Falling Icicle
Adventurer
The articles about the sorcerer and warlock had me really excited. The bard, on the other hand, is a letdown for me. I don't like the direction they're taking the class.
I don't like bards having full spellcasting. IMO there are too many spellcasting classes already. Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard and now Bard. Plus Paladins and Rangers as "half casters." That means that only 1/3 of the classes are non-casters. The Bard already got 15 spells per day by level 20, which is only four less than what full casters get. Did bards really need to be given 9th level spells?
Plus, I don't like the idea of a very versatile skill-based class having just as many spells per day as the wizard. Full spellcasting is pretty much all wizards have going for them. When there's another class that's just as good at spellcasting plus has tons of skills and versatility outside of spellcasting, it makes the wizard seem pretty pointless. I'm sure wizards will probably have a bigger spell list, but it's hard to see how enchanters and illusionists in particular won't be overshadowed by the bard now.
The Inspiration ability seems lackluster. It's barely better than Guidance, a cantrip clerics can cast at-will.
I'm also disappointed that they're still doing the whole "rogues (and bards) are better at using skills than everyone else." If the math of the game is broken such that rogues can't succeed, they need to fix the game's math for everyone, not just double the bonus for rogues. I also dislike it on principle; rogues and bards already get more skills than anyone else. They don't need double the bonus on top of that.
I don't like bards having full spellcasting. IMO there are too many spellcasting classes already. Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard and now Bard. Plus Paladins and Rangers as "half casters." That means that only 1/3 of the classes are non-casters. The Bard already got 15 spells per day by level 20, which is only four less than what full casters get. Did bards really need to be given 9th level spells?
Plus, I don't like the idea of a very versatile skill-based class having just as many spells per day as the wizard. Full spellcasting is pretty much all wizards have going for them. When there's another class that's just as good at spellcasting plus has tons of skills and versatility outside of spellcasting, it makes the wizard seem pretty pointless. I'm sure wizards will probably have a bigger spell list, but it's hard to see how enchanters and illusionists in particular won't be overshadowed by the bard now.
The Inspiration ability seems lackluster. It's barely better than Guidance, a cantrip clerics can cast at-will.
I'm also disappointed that they're still doing the whole "rogues (and bards) are better at using skills than everyone else." If the math of the game is broken such that rogues can't succeed, they need to fix the game's math for everyone, not just double the bonus for rogues. I also dislike it on principle; rogues and bards already get more skills than anyone else. They don't need double the bonus on top of that.