Gnome Favored Class: BARDS?!?

[taliesin15]

Does anyone else find this rather specious? Its not like Gnomes have a high charisma per se. Would make more sense if they were Illusion school of magic Wizards if anything, in my view. And the races that seem to make the most natural bards would be half-elves, humans and hobbits, IMHO.

 

[Christian]

Would make more sense if they were Illusion school of magic Wizards if anything, in my view.

You mean like in 3.0?

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Hey, someone had to take the hit (bards as a favoured class).

 

[irdeggman]

Well I like them having bards instead of a specialist wizard class.

Bards are very much akin to illusionists in the 3.5 rules - their spells are very illusionist oriented.

I really didn't like them having to be specialists in order to follow their favored class.

Now if artificer (from Eberron) was a core class that would make a lot more sense to me, but using only the core classes I think bard is about the closest fit.

 

[ValhallaGH]

Bard makes a lot of sense for Gnomes, to me.
1) Knows a lot of things? Bardic Knowledge.
2) Can trick people with illusions and subterfuge? Check.
3) Can be a genius inventor, a playful tramp and a deadly serious spy at the same time? Check.
4) Is a complete class rather than a narrow sub-option of another class? Check.

Obviously, opinions vary.

 

[Victim]

Really, gnomes should just have favored class wizard, and elves should favor bards, since that would tie their artistic, magical, and combative interests together.

 

[Bad Paper]

Does anyone else find this rather specious?

How so? That is a bizarre use of the word.

Its not like Gnomes have a high charisma per se. Would make more sense if they were Illusion school of magic Wizards if anything, in my view. And the races that seem to make the most natural bards would be half-elves, humans and hobbits, IMHO.

There are no hobbits in this game. The closest race to the hobbit is...the gnome. A long time ago (don't even remember where/when, perhaps in the PH introduction?), the designers of 3.5 rationalized the gnome's switch to bard as returning home to the true flavor of the gnomish race: tricksters and hams. I much prefer them to be quasi-sorcerous multitalented clowns than bookish introvert one-trick ponies. Switching gnomes' favored class to bard is an improvement.

Disclaimer: I love my gnomish bard; unfortunately his campaign folded.

 

[thorian]

Why couldn't they have two favored classes, bard and illusioninst? It wouldn't have been overpowering at all.

 

[Artoomis]

....There are no hobbits in this game. The closest race to the hobbit is...the gnome....

Hobbit = Halfling.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

No, kender = halfling

Halflings aren't pastoral, homebound and folksy. Gnomes are.

In any case, if you don't like the favored class, change it, lots of people do. Illusionist and beguilers are both good choices if you do, as are druids.