I would play a bard if. . .

[VirgilCaine]

Of course I would play a Bard. Scouting skills, unique spell list, UMD, bardic knowledge, talky skills, and who can forget healing spells?

It's a great combination.

Although, I think I would not use Bardic Music. People see it as the main feature of the class for some reason.

 

[Shadeydm]

If we were playing 1E AD&D.

 

[TarionzCousin]

Hell Freezes Over

Hell froze over

'Nuff said. Obviously you're playing a bard in my upcoming campaign.

 

[brehobit]

Bard (and Sublime Chord) are critical to my Sublime Phoenix character concept (which I will hopefully have the chance to play some day). I don't need any further incentive.

Hummm....

I have a similar build floating around I think.
1 warblade
2-8 Bard
9 swordsage
10 (Bo9S phoenix class)
11 sublime cord
12-20 (Bo9S phoenix class)

I think you can't actually hide the class at level 10 like I did (and get the SC spells with it) but it is a great build... I debate about moving (or losing) the warblade level and replacing it with bard, marshal, or something else... I think you get a BAB of +16 and 9th level spells at the end _and_ the character doesn't really suck at any given point. At level 3 you can inspire courage as a swift action (given the right feat...) Really works well in Eberron with the +1 to inspire courage feat/substitution ability.

Mark

 

[arnon]

I'm in the: I like bards camp.

Have played several before, and am currently playing the variant Bard from BoEM2

 

[Vyvyan Basterd]

Hummm....

I have a similar build floating around I think.
1 warblade
2-8 Bard
9 swordsage
10 (Bo9S phoenix class)
11 sublime cord
12-20 (Bo9S phoenix class)

I think you can't actually hide the class at level 10 like I did (and get the SC spells with it) but it is a great build... I debate about moving (or losing) the warblade level and replacing it with bard, marshal, or something else... I think you get a BAB of +16 and 9th level spells at the end _and_ the character doesn't really suck at any given point. At level 3 you can inspire courage as a swift action (given the right feat...) Really works well in Eberron with the +1 to inspire courage feat/substitution ability.

Mark

Mine is:

1-4 Bard
5-6 Crusader (this way you can pick 2nd level maneuvers [since most have no prereqs])
7-10 Jade Pheonix Mage (add to bard casting to meet prereqs for sublime chord)
11-12 Sublime Chord
13-18 Jade Pheonix Mage (add to sublime chord casting)
19-20 Sublime Chord

You end up with:

8th level maneuvers
9th level spells
+17 BAB
Crusader gives Cha to Will saves

 

[brehobit]

Mine is:

1-4 Bard
5-6 Crusader (this way you can pick 2nd level maneuvers [since most have no prereqs])
7-10 Jade Pheonix Mage (add to bard casting to meet prereqs for sublime chord)
11-12 Sublime Chord
13-18 Jade Pheonix Mage (add to sublime chord casting)
19-20 Sublime Chord

You end up with:

8th level maneuvers
9th level spells
+17 BAB
Crusader gives Cha to Will saves

I like it. I'm not sure you can change which class's spell advancement you get (isn't there a line about picking one at 1st or 2nd level?) with JPM.

Only downside I see to your build is never getting +2 inspire courage bonuses (which are nice).

Cool!

Mark

 

[brehobit]

Of course I would play a Bard. Scouting skills, unique spell list, UMD, bardic knowledge, talky skills, and who can forget healing spells?

It's a great combination.

Agreed.

Although, I think I would not use Bardic Music. People see it as the main feature of the class for some reason.

Because it's huge? If you are in the "use all the WoTC books" camp, the bardic music is scary good. Spell that increases it by +1, words of creation (which are broken and I would never use/allow), and the white raven feat from Bo9S make it gross. Add in the Eberron feat and bardic music is beyond powerful. Even without the words of creation you can give +3 bonuses at 3rd level. And with the Bo9S feat by 9th level you could give those +3 bonuses as a swift action. Bard 8/crusader2 is a nasty powerful combination, mainly due to the bardic music (though the white raven stuff doesn't hurt). The +3 damage is always nice, but +3 to the whole parties attack rolls as a swift action? Sign me up.

Even pure core, the bonuses from the music are very helpful and a nice thing to do if you have any kind of warning about the combat. The spells are really nice, but the number so low (and leaning so heavily toward "charmish" things) that you can't be an effective caster in more than 1 or 2 encounters/day. So the music helps. By 8th level, it helps a lot.

Mark

 

[Vyvyan Basterd]

I like it. I'm not sure you can change which class's spell advancement you get (isn't there a line about picking one at 1st or 2nd level?) with JPM.

Only downside I see to your build is never getting +2 inspire courage bonuses (which are nice).

Cool!

Mark

Thank you. I see how the added spellcasting can be read the way you are saying. Our group decided the "each level" comment meant you could coose each time you gained +1 level of spellcasting which class to add to. JPM reads the same as any other prestige class though.

 

[Slife]

I would have to count myself as one of those who personally cannot take the class very seriously.

"Oh, were being approached by Orcs? I Sing at them."

I much prefer the Beguiler class from the PHB 2. You do not get the benefit of the combat assist from the perform check. But you do get the Rogue like skills, and the spell list makes a great deal of sense for NPC manipulation.

END COMMUNICATION

I'm seriously considering changing bards into a sort of priest. Change the flavor around a bit, reflavor a couple of spells, replace instruments with holy relics/scriptures, and the class is a lot less silly.