Bards: Arcane or Shadow?

[TwinBahamut]

I am actually thinking that the bard works by motivating inner feelings, or touching the heart with music. While it could be said ot be arcane, or shadowy.. I would think that the source of much of the bards inspiring abilities is Primal. - It would also hit the need for a primal leader.

I don't think we know too much about the Primal power source yet, but so far it seems to be stuff like animal spirits, beast totems, and the like. Both classes which seem to be Primal, the Druid and Barbarian, both seem like they will have aspects of taking on either the form or combat techniques of wild creatures. I don't see how emotions or music can play into that.

Also, an aside. I hear talk about Shadow power sources, and Primal, and Psi... what about Ki?

It would seem that Monk, Samurai, Ninja and the other oriental class types would fit nicely in a 'Ki' group.

It seems to be a natural fit but noone's mentioned it (that I've read anyway)

Ki has been mentioned a lot, actually. It has been the core of a few lively discussions on the WotC boards, at least.

In my opinion, unless they go full-bore and make Ki interesting and unique (probably by resorting to martial artists with energy blasts and swordsmen with energy shockwaves coming off of their swords as a central class feature), it just blends too much with the Martial power source to do anything but confuse the whole power source system.

Monks (by the more general definition) should be Divine. Martial Artists and Swordsages (the classic D&D monk) should be Martial. Samurai should be Martial. Ninja should be either Arcane, or something equally flashy (because realistic ninja are boring), but not Shadow, because I don't see them being associated with channeling the power of the underworld.

 

[SteveC]

I think Bards should be built up from the Primal power source, tapping on the primal song of creation itself, and having a thematic link to Druids.

I wholeheartedly agree, except the bard I am creating taps into the power or metal, which, coincidentally enough, is one of the primal forces or creation and destruction in the universe.



--Steve

 

[FabioMilitoPagliara]

I'll go with Bard as Arcane Leader, reasons:

1) in races and classes say that they got powers as boons for their artistical performance from otherworld patron (and this to me means that they don't need to have a single patron not that the bard must only be a minstrel type)

2) arcane is tied to the feywild which is tied to the shiny stuff of worldbuilding (also from races and classes) so arcane is a good source for artistic types


ps: as for the shadow leader I'll bet on the Necromancer (who buffes his undead minions and debuff living opponents)

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

You know, aside from the designer commentary...

We know Bards and Druids were designed pretty early on.

We know/suspect that Druid and Barbarian are based off of the primal source.

Bard, Druid, and Barbarian as the initial three primal classes actually seems like a pretty awesome grouping.

Would provide easy explanation for why the three didn't make it in on the first run.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

Bards won't be primal since every example I've seen of the primal power source, has been something quite elemental in nature. Nothing the bard had matches primal from the examples I've seen, pretty well everything points to arcane.

 

[Doug McCrae]

Bards are too cissy to be evil.

 

[Klaus]

I wholeheartedly agree, except the bard I am creating taps into the power or metal, which, coincidentally enough, is one of the primal forces or creation and destruction in the universe.



--Steve

Of course, the power of metal runs through the pace between the stars and faces off against the cosmic evils that slumber in the dark matter.

Bard
Role: Leader
Power Source: Primal
Epic Destiny: Jukebox Hero (with stars in his eeeeyes!)

 

[kclark]

Bard Powers:

Pump Up The Volume: Encounter, +d10 sonic damage to an ally's next hit.

Walk this Way: at will, allow one ally to shift towards the bard.

Stairway to Heaven: Daily, once per day, when the Bard dies, a stair appears and a host of Axes come and take one +30 v WILL attack action on all opponents, on hit 10d6 points of damage and stunned until successful save, on miss stunned for one round.

Love these!
Some feats to alter/boost them.

Spinal Tap: Pump Up the Volume now goes all the way to 11!
Moon Walk this Way: ally can choose to shift away from the bard.

Highway to Hell: Daily, once per day, when you play a record backwards you can actually summon Satan. (Why do I always type that as Santa the first time?) Target opponent can choose a instrument of choice and must beat Satan in a jam session or forfeit his soul.

 

[Keenath]

Seems to me like the Bard is sort of the inverse of a necromancer or other shadow-user. They draw on the raw essence of the feywild, and as a result can access certain fey-like powers.

I don't know that bards are going to be heavy on the illusion; it's sounded to me like they're going to be more about inspiration and manipulation than actual illusion as such.

 

[Keenath]

Highway to Hell: Daily, once per day, when you play a record backwards you can actually summon Satan. (Why do I always type that as Santa the first time?) Target opponent can choose a instrument of choice and must beat Satan in a jam session or forfeit his soul.

And then the Greatest Song in the World to get rid of him, right?