[Bards] What options are there to make them more interesting

[yipwyg42]

I am thinking of playing a bard in my friends next campaign, and was looking for some potential abilities (feats, alternative class features, etc...) that will make the class more interesting to play. He allows pretty much only the Wizards of the Coast main products, so that tosses out 3rd party material.

Thanks

 

[Crothian]

Define more interesting? At low levels there is not much, but at higher levels there are plenty of cool feats to do new things with Bardic Music.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Do you have a focus in mind? Support, combat, social monster, enchanter...?

-Hyp.

 

[Nightfall]

Music man?

 

[GwydapLlew]

More interesting? My dear man, the bard class is simply the most interesting class available in core d20 products!

Seriously though, for what role are you looking to pimp this PC?

 

[yipwyg42]

Well for a long time our view, as well as others I have heard, think the bard is pretty weak compared to the other classes.

I am thinking more of a support character but am looking for various types of things that one can do with a Bard from those who have more experience playing one.

 

[Crothian]

Bard is not a combat class. Many people play D&D and emphasis the combat so that makes the bard seem weak to them.

For support Bardic music is very useful. There are normal instruments in Complete Adventurer that modify the way bardic music works. There is also a spell from the Spell Compendium that enhances inspire courage. And there is a magical item, Vest of Glory of something like that, from the PHB2 that also makes bardic music a bit better.

There are some really cool prestige classes for a Bard depending on what you like.

 

[Hypersmurf]

For support Bardic music is very useful. There are normal instruments in Complete Adventurer that modify the way bardic music works. There is also a spell from the Spell Compendium that enhances inspire courage. And there is a magical item, Vest of Glory of something like that, from the PHB2 that also makes bardic music a bit better.

Eberron feat, Song of the Heart, as well.

-Hyp.

 

[GwydapLlew]

And OMG do the bardic feats in Complete Adventurer make a bard look tasty!

 

[Owen K.C. Stephens]

I'm not sure if your DM allows Unearthed Arcana or not, but for making things interesting I think it has lots of cool options. I like all three bardic variants (bardic sage, divine bard, savage bard). None are more -powerful- than the core bard, but they may match your style of play better, making them more satisfying.

If what you really want is a spellcaster who happens to focus on musci and information, you might see if your DM would allow the Prestige Bard from Unearthed Arcana. (I played a 3e character who had one level of bard and then went straight wizard, but kept Perform ranks maxed out for access to bardic abilities. That stopped working when the game went 3.5, but switching the character to a prestige bard worked perfectly.)