I would play a bard if. . .

[Firebeetle]

I once begged my players to have someone play a bard. I play very story heavy campaigns, and bards work well to uncover all that story. I even made offers to see if anyone would bite, one considered and then didn't go for it.

So, what would it take for you to play a bard? For the record, I chose the first option.

 

[hong]

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

All it would take is for me to be in a game. I like bards.

 

[Kunimatyu]

Full BAB, so I could do some swashbuckling too.

 

[Chimera]

I agreed to play a Bard in a War of the Burning Sky game because the GM asked me to, saying that it would make certain things easier on him. This when he was just starting to recruit.

My comment (cut/pasted from e-mail) was; "I just hope that we end up with a larger group, because a Bard in a smaller group tends to be more of a liability, while a Bard in a larger group is a serious asset."

For a while, it looked like we might have only three players, in which case I made a Druid as a backup plan, and took a serious look at multi-classing away from Bard. Fortunately, we had five players in the first session and may have as many as seven at the next.

In 3rd edition games, I've had the most fun with PCs that could make a serious contribution to Melee. A Fighter/Rogue, a Fighter, a Monk/Rogue, and a Wizard (played kinda like a Sorcerer with my spell memorization, but going scroll happy to make sure that I always had buckets of those other usefull spells available when needed.)

Now I don't quite have the Melee capacity and I don't have the spells. But I'm the face man outside combat and I help others a lot in combat. Moreso now that I've hit 2nd level and can cast Inspirational Boost, giving everyone a nice +2 bonus in once per day.

That being said, I do think that the Bard is a weak class on it's own or in a smaller group. Even in a larger group, it could possibly be less satisfying than other classes, because you're aiding others in doing better, not doing it yourself.

 

[CryHavoc]

*Sob* ... It's just so beautiful...

 

[Agamon]

Other: if I was allowed to pick Succubus for my race.

 

[Blackwind]

I played a Halfling Bard in RPGA (LC). Tibbs Brighton was his name. Kind of an annoying character, actually, but it was fun at the time. He was fun to roleplay -- he played the piccolo and got on people's nerves. Unbelievably effective in combat, but that was because LC was janked and he had a +3 shocking burst crossbow at 2nd or 3rd level.

I would definitely play a bard again, but there are other character concepts I'm much more eager to try right now. But I'm *always* the DM these days.

 

[EvilGM]

Just being able to break into song at any point in the game is reason enough.

 

[EyeontheMountain]

Bards are a solid character clas in my opinion. i like stronger casters better, and would probably go Battel Sorceror instead of a Bard, but i like them.