Bard does not suck!

[Firebeetle]

For those who don't know, I've been infamous for my "bards suck" threads here. There was a method to my madness, I wished to cement the argument that bards sucked so the next edition bard would not. I really feel 3.5 should have included a retooled bard and they dropped the ball there. Specifically, that bards in 3.x just weren't all that, well, bardy.

I got PHB2 Saturday and ran the gameday mod at my FLGS. I couldn't be happier. The bard rocks, it's very bardy. Bards have lots of tricks for every situation. They can save the combat with abilities that do no damage, "Fast Friends" and that one that lets you dominate something briefly were the lynchpins of two scenarios. It's great to see a bard worthy of play. I've even heard non-bard players (I know, they exist everywhere now, it's weird) say they want to play it.

Congratulations designers, you hit the nail on the head.

 

[Danceofmasks]

Bards don't just not suck ... they're downright awesome.

 

[Oompa]

Give it up for the bard!!!

 

[CapnZapp]

Congrats for being able to move on, I guess...?

 

[DracoSuave]

1) 4th Edition bards have a unique niche, they have things they specialize in that other classes are not as good at, and things that are -very handy to have.- This is a good thing. Making players feel their character isn't just 'helpful' but is, in fact, important and unique is a good step to increasing fun.

2) 4th Edition bards are good at their primary role. They are very capable Leaders, and everything they do makes them excel at this role.

3) 4th Edition bards -reak- of flavor, and the mechanics reflect that.

Bards are no longer the frankenstienian f'd-up-flipper-baby hybrid of other classes. They are now -definitively- bards, battlefield skalds, heralds, those who inspire others to great deeds. They are no longer the 1st edition prestige class of wtfery, the 2nd edition monstrosity (seriously, they were better than wizards in every way), the 3rd edition 'do everything half-assed, but nothing well'. They are their own thing now, and finally have their -own- tools to do things.

This is a homerun for class design.

 

[robsenworldaccount]

This is good to hear

My fav character was a 3.5 bard (also my first character)

deficiencies of game design most likely led to the character becoming neurotic.

 

[Markn]

1) 4th Edition bards have a unique niche, they have things they specialize in that other classes are not as good at, and things that are -very handy to have.- This is a good thing. Making players feel their character isn't just 'helpful' but is, in fact, important and unique is a good step to increasing fun.

2) 4th Edition bards are good at their primary role. They are very capable Leaders, and everything they do makes them excel at this role.

3) 4th Edition bards -reak- of flavor, and the mechanics reflect that.

Bards are no longer the frankenstienian f'd-up-flipper-baby hybrid of other classes. They are now -definitively- bards, battlefield skalds, heralds, those who inspire others to great deeds. They are no longer the 1st edition prestige class of wtfery, the 2nd edition monstrosity (seriously, they were better than wizards in every way), the 3rd edition 'do everything half-assed, but nothing well'. They are their own thing now, and finally have their -own- tools to do things.

This is a homerun for class design.

Well said and agreed!

 

[Klaus]

Now all we need is song suggestions to represent several bardic abilities, that a player can spout on the table. Rock, preferably.

 

[JBeatnik]

I would like to say that my 3.5 Gnome bard, "Nimble" Dimble Garrick, who was a notorious prankster, will be making a comeback. I'll be playing him at GenCon all over. For me, there is an infinite amount of prankery you can do with Ghost Sound, Prestigidation, and Dancing Lights. I don't have my PHB1/2 on me, but even more pranking can be done if I had access to some of the minor illusory spells like silent image or minor image.

Its great to glamour a fighter's sword to look like a stick, then raise the alarm at night when you're on watch.

 

[jgsugden]

My wife is playing D&D fir the first time in a game that started two weeks ago. She is playing a half-elf bard. The class has been ridiculously fun. The structure of the class allows her to play the character in a 'whimiscal' way, tossing off "Suck it up, bitch" as her Majestic Word, or enjoying the way that she can mock someone - to death (The Killing Joke).

Of all the things that transitioned from 3E to 4E, I think the bard may be the most improved thing.