I would play a bard if. . .

[Kralin Thornberry]

I was torn between a big enough group and just that I would, because I love the bard class. I think I liked it in the earlier edition (have only tried it once in 3/3.5) though.

 

[The Human Target]

I do all the time without changes.


But I fully admit they work much better in campaigns were people actually talk.

 

[DreadArchon]

WOTC has been bending over backwards giving Bards great feats like Song of the Heart and Melodic Casting, great spells, great magical musical instruments, and strong flavorful prestige classes like the Warchanter and Sublime Chord.

And yet I, personally, loved them from the beginning. Isn't it awesome? They're like, "We at WotC don't think that you have enough for your favorite class, so we've spent dozens of hours thinking of more to give you, even at the expense of everyone else." And I'm like, "Uh, thanks guys, keep it coming..."

Also: Dirgesingers are nifty.

 

[MulhorandSage]

If role-playing within the soccial order were as (or more) integral to the campaign as the exploring ruins and tombs of past civilizations.

I love them guys, but not in a dungeon crawl.

 

[Xyanthon]

For whatever reason, the idea of an adventuring bard just doesn't really work out for me. When I was younger I loved the concept. My favorite series of books at the time was the Spell Singer by Alan Dean Foster. Yeah, I used to really like the concept. But now, not so much. I am not quite so sure what turned me off to them but I just can't embrace the concept any longer. Although I'm willing to keep an open mind and I'd like to see one in play.

 

[Mycanid]

I also chose the first option! Bards can be a very interesting and enjoyable class to play IMNOHO.

 

[Deadguy]

I'd play a Bard if... someone started a new campaign.

Oh look: they did. And I am.

 

[hong]

Fishbone, I don't understand what you're trying to say.

I think he's saying

SWEET CHRIST MAN! LET IT GO ALREADY!!!!
I'm sick of all your bloody trolling about bards, Firebeetle. The class is fine. It is balanced against the rogue. The only person who seems to have a problem with the class is YOU.
I didn't want to get personal with it but every other month you pull this crap and drives me up the effing wall.​

Look, "Give a Monkey a Brain" wasn't your best album, but I bought it anyway.

Hey look, it rhymes!

Seriously, ignore me if you like. Let's me know I'm getting somewhere.

No.

HAW HAW!

 

[James Heard]

I think part of the problem with bards is that bards only seriously shine during face time, and in a story-driven game a lot of players are going to try for face time. If the entire rest of the party is expecting to have some sort of player-to-NPC chat moment no matter what their actual skills are (and they're also filling customary and more standard roles) then bards are in trouble. And if the GM doesn't strictly enforce the whole "He's got a 4 points of CHA on you and a whole slew of skills that says he's more likable" and goes more along with the actual player's conversation? Then the bard becomes some sort of second rate buffer/healer/crappy fighter with the dubious benefit of bardic knowledge - but bardic knowledge is horribly dependent on how the GM arbitrates things too.

Basically a wizard or a fighter are always as good as their dice in combat, but a bard has to rely on the GM wanting to make the rolls for him. That makes them suboptimal in a lot of playing environments and under a lot of GMs.

 

[Herremann the Wise]

I normally have a short list of characters (at the moment five) that I'll look at if I need a new character (I have only played seven different characters in the last ten years so new characters are a big thing for me).

One character on my shortlist is a dwarven bard/fighter. I like the idea of a beefy dwarf who is a born leader who will gather others around to hear epic tales of historical importance. Emphasis on str/con/wis and cha. Not a traditional bard by any means; more a lorekeeper crossed with Druss the Legend.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise