I would play a bard if. . .

[Vyvyan Basterd]

No disagreement here.

But note that it requires the use of "synergistic feats" and hence the role of the fighter is mostly "locked" even though the class is extremely versatile each individual fighter is not. As I pointed out they can be extremely good at one or two things but not at all.

Bards rely on using their skills (mostly) which are predominantly interactive and thus ever changing based on the circumstance. No matter what feat chain a fighter takes it is still a feat chain and thus is limited in its versatility.


Do not get me wrong - fighters are extremely important in controlling the battlefield. But each individual one has a more specific role than does a bard - whose entire shtick is his "versatility".

I'm not arguing that the Bard is easy to play compared to the Fighter. I think they both take a player with a strong grasp of the game to make effective. I just think that Fighters are no longer the newbie class they once were due to the complex choices and tactics required by the player. I believe that the Bard, Fighter and Sorcerer are the most maligned as the 'suckiest' classes because many players are not up to the task of making an effective one.

 

[irdeggman]

I'm not arguing that the Bard is easy to play compared to the Fighter. I think they both take a player with a strong grasp of the game to make effective. I just think that Fighters are no longer the newbie class they once were due to the complex choices and tactics required by the player. I believe that the Bard, Fighter and Sorcerer are the most maligned as the 'suckiest' classes because many players are not up to the task of making an effective one.

Good points. IMO no class is really "sucky" - they all have strengths and weaknesses.

I do think the easiest to play (not saying that any are "easy" only that these are the quickest to get to a reasonable comfort level for game play) and best choices for a newbie are:

fighter

And now sorcerer

the rest require a lot more role-playing, or skill selection/use or worse (for clerics and wizards) spell selection from a real large list of available spells.

 

[Darklone]

I never understood why people think a fighter is easier to play for a newbie than a barbarian...

 

[DreadArchon]

Fighter and Sorceror require lots of choices, thus making them more difficult for newbies.

Barbarians have basically no choices about their class, making them rather easy by comparison.

 

[Darklone]

Fighter and Sorceror require lots of choices, thus making them more difficult for newbies.

Barbarians have basically no choices about their class, making them rather easy by comparison.

Right. The sorcerer ist still more easy for a newbie that wants to play a spellcaster than a wizard (give him mage armor and magic missile).

Sure, you can give a fighter some feats too... let's say dwarven fighter with Power Attack and Cleave or Weapon Focus and Toughness... Still I prefer to give them barbarians to boot. More fun for them.

 

[robberbaron]

Never played a 3.0/3.5 Bard.

Might give it a go.

 

[irdeggman]

Fighter and Sorceror require lots of choices, thus making them more difficult for newbies.

Barbarians have basically no choices about their class, making them rather easy by comparison.

Good point.

Make that barbarian and sorcerer (for those wishing to play a spellcaster) as the quickest classes to "pick up".

Fighter and ranger are in the next tier, IMO.

Rogues, bards, wizards, druids and clerics are harder.

Clerics and wizards because of the spell choices - especially clerics (they automatically know all spells of the level they can cast - if not for that one they'd be easier IMO). Druids are a challenge on several levels - the divine spell sutomatically know issue and their ability to shapechange (too many choices for an inexperienced player to adequately keep track of IMO).

Rogues and bards are more difficult because of their dependence on skills to fully operate well.

 

[jasin]

I would play a bard if I could mix it up with a little paladin and a little warblade.

 

[krunchyfrogg]

I wanna play a bard that has Perform (armpit) and Perform (cowbell).

You know what this thread needs?

MORE COWBELLS!

 

[Vyvyan Basterd]

MORE ARMPITS!