I would play a bard if. . .

[Darklone]

I'd love to see some of these new multiclass feats for Bard/Swashbuckler, Bard/Rogue or Bard/Scout...

Yet I'm always playing bards if the group does not urgently need firepower.

 

[jinx crossbow]

If I ever will play a Eberron Campaign,
I will play a bard-gnome without any doubt.

I don't see the bard softer than other classes,
its just more difficult to play them effective.

Jinx

 

[Hussar]

I know that the bard in my WLD campaign is absolutely rocking. She just makes the whole group SO much more powerful. It was very interesting when the raging barbarian got charmed and lost all the buffs from the bard. Went from destruction incarnate to a pussy cat in one round.

I rarely get to play, but, playing a bard sounds like a lot of fun.

 

[Perun]

I voted first option, although I don't like them that much. I think bards are one of "situational" classes -- they work fabulously in a story-driven, intrigue- and/or diplomacy-heavy campaign. In a "default" D&D campaign, they make for a good fifth member.

But, in the end, it all depends on the group, group play-stile, and (naturally) on the player himself (or herself, as the case might be).

 

[Drowbane]

Other

Hell froze over

 

[Quartz]

In a "default" D&D campaign, they make for a good fifth member.

Make that 6th. The 5th should be a second cleric or druid or fighter-type.

 

[mhacdebhandia]

Other: I could use Monte Cook's alternate bard from the Complete Book of Eldritch Might.

 

[EyeontheMountain]

Hell froze over

Ive got bad news. My epic cold sorceror just Plane shifted there, and well... it did

 

[jasin]

I'd play a straight PHB bard in an appropriate (big, phyisically oriented) group and an appropriate game (one with opportunity for diplomacy and subterfuge).

But there's other things which could further encourage me. Song of the Heart feat from Eberron. The ability to pick one spell per spell level from any list. White Raven maneuvers and stances.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I've played bards, and had bards played in my campaign. I like 'em, and I don't think there's anything wrong with the class. It just takes a more capable player to get the most from a bard, one who realizes how to lpay a jack-of-all-trades support character.