Don't underestimate the Bard

[Kestrel]

So I have a 9th level party, with 7 players. A fighter/barb, a wizard, a spirit shaman, a ranger, a monk, a rogue, and one bard.

The bard's fighting song, with feats from Eberron, gives the party +3 attack/+3 damage. So assuming all hits:

Fighter/Barb: 3 attacks +9 damage
Ranger: 4 attacks +12 damage
Monk: 3 attacks: +9 damage
Rogue: 2 attacks: +6 damage

+36 damage per round, taking no actions on the part of the bard. (And this doesn't add the damage from Power Attack on the part of the Fighter)

Not a complaint, just a shout out since they get slammed a lot as a class.

 

[Hussar]

I agree.

The bard in my World's Largest Dungeon campaign may not have been a overwhelming powerhouse, but, the addition of the bard made the entire party incredibly strong.

 

[Fishbone]

If you have a party with lots of 3/4 classes the Bard will be beloved. A rogue or monk getting Haste, Improved Invisibility, and the right equipment, feat and spells for the Inspire Courage can get something like +7/+4, extra attack, Reflex save bonus, and an extra 30 feet of movement. They will flip out the first time you do that as a mid-level bard.

 

[Chimera]

So I have a 9th level party,

(Snip)

Fighter/Barb: 3 attacks +9 damage

Maybe with Haste and a full attack, but bonuses do not gain you additional iterative attacks.

Otherwise yeah, I'm with you here. My Bard will hit 3rd level probably after the next session. With Inspirational Boost and Song of the Heart (Eberron Feat), I'll be boosting the party by +3 in 1-2 combats per day, depending on whether or not I use my first level spells for something else. That's a pretty potent boost for a 3rd level party!

Second level Bard spells are awesome. So many choices. I have nine of them in mind and I'll only be getting three to use. I'm ignoring the buffs because we have a Wizard and Cleric and I don't have enough spells per day to really make use of them. Besides, why waste one of my very few spell slots to boost someone by +2/+2 with Bull Strength when I'm already boosting them by +3/+3 with my song?

But things like Sonic Weapon, Invisibility, Grace, etc are really going to be fun. Oh, but I might take Delusions of Grandeur just because I think it will be really fun to cast it on the racist Elves and arrogant Ragesians in our WotBS campaign!

 

[Storm Raven]

Maybe with Haste and a full attack, but bonuses do not gain you additional iterative attacks.

Or, perhaps, two-weapon fighting.

 

[Kestrel]

Or, perhaps, two-weapon fighting.

Yup, the fighter and the ranger are both two-weapon fighters. Big bonus for the bard's song.

 

[kenobi65]

Not a complaint, just a shout out since they get slammed a lot as a class.

As you (and others) have shown, the bard is at his best when he's making the rest of the party better. It can be a very important role, but it takes a player who can keep this in mind, and enjoy playing a character who isn't the actual damage-dealer.

 

[Kestrel]

As you (and others) have shown, the bard is at his best when he's making the rest of the party better. It can be a very important role, but it takes a player who can keep this in mind, and enjoy playing a character who isn't the actual damage-dealer.

Yeah, I think this is the basis of most of the gimp comments. From an individual perspective, they are not that strong (outside social situations), but for the party as a whole, they are awesome.

 

[Chimera]

Yeah, I think this is the basis of most of the gimp comments. From an individual perspective, they are not that strong (outside social situations), but for the party as a whole, they are awesome.

Such is the basis of my character. Just like if you're a Wizard who focuses on Buffs, you have to concentrate on what and where you add to the party.

Every time one of our party hits ONLY because of my song, IT'S MINE!

(But then again, I tend to roll fairly well, so overall I believe that I have the top number of kills in our game and have done more actual damage than one of the fighters. With a Short Bow. So far.)

 

[Mark CMG]

(. . .) with feats from Eberron (. . .)

Without taking the time to do the math, myself, may I ask how much this factor figures into the equation?