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

[Celebrim]

In a four person party, I don't see much room for a bard. Like any generalist, they don't do anything well enough to shine.

But in a six or eight person party, I can see a role for the bard.

More than any other core class, the bard has been hurt by the direction that they've taken the game. All those PrC's and core class gishes are things that you can't be and be a straight bard. But, had they chosen to support the gish concept through feats, then almost every feat out there that supported the gish would support and enhance the bard and increase its flexibility as well.

 

[pawsplay]

You can build a bard in a variety of ways. One of my favorites was a feckless former aristocrat who served as the paladin's squire and chronicler. With a NG alignment, he also worked out of sight to make it easier for the paladin to uphold his code, finessing moral dilemmas with good planning and the occasional white lie. He was actually built around melee. While unexceptional in that regard, he was competent, and he could also heal and summon.

Another direction is the magical fighter... by combining buffs and illusions with melee, you can shore up many of the bard's weaknesses and do things difficult for most characters other than high level fighter mages.

Then there's the sneaky enchanter guy who just controls everyone.

A bard can make a very credible healing/buffing guy.

What do you like to do?

 

[Wik]

I like the Lyric Thaumaturgist from Complete Mage - you can actually do a bit of damage with the PrC! Actually, there are plenty of good bardic feats in that book, and I think there are a bunch of good ones in Complete Adventurer, too.

I really want to play a bard/lyric thaumaturgist who takes Sublime Chord later on in his progression - a bard that focuses on spellcasting and all that jazz. I think a "Song Mage" could be a real fun role to play.

 

[Zaruthustran]

Bards rock.

 

[Mycanid]

I must admit to being partial to the bards that felt that music was the thread that ties the universe together, but that is just from an rp'ing perspective.

TheLe Games sells a little .pdf booklet on "Unorthodox Bards" and other Bard variants you might find interesting if your DM will let you use it....

 

[Nightfall]

Bards rock.

Well if you make a bard party and then make them like KISS, Led Zepplin or even just the Beatles.

 

[Greg K]

Monte's Bard?

 

[Nightfall]

Monte's Bard?

Well if you use Spell songs those are pretty neat.

 

[Chimera]

In a four person party, I don't see much room for a bard. Like any generalist, they don't do anything well enough to shine.

But in a six or eight person party, I can see a role for the bard.

Pretty much what I said in agreeing to play a Bard in a War of the Burning Sky campaign. Small Group(Bard = Liability), Large Group(Bard = Asset).

Another direction is the magical fighter... by combining buffs and illusions with melee, you can shore up many of the bard's weaknesses and do things difficult for most characters other than high level fighter mages

Given the Bard's limited spellcasting, low HP and the like, this is not a really good option.

A bard can make a very credible healing/buffing guy.

Same here. Spells are far too limited for doing much of this. You get -1- first level spell at 2nd level. Are you going to waste it on Cure Light Wounds? To me, the only real benefit of having that spell on the Bard spell list is the ability to use Wands of Cure Light Wounds.

There are normal instruments in Complete Adventurer that modify the way bardic music works.

I'm going to have to review those instruments before we get going.

 

[|)ar|{]

Well I've never had a problem making a bard interesting, good yes but not interesting.

But heres some ideas off the top of my head:
- Combat Bard with some Warblade levels, Song of the White Raven feat, Snowflake Wardance from Frostburn

- Small sized bard optimized for maximum fasinate/suggestion. Throw on a hat of disguise and look like a limpy crutch having tiny tim like goblin with a violin or what not. Hobble into the center of the hobgoblin camp offering to play for money.

- Play a pirate, take obtain familiar at 3rd. Take ranks in sing and an instrument. Now since familiars share your ranks you play while the bird sings or take a monkey familar and you sing while the monkey plays a little guitar. Always a laugh. Take a few ranks of sliegh of hand to rob them blind while your at it.

- Take one level of spell thief. With the masters spellthief feat you will have all the spell thieving abilities and trapfinding without losing much of your bardy feel.

- Take levels in Dragon Shaman, Marshal and/or Divine Mind. Throw in some feats that improve you songs and auras and be the ultamate support character. I tend to save this for my cohorts but you are very popular in a large group.

- A half-elf bard with the right feats can get crazy high bonuses to social skills at low levels. I've seen builds that let you talk your way out of almost any hostile encounter by 5 level. Not exciting but effective.

I'll throw out some more if I get a chance later.