D&D 5E (2024) Bard Playtest discussion

[Neonchameleon]

I finally got home from work and got a chance to start reading this playtest. I got as far as page 4 before noticing a peculiarity: the Bard is proficient with Simple Weapons, but then the Starting Equipment lists a Shortsword. Either it's a typo, or Shortswords are going to move form Martial to Simple.

They're simple weapons - it's on page 36

 

[Charlaquin]

Mostly positive changes in my opinion, except for Song of Rest getting replaced with healing spells being always-prepared. But old song of rest got rolled into Inspiring Leader, so that’s alright I guess.

 

[Charlaquin]

I must say the Cutting Words upgrade is hella neat and lends itself to the mental image of taking somebody out with a verbal smackdown. The Bard's version of Eldritch Blast if ya will.
Also: Songs of Restoration is a really awesome thing. And as I mentioned before in the main Expert Class thread, it
reminds me of it being the Bard's version of Patron Spells, Oath Spells, and Domain Spells.

And going by that logic, a Bard having choices of "Songs" that do things is really intriguing. So, if you have Songs of Restoration, you get healing spells. If you have Songs of Misdirection, you get Illusion spells, etc etc. I mean, really different Bard subclasses going forward would be able to do that if the idea goes through during the playtest survey.

It’s a base bard feature though, not a subclass feature.

 

[Charlaquin]

I finally got home from work and got a chance to start reading this playtest. I got as far as page 4 before noticing a peculiarity: the Bard is proficient with Simple Weapons, but then the Starting Equipment lists a Shortsword. Either it's a typo, or Shortswords are going to move from Martial to Simple.

You didn’t read the whole packet, did you?

 

[Gorck]

They are INDEED Simple Weapons now.

They're simple weapons - it's on page 36

I probably should have finished reading the whole packet before posting. I also should have realized the underlined words are in the Rules Glossary.

Another change I noticed is that Cutting Words can no longer be used to reduce the damage roll.

 

[Stalker0]

You didn’t read the whole packet, did you?

"Short swords are indeed simple weapons now."

Behold, for one less word you could have helpfully informed a fellow forum goer about something they might have missed in the long and complex document, filled with little details....rather than calling them out. A community is built through kindness.

 

[The Glen]

Bard needs lot of options, they are supposed to be jack of all trades. Songs of restoration pigeon holes them into back up healers, but what if they want to be Frontline support or to jack with the enemy? Let them pick a set of spells. So when the dwarves charge the orcs, you can have the bard cranking Sabaton for combat boosts screaming healing is for winners.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

what if they want to be Frontline support

I'm assuming that's what the College of Valor/Swords is meant for.

or to jack with the enemy?

College of Lore does exactly that. As do a few of the other subclasses.

 

[The Glen]

I'm assuming that's what the College of Valor/Swords is meant for.

College of Lore does exactly that. As do a few of the other subclasses.

Then why not just have a college for healing spells? Get rid of the ability all together and kick it to subclasses

 

[Ruin Explorer]

It being a reaction makes it solely on the Bard to remember, which makes it far less likely to be forgotten.

Not just a reaction, but a reaction on a Fail, which means there's only a narrow thing to think about, which makes it even easier to remember.