D&D 5E Are Bards the most flexible class?

[gyor]

If you want a Bard that can compete with a necromancer use magical secrets to get animate dead and create undead and buff them with your inspiration and maybe protect them from turn undead with counter charm.

If you want more of a Beguiler Bard, go Lore Bard with thief background and pick mostly spells that were on the Beguilers spell list and enchantment/illusion spells.

If you want Warmage go Valour Bard and pick evocation spells with your magical secrets. Admittedly doesn't really kick in until higher levels without multiclassing Sorceror or Evoker.

Want a more religious Bard, pick Acolyte background, focus on healing bard spells more, use magical secrets to cherry picks favourite divine spells, Religion expertise and Persausion Expertise or Insight, and feats that grant divine magic.

Summoner Bard, pick Unseen Servant. Planar Binding, and use Magical Lore to cherry pick summoning spells, use inspiration and song of rest and counter charm to buff your summoned pets.

Smiting Bard Valour Bard that takes smites and maybe Greenflame Blade and/or Booming blade. Bonus points if you get find steed too.

Ultimate Skill Monkey Lore Bard + Thief Background (use down time to gain thieves tools prof) + Skilled feat (like 11 skill profs).

 

[Brandegoris]

Every time someone plays a Bard I die a Little inside. Silliest class in the world. If I was being attacked by Orcs and some dude pulled out a lute and started singing I would kick his A*s after the battle. Just a silly concept LOL

 

[dafront]

I would say clerics.
They heal and support, they do good damage via spells and they have very high AC with plate.

Bards
They heal and support, they debuff but have no decent damage spells, their ac is pretty low. Only until they start using their magical secrets on damage spells, is when they start doing damage but they lack the sustained damage.

 

[TheCosmicKid]

Every time someone plays a Bard I die a Little inside. Silliest class in the world. If I was being attacked by Orcs and some dude pulled out a lute and started singing I would kick his A*s after the battle. Just a silly concept LOL

What's with the lute hate? A wizard pulls out bat guano and starts chanting nonsense words. In the real world, this would indicate that the application of a straightjacket may be required, but in the world of D&D, it's somehow a productive use of the character's time. Ditto lute-playing.

 

[Caliban]

I think it's a tie between Bards and Rogues. Both can Expertise in Acrobatics, which is about as flexible as you can get.

 

[Brandegoris]

What's with the lute hate? A wizard pulls out bat guano and starts chanting nonsense words. In the real world, this would indicate that the application of a straightjacket may be required, but in the world of D&D, it's somehow a productive use of the character's time. Ditto lute-playing.

My Wizards don't use Material Components. I have always disliked that concept so I just throw it out of my games Because I take my fantasy seriously!

 

[flametitan]

I think it's a tie between Bards and Rogues. Both can Expertise in Acrobatics, which is about as flexible as you can get.

Give the wizard "Fold Person" and they are easily more flexible than either of those two

 

[Gardens & Goblins]

Every time someone plays a Bard I die a Little inside. Silliest class in the world. If I was being attacked by Orcs and some dude pulled out a lute and started singing I would kick his A*s after the battle. Just a silly concept LOL

I have a player that loves his lute! And drums. And flute and...

Personally, I prefer bards that are use the power of words - could be commander types, using their words to motivate and inspire - LET'S SEE SOME HUSTLE! C'MON! LET'S DO THIS! YEAH! or diplomat/secret agent type who use words to offer helpful insight and advice. 'Watch your flank. Good job. Focus now. Great. Careful now.' or even the Jester, using jokes, quips and puns to lift spirits and keep hearts and minds healthy, especially during a hectic battle.

 

[gyor]

What's with the lute hate? A wizard pulls out bat guano and starts chanting nonsense words. In the real world, this would indicate that the application of a straightjacket may be required, but in the world of D&D, it's somehow a productive use of the character's time. Ditto lute-playing.

"OH NO MAN, SHE PULLED OUT SOME BAT SH*T, WE'RE DONE FOR!!!" Mawhahaha.

 

[TheCosmicKid]

"OH NO MAN, SHE PULLED OUT SOME BAT SH*T, WE'RE DONE FOR!!!" Mawhahaha.

A fight last night consisted of:

(a) the wizard fireballing the goblins;
(b) the goblin shaman sleeping the wizard;
(c) the bard (me) viciously mocking the wizard to wake him up;
(d) the wizard fireballing the goblins again;
(e) there is no e, the goblins are all dead.