How bad does the bard suck?

[Sir Trent]

Whether Bards suck compared to other classes in abilities, I don't know. I've never liked them as a class and would never play one. I just can't get behind them as a player. The 'magic of song' just never struck me as being all that interesting.

Player 1: 'Look out! A bunch of orcs are attacking!'
Player 2: 'What should we do?'
Bard: 'I know, I'll sing.'

 

[Nifft]

Depending on where one allocated one's Perform ranks, a Bard could suck quite -- GHAK! Grandma! Put the stick down!

Ouch, -- N

 

[Vraille Darkfang]

I usually (lately( run for large groups (6-8 players).

I cringe when someone decides to play a bard.

I know my job just got a whole lot harder.

The bard is really great at making everyone else better at what they do best.

The Bard can also fill it for about any other class (some combat, some healing, some thievery, some spellcasting).

The Bard can about do it all. It just can't do it as good as the core class can.

I've found that in larger groups, Bards are an exceptionally powerful class.

As long as they are helping to carry the load, as opposed to toting the whole darned thing, they can really shine.

I think of the bard as the best 4+ Class I've seen (CW of 1 Fighter, 1 Healer, 1 Spellcaster, 1 Skill Monkey-Rogue). After you have the 4 down, Bard just makes everyone else better, and fills in wherever needed.

Plus, I give a lot of Background Info away with Bardic Lore that can come back to aid the party later (if they pay attention the first time).

 

[River Tam]

I suck, bards do not.

Except when I'm playing a bard.

 

[Darklone]

Grandma is watching you

Thinking about it... probably that's why I like bards. When I started playing D&D, I always played an additional PC to a complete group (usually already bigger than 4). So I picked the role to help everyone out in his specialty.

 

[frankthedm]

Bards are a fine class for many things except going into the dungeon with a small party. If they lure a group [or a mob] of commoners to go along with the party the bard's worth increases since they provide damage soaking and cheap trap detection. Most groups ain't cool wth that though...

Bards can work, but suffer from not being focused in any one area. Something monks suffer from as well. Fighters slightly less so since stronger feats with high requirements are now more available.

 

[shilsen]

Whether Bards suck compared to other classes in abilities, I don't know. I've never liked them as a class and would never play one. I just can't get behind them as a player. The 'magic of song' just never struck me as being all that interesting.

Player 1: 'Look out! A bunch of orcs are attacking!'
Player 2: 'What should we do?'
Bard: 'I know, I'll sing.'

Different strokes. If I can imagine a world where special training and saying a bunch of words allows one to shoot a bolt of lightning shoot from one's fingertips, I can jolly well imagine special training and singing a bunch of words as having some magical effect.

 

[Ryltar]

A player in my Planescape campaign is currently enjoying a tiefling bard 11. Not even trying to minmax everything, he is the AC powerhouse of the party, reaching into the high 30s with Alter Self (so he doesn't get hit too often). His skill selection and spells allow him to contribute to the party effort, and the +3/+3 bard song is just a killer in combat. *shrug* Honestly, I don't think the bard is too weak by any means. It's just not a class for everyone, since you have to be content with being a jack-of-all-trades, but one who can at least try to to everything. Most people I game with prefer a character that excels in one regard.

 

[dougmander]

I say, Not so Bad. They are jacks-of-all-trades: decent attack bonus, decent spellcasting, decent hit points, lots of skill points. Definitely don't suck, but take some finesse to play to their full potential. I could see how they might be unsatisfying to play for a player who needs his PC to be best at one thing, rather than second or third best at everything.

 

[Darklone]

I say, Not so Bad. They are jacks-of-all-trades: decent attack bonus, decent spellcasting, decent hit points, lots of skill points. Definitely don't suck, but take some finesse to play to their full potential. I could see how they might be unsatisfying to play for a player who needs his PC to be best at one thing, rather than second or third best at everything.

Unless these players (like me) notice that with a bard who supports the other specialists they can shine 5 times per evening, not only once