Designers: Say Yes to Bards! Save the Class
- Thread starter satori01
- Start date
outsider
First Post
Yeah, I'd be sad if the bard was gone for ever. I've played a few bards over the years, and enjoyed it. However, in my experience it's pretty uncommon that people play bards. I really don't think it's common enough to justify having it in the core books. If there's space for it, sure, throw it in. It'd be one of the first classes I'd cut though if I needed some room.
Olgar Shiverstone
Legend
I, too, would be sad to see the minstrel go (a bard was the first 3E character I played, and I enjoyed that character tremendously. He had a weak stomach and would vomit at the sight of blood ... but I digress). But I have to admit, you could probably achieve a good bard with a rogue that had an option to take a talent tree that involved the perform skill and magical effects. Add some sort of bardic knowledge and you're done. I could never figure out why bards cast spells anyway ... other than it being a hold-over from the 1E Bard.
Even better solution: bring back the 1E Bard as a prestige class that requires fighting ability, sneaking ability, and some magic!
Even better solution: bring back the 1E Bard as a prestige class that requires fighting ability, sneaking ability, and some magic!
Logan_Bonner
First Post
We don't think of the PH1, MM1, and DMG1 and "core." Every PH, MM, and DMG is core. So any class that appears in one of those books (and any other book, and the magazines) will get all the tender loving care that the fighter, wizard, or rogue got. The bard will appear (and I'm probably the one who will write it).
alaric
First Post
Why is it important that Bard remain a core class? There seems to be a design philosophy in 4E to create more of a separation between the character class's role in combat, and the out of combat usage of the character. The Bard (and the Barbarian and Monk, which also appear to be on the bubble) goes against that philosphy, because anyone playing the bard class is going to be a bard in character (ie that's what people in the world would call him).
I really don't see what the difference would be whether someone is a 4E bard, or someone is a 4E some other class which takes artistic skills. Would it be that bad if your skald was really just a warrior with poetry? If you like the support rule, couldn't you be a warlord (or whatever the Leader class ends up being) who's pre-fight pep talk is accompanied by music? With no core bard class you can choose your in combat role, and just roleplay the bard side. How often does your "bardiness" depend on your abilities or your rolls instead of your roleplay?
I really don't see what the difference would be whether someone is a 4E bard, or someone is a 4E some other class which takes artistic skills. Would it be that bad if your skald was really just a warrior with poetry? If you like the support rule, couldn't you be a warlord (or whatever the Leader class ends up being) who's pre-fight pep talk is accompanied by music? With no core bard class you can choose your in combat role, and just roleplay the bard side. How often does your "bardiness" depend on your abilities or your rolls instead of your roleplay?
Clefton Twain
First Post
I don't mind if the bard stays in. I just think it needs to be in balance with everything else. As it currently stands, I see no real reason to play one.
Now they make great NPCs, though.
--CT
Now they make great NPCs, though.
--CT
The Souljourner
First Post
Actually, if they take the bard out of the core books, maybe they can make them even better in a future supplement. I'd love to see the bard done up way more than just skills and spells and a few special abilities. Something completely revamped with tons of special abilities and magic that's totally different from other casters... real spell singing, for example. That would be fantastic.
-Nate
-Nate
