety of their identity is music.

To throw out some examples off the top of my head. Both Einstein and Sherlock Holmes are famous and famously played the violin. They are not famous for playing the violin, in fact despite their musical prowess being quite above that of the average hobbyist, they would not be considered musicians, despite being proficient.

If you don't want the bard playing the lute in combat, don't have them do it. Done, they work just as well without it.

If the Book about the South was Entitled "Southern Summers" and mentioned the weather that Much we could be fairly certain of what it was about.
BARD is the "Title" of this class. Bards are linked Heavily to MUSIC. Ta da!

Einstein didn't claim to be a Bard either so yeah...It makes sense that though he was a great Violinist it wasn't his primary focus. So If Einstein starts claiming that he should be referred to as a Bard and that he always be addressed as such, then I think its fair that his music would be expected to be front and center. Can't really be any clearer.
Also I don't play a bard that plays music in combat. So I guess I covered that one.

 

[Tallifer]

Anyone else think the Bard concept is just silly?

No. I suspect you think most fairy tales are silly too, but they are the roots of mediaeval fantasy.

 

[Otterscrubber]

I just treat them like regular spellcasters, it's a flavor thing, I dont really have them singing a 6 second song when they cast spells. Don't over think it