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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ManicFuel" data-source="post: 1452206" data-attributes="member: 16811">I like the bard class, and played one that was a really important part of the party. To me that's the key to playing a good bard, teamwork. Let's face it, the definition of courage is charging your bard into melee. You have to be creative, as bards probably are, and make yourself useful.Out of combat, bard's are easy. All those skill points and social class skills makes that half of the game a no-brainer. I'm introverted, and played this bard as fairly quiet, but friendly and trustworthy. I liked the earlier poster's comment about being a leader, too. That's a great approach to the bard.IRL, sometimes managers have to manage people who are more skilled at the job functions than the manager is. In these cases, business leadership says "lead by helping". In other words, recognize you can't help directly, and take the grunt work off your skilled employees. With that in mind, here's how I played it in combat:-- Be willing to sacrifice anything and everything for the team, including yourself. In a fight, the bard is expendable. When the line starts to break, charge to the front and fight (defensively) for all you're worth. Give the others a chance to regroup, heal, etc.-- Against greater or equal numbers, pair off with the rogue and use the Aid Another to give him/her a +2 to hit. The rogue's sneak attack damage and +4 bonus to hit is better than each PC attacking seperately, at least above 3rd level or so. -- Against greater or equal numbers, if they break the lines and come after the mages, go back and try to rescue them with similar tactics.-- When the party has a numbers advantage, but the monsters are tough, stand back and use music or magic items.-- Don't bother much with missile combat, because your team is more effective if you are using Aid Another. Even if your party doesn't have a rogue, granting a +4 bonus (+2 Aid Another, +2 flank) to a fighter or barbarian means big Power Attacks.-- If another party member falls, go help them. Take max ranks in Heal and know Cure spells, and keep the Cleric battling.-- If another party member is in some other trouble (entangled, etc), go help them. Keep the other party members fighting.-- If a party member loses a weapon or shield, run over to them and give them yours. You can't hit with it anyway, and you only need a dagger to use Aid Another.-- Take every wand, scroll, etc that is leftover and use every charge of every one. Take some ranks in Use Magic Device, and always (try to) use the items no one can use for whatever reason.-- For spells, don't bother taking anything that is supposed to harm or disable an opponent. Never trust an opponent's saving throw. Pick spells that "work everytime", like remove fear, the cures, summoning, and divinations.-- I know it sounds wierd, but strive to never be the last one standing. If you are the last man standing, then your opponents will be the last men standing over you.Surprisingly, if you do this for a little while, the other players actually begin to believe that you are indispensible in combat. The rogue loves you for making him the star, the cleric loves you because now everyone calls you for healing every other round, the fighter loves you for making him mighty, the wizard loves you for watching her back. Everyone loves you in combat?!? Now that's charisma!</blockquote>

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