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Message: <blockquote data-quote="mellored" data-source="post: 9478718" data-attributes="member: 6801209">Still not seeing why you think it matters.You take 20 damage from minor threats +20 damage from fireball = 40 damage.-THP = 30 damage-Cutting Words = 35That only matters if you take you take enough damage to go though your THP and your HP before you get a bonus action.I.e. you have 50HP, 10 THP and get hit between 60 and 65 damage, and that's assuming you don't roll a 1 on cutting words.Anything more and the Cutting Words won't help.Anything less and you refresh the THP next turn.Also, cutting words requires the caster within 60'.  We are comparing the best case scenario for it.  Something that doesn't happen every day.  It does nothing against a fireball trap or long ranged attacks.THP is far more universally useful.Familiars and mounts won't survive a fireball either way.So?Cutting Words doesn't have a movement option.Sometimes, yes.Combat Inspiration is also useful on occasion.  But that's not all the Valor Bard gets.THP and going first is useful all the time.Yes.  and it applies to all skills.Which is more than 3.And I never said it was useless.  I said it was not that strong.  Mildly useful.You have a limited number of spell slots.If you use it to cast Firewall, you don't have the slot for Polymorph.Alternative uses are not bad.  But extra uses are better.AND is better than OR.Ok.  That's still an alternative use of your action.  Upgrading Starry Whisp to Firebolt isn't much.Actually,  Guidance would count as an extra use.  You're not going to be using it in combat, and you might as well double down on skills as a lore bard..Ok, I'll give it a little more credit.  Still think it's weakest if there is any serious combat in the game.Can all bards trade out cantrips after 10?Still not as good as giving half your party an extra turn in combat, or repeatable bonus action command.It is good.And all bards can do that at level 1 (including boosting saves which is probably the best use).And if you use Cuttiing Words, that's 1 less stealth check that can succeed.Are there situations where reducing an enemy is better than boosting an ally?  Of course.But it doesn't necessarily happen every day.Yes.But again, if you use it on yourself, that's 1 less skill check someone else makes.Unless you are constantly trying to do stuff you have a small chance of succeeding all, or the occasional bad luck, your not getting extra BI.Compared to half damage from fireballs, or being unhitable from all the low Cha enemies.  With no BI cost.Might be better than Valor 14 though, which has competition for the bonus action.  And it doesn't qualify for any "attack action" boost like great weapon master or nick.  But it's still no BI cost.FairIf your not worried about combat, then sure. Valor and Dance are not helping, Glamor only does a little, and Lore would be top.16 scaling to 18.+1 to +3, similar to Lore skills.Let's call those equal.  Ignore the dance performance.At level 3, that leavesLore: affect 3 rolls.Dance: affect 3 rolls and make 3 attacks.Going first generates an extra attack.It might just be the Barbarian's attack.Still doesn’t cost BI.Valor gets more extra attacks than Dance. Yes.But make one of those a fighter going first attack, and I say Dance is a little ahead.Absolutely.  Play what you will have fun with.  Balance is good enough.It's not like the 2014 elemental monk or Beastmaster.</blockquote>

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