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Message: <blockquote data-quote="James Heard" data-source="post: 1626778" data-attributes="member: 7280">I think if I were going to bump the power of the bard to make him a more desirable class selection I would do one or all of these things:1. Three good saves: He's a lover, not a fighter - but living on style and verve makes bards tougher than you'd expect. 2. Luck Bonus to AC: Equal to CHA, again this would make Bards more survivable without kicking the feet out from under the rest of the group's niches. If balance on this were suspect, I think I'd try to stage it in increments of maximum bonuses that could be applied at any given level.3. Bard Song Metamagic: Giving bards the ability to trade out bard song usages for metamagic effects would be really cool. "I'm gonna trade out two of my bard songs for an Empowered Shout," without raising the spell slot level would make the bards have a teeny bit of uniqueness without really having a terrible impact on the game I think.4. Skill Bonuses: At some point Bards should be able to do things like always take 10 on CHA skill rolls without spending any extra effort or time, like the Skill Mastery Special ability for Rogues.5. Resistances: Elf-like resistances to enchantment effects perhaps, or resistances verus Sonic effects.6. More songs: At the very least I'd give Bards some 'skill songs', songs that give Bards and their allies bonuses to certain skills. Ever wonder what those guys were doing singing songs while rowing? With a bard it would be pretty obvious. I mean, seriously, duh. Why this wasn't in there I have no clue.Like I said, I'm fairly certain that implementing ALL of these suggestions might be a little overkill. On the other hand, they might not be if you were balancing them against the cleric. Mostly and obviously my suggestions are aimed at a certain flavor of possible Bards I think, as opposed to the wandering through the motions generalist that the Bard is currently. I tried to think of what the Bard's role in the group is and where everyone else fits in though too, and where that is I think is in a sort of non-fighter melee combatant with minor spell abilities and a really choice role in interaction. It isn't that the Bard isn't suited for that role already, it just needs to be MORE suited I think. You know, enough minor cookies attached to the class that a certain distinct play style is rewarded and enhanced. Bards shouldn't be the class you look to when you can't find a 'specialist' class, it should be the FIRST place you look to for a certain style of play.</blockquote>

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