D&D 5E Bards: How did these become a thing?

[Ashrym]

I gotta confess, I mostly agree. Seems kinda candyassed.

Voice as instrument helps over instrument-as-instrument. There's only so much power and passion you can squeeze into an un-amplified musical instrument. They're great and all, but alter physical reality? Not so much. Voice on the other hand, I can kinda see.

The historical bards seem cooler than what they got out of the D&D class.

True inspiration was the difference. Skill and education could learn an instrument but inspiration had meant in spirit as in possessed in spirit and carried into the supernatural. That was a gift that could not be learned. Altering reality with music is not any more or less "not so much" than doing so by chanting words (spells).

This is the pic I've borrowed for my current bard.



I don't think he's candyassed.

 

[TarionzCousin]

Aren't drums music?

Not according to most musicians.

Drums are rhythmic sound, usually--they don't produce melodies.

For combat, I would much rather hear drums than a harp or lute. Drums can sound raw and animalistic. Most musical instruments don't sound like they belong in a fight (to me).

 

[airwalkrr]

Watch this. If you still don't get bards after that, I don't know how to explain it any better.

 

[Staffan]

Look, if warriors singing as they go into battle is wrong, I don't want to be right:

[video=youtube;wYoq6sovr8Y]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYoq6sovr8Y[/video]

[video=youtube;WBZ2MEBTYJs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBZ2MEBTYJs[/video]

And for those who don't believe in the power of music to move hearts:

[video=youtube;t9kT1xIpZ4E]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9kT1xIpZ4E[/video]

 

[Sezarious]

Also, there's the story of Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny. On a quest to pay the rent, Kyle and Jack realise all the great musicians used the same guitar pick. They stumble on an ancient story told to them by Ben Stiller about a demon that was summoned by a sorcerer. The sorcerer was losing the battle until a blacksmith ran down and fought the demon, chipping it's tooth. The sorcerer picked up the tooth and chanted the 'spell' "From whence you came, you shall remain, until you are, complete again". The demon was defeated and to reward the blacksmith, the sorcerer fashioned a pick from the demons toothsome so he could shred on his lute for a maiden.

Keeping in mind the idea of secret spells tied into long forgotten stories etc, watch this on how they defeated the demon:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=a9GT9YgDfKU

 

[Herobizkit]

I also forgot to mention:

Alan-a-Dale, one of Robin Hood's Merry Men. He's a fairly iconic minstrel/bard.

Also, in some campaign settings, Bards are so valuable to a king's army that they are protected from being harmed and/or treated like nobility in the kingdom wherever they may roam. It can be a criminal offense to strike a Bard. 4e compounded on this with the Feywild supplement by adding optional Signs of Influence to the Skald E-Class,, much like a Knight/Noble might have.

 

[The Grassy Gnoll]

Bagpipes. Bloody terrifying to the enemy.