D&D 5E D&D doesn't need bards

[fearsomepirate]

Valor started out as a joke option if the other people at your table squandered the inspiration you gave them. Subsequent subclasses were just designed with the fact that this might be the case in mind.

I never had that experience, since our Paladin really liked rolling damage dice. The more, the merrier!

 

[steeldragons]

I agree with the OP. It doesn't need them as a base class, for sure.

As a prestige/advanced/pick up a few abilties over a few levels add-on thingy. Sure.

As a complete class of its own they should be a half-caster, at best.

But definitely not a necessary archetype for a core game.

 

[Zardnaar]

Legacy reasons you would be idiotic to cut any class from the 5E books.

 

[Umbran]

You don't need to be needlessly pedantic.

You do know you are on a messageboard, right? I am pretty sure that, in this environment, the phrase "needlessly pedantic" holds no semantic content.

Ultimately, I go by the old saying: "Do not meddle in the affairs of bards, for your name is funny, and scans to Greensleeves."