D&D 5E Bard as a subclass

[JRRNeiklot]

A bard shouldn't even have arcane spells.

 

[Li Shenron]

I'd like it a stand-alone class.

I think there is enough room for many subclasses, focusing on different things: lore, bardic music effects, wilderness lore, inspiring allies, enchantment spells, illusions, divinations, supermagical bardic music (e.g. able to affect undead), a more roguish type, a more duelist type... In some way the Bard is a little bf everything so different subclasses emphasizing a certain edge should be easy to make, just like Druid subclasses emphasize the wildshape or the spellcasting.

If all I had to play with in 5e was core books, then I wouldn't mind if Bard is a subclass. But if I have to think in terms of a whole edition, I believe making it a base class is a better starting point.

 

[the Jester]

Aarrgh!!!

I can never let this one go-

Sorry to be pedantic, but a "Gish" is a githyanki fighter/mage.

 

[Weather Report]

I would like the Bard as a class, with subclasses such as: Jester, Minstrel, Skald, etc.

 

[Weather Report]

Aarrgh!!!

I can never let this one go-

Sorry to be pedantic, but a "Gish" is a githyanki fighter/mage.

Ha, me too, "Gish" is a specific order of Githyanki Fighter/Magic-Users (they also have Antipaladins), not a generic term for Casty/Fighter Boy.

 

[TwoSix]

Ha, me too, "Gish" is a specific order of Githyanki Fighter/Magic-Users (they also have Antipaladins), not a generic term for Casty/Fighter Boy.

Except, of course, that now it IS a generic term for a hybrid warrior/caster.

 

[the Jester]

Except, of course, that now it IS a generic term for a hybrid warrior/caster.

While some people clearly use it that way, there are plenty of us who don't.

 

[Ahnehnois]

While some people clearly use it that way, there are plenty of us who don't.

+1 on that. I doubt the average D&D player even knows that word, let alone someone new.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Impossible to vote: I want bards that don´t focus on being entertainers. I also want skalds and so on.

On the other hand I could see a skald as a barbarian subclass that can multiclass with a bard.

 

[Starfox]

On the other hand I could see a skald as a barbarian subclass that can multiclass with a bard.

Yes, a truly workable multiclass system (à la 1E) would solve many of these problems.