D&D (2024) Last minute guesses about what WotC did with the Bard

[Not a Decepticon]

Ability to play an instrument as a class specific spell.

In published book they will change attack action to an Attack Spell, then ban martial classes from using it.

 

[Sulicius]

They'll make some features more usefull, but otherwise I don't see them changing the bard much.

 

[Horwath]

hopefully replace it with Marshal or Artificer...

 

[Paul Farquhar]

They gets a "Die Horribly" ability that they can activate at any time. Dance bards get an upgrade to this ability so that it is always on.

 

[Not a Decepticon]

They gets a "Die Horribly" ability that they can activate at any time. Dance bards get an upgrade to this ability so that it is always on.

Sadly it just means they're horrible at dying...

(note: I like bard, except a subclass that was pretty clearly made to bully Monk players)

 

[deadman1204]

I wouldn't expect much any change. The point of 5.5 is to change just enough to sell all the books over again. Its like spaceballs 2, the search for more money.

As for monks? Bleh, 3rd ed made them such an awkward and garbagy class. They cannot use armor and most weapons, which is just anti-dnd. You advance your character through gear, with weapons and armor being the most important.
Monks are designed to not allow you to use most of these important upgrades. Its just less fun. Give a monk a pile of money and they just can't do as much to be effective as most any other class can. That never feels good. Paladin or wizard iwth cash? They can never get enough. Monk? bleh...
Plus they're about the only mad class that exists. 5th ed is SOO zeroed in on maximizing your primary stat. Monks need wis for resists and dex for everything else. They cannot max them all, so they just always such compared to other classes.
Monks are a sign of their inability to really design well.

 

[Not a Decepticon]

Monks need wis for resists and dex for everything else. They cannot max them all, so they just always such compared to other classes.

you can easily max DEX and WIS as a full Monk

 

[Henadic Theologian]

I would it were so.

I am 90% confident there will be a bard list, but I would be a giddy schoolboy if there were a small sidebar (for both the Bard and the Sorcerer) saying with DM's permission you can choose from the Bard, Cleric, Druid, or Sorcerer list.

They won't do that for Sorcerer, steps on the shoes of the Divine Soul.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Sadly it just means they're horrible at dying...

(note: I like bard, except a subclass that was pretty clearly made to bully Monk players)

Take another look at the new Monk, Dance Bard bullies Monks like Eldritch Knight Fighter bullies Wizards , the new Monk is so supped up, what the Dance Bard gets is just a taste of it.

 

[Not a Decepticon]

Take another look at the new Monk, Dance Bard bullies Monks like Eldritch Knight Fighter bullies Wizards , the new Monk is so supped up, what the Dance Bard gets is just a taste of it.

While also having all the powers already at Bard's disposal, effectively giving itonly things it lacked before to just be able to do any concept people would want to pick up Monk for, but better.