Bards and healing magic?

[Henry]

Okay, anybody got an Idea what the rationalization behind this one was? I've just ruled that no bard in my games can cast healing magic, because in my eyes, that just doesn't fit the character of the Bard, and it takes too much away from the cleric/druid characters (I'm actually trying to get someone to PLAY on of them...)

-Alla

As for healing, there are no direct mythic analogues to Bardic spell-casting, though there are many stories that attribute magical power to songs. Having bards heal is a game mechanic that I believe fits in with one particular piece of game logic that has been all but forgotten: Alla, you yourself have noted the total disdain that many players have for clerics. In 3rd edition, a conscious design effort was made to provide parties with healing besides the requirement of a cleric.

Hence, Bards can heal, magic wands and potions of cure wounds are available, and characters can heal much more capably while resting. Although it is still dangerous to do so, a party can now in D&D conceivably survive and excel without having a single cleric in its ranks. I should know, because I was a member of a 10-character group once with NO healers available, except for 2 paladins. It got somewhat nasty out in the wilds away from civilization where we couldn't re-supply, but it was still doable.

It's simple. You can either brow-beat a player into playing a character they don't like, you can make the cleric and druid classes more attractive, or you can make healing more widely available. Wizards of the Coast decided to take the 2nd and 3rd routes in my opinion.

As for the Bardic singing, the SRD says in the Character classes I document that "While singing, the bard can fight but cannot cast spells, activate magic items by spell completion (such as scrolls), or activate magic items by magic word (such as wands)." So yes, moving and fighting are included.

P.S. - The party I spoke of had 1 halfling fighter, 2 human monks, 1 elven ranger, 2 paladins, 1 Dwarf Barbarian 1 Bard, 1 Elfven Wizard/Rogue, and 1 Half-elven Ranger/Rogue. We were very fighter-heavy, and it showed. The DM actually had a difficult time coming up with the right balance of forces to pit against us, because by this point the CR and EL system is pretty much thrown out the window. But I'll never forget our first 10-on-20 fight against the serpent-men of the lost vale!

 

[Eridanis]

Music hath Charms that soothe the savage breast

I just did a quick Google search, and found a website that, while pretty loopy in a New Age way, has an essay that your bard could use to justify his healing powers (which I think are perfectly in tune with his music powers - no pun intended)...

From http://www.odilia.ch/andrews.htm :

"...My research leads unequivocally to the conclusion that we "hear" with all parts of the Physical body, the Emotional body, and even the Mental body. These three outer "bodies" are force fields, which interpenetrate the physical vehicle but extend out roughly 4, 12 and 24 inches from the body. Music healing can be accomplished working directly with all three..."

 

[Zhure]

Re: Bards in combat

No bard can ever cope with even a multiclassed fighter cleric concerning the healing power. He simply does not have enough spells. He MAY use wands of cure light wounds, but only with Use Magic Device like every rogue could.

Since wands are spell trigger, anyone with the wand's spell on their spell list can use the wand. Thus, a 1st-level Bard, Ranger, or Paladin can use a Cure Light Wounds wand. (C.f., spell trigger in the DMG, at the beginning of the magic items section.)

Hope that helps,
Greg

 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

If i'm not mistaken in the ancient celts religion i believe there were strong ties between the bard and the druid, i may be wrong on this but, i think as part of the requirements to become a druid you had to spend time as a wandereing bard collecting knowledge.

Even if thats inacurate i think it's a great way not only to justify bard's healing, but it can help get any pc druids out of the grove.

 

[hong]

If i'm not mistaken in the ancient celts religion i believe there were strong ties between the bard and the druid, i may be wrong on this but, i think as part of the requirements to become a druid you had to spend time as a wandereing bard collecting knowledge.

Even if thats inacurate i think it's a great way not only to justify bard's healing, but it can help get any pc druids out of the grove.

The D&D bard is a strange mix of Celtic bard, medieval troubador and age-of-sail swashbuckler, all rolled into one. It would be better to call it a "spellsinger" or something.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Your run of the mill 4th level Cleric is about as good a healer as an 8th level Healing Bard. That assumes the Bard selects a pile of healing spells, and that takes a mammoth bite out of his preciously small spell selection. A bard with that many healing spells is certainly going to be more boring to play than a Cleric or Druid.

 

[Ialdabode]

The problem with the bard is, moreso than a sorcerer like Hennet or a psion like myself, is you really need to know what everyone else is playing in your group before you make your bard. The key is to focus strongly on whatever you're lacking.

For example, if Tordek, Mialee, and Jozan went into the dungeon with Devis, he damn well better have his Dexterity skills and ranged combat beefed up to take the place of the rogue. But sub Lidda in for Jozan and Devis needs to have healing spells, boosting spells, and healing and magic items handy to play the cleric.

People who gripe about their bard sucking or being boring probably did not think through what the rest of the party was when building the bard at 1st level. Nothing could be more boring than playing a bard that fills the same niche as another class in the party.

 

[mmadsen]

Re: Re: Bards and healing magic?

As for healing, there are no direct mythic analogues to Bardic spell-casting, though there are many stories that attribute magical power to songs.

There are no direct mythic analogues to bardic spell-casting? Taliesin, of Celtic myth? Orpheus, of Greek myth? They aren't bards?

 

[Benben]

Okay, anybody got an Idea what the rationalization behind this one was? I've just ruled that no bard in my games can cast healing magic, because in my eyes, that just doesn't fit the character of the Bard, and it takes too much away from the cleric/druid characters (I'm actually trying to get someone to PLAY on of them...)

-Alla

Odd I went the opposite direction in my campaign. I added a few more healing spells to the list so I could have cultures without clerics.

Third edition bards shouldn't be constrained to medieval european archetype. They make wonderful Greek philosophers, Sufi mystics (whirling dervishes), and given the importance of storytelling in tribal cultures they also make great shamans.

 

[Crothian]

The healing helps the Bard fit the role of the helping hands character. Bards do best helping the others. The healing ability is small. I've got a 10th level Bard and the only healing spell I've choosen is cure light wounds. To many good spells to waste other healing selections on. Plus with a good selection of magic you really make your own nicht. I took 4 levels of Lasher in addition tom the 10 Bard to help out in combat.

So, I think a Bard's healing just furth allows them to help out. And since Bard's choos their spells, the Bard could vewry easily not select a a healing spell.