D&D 5E Making a bard less reliant on magic?

[Bringer]

I would have honestly preferred the Bard class to be structured/built in a similar way to how the Monk was built. 1d8 hit dice, focuses on charisma in the same way a monk focuses on wisdom. Bardic inspiration that scales in the same way as ki points, and class abilities that use bardic inspiration to use in place of spells(perhaps you spend a few bardic inspirations to sing a song that buffs the party during a fight)

Unarmored defense(Dex + Charisma) your quick wit irritates the enemy and makes them attack more sloppily and recklessly, thus allowing you to evade more easily.

Vicious mockery is no longer a cantrip, and instead becomes a class feature.

Alternatively, I wouldn't mind a spellcasting Bard as much if their spell slots worked more like Warlock's. Always casting at the highest level, few spell slots, refreshes on a short rest.

I don't know, I just feel like a Bard being a caster doesn't fit the concept. When I think Bard, I just don't think throwing out magical spells.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

The bard went from jack-of-all-trades, master of none in previous editions to jack-of-all-trades, master of many things in 5e. I always try to fluff my bard's magic in something more similar to the Pillars of Eternity's Chanter: he does not cast spell, he re-inact specific folklore moment, giving life to the lost memories of epic history. Those invoked fragment of collective memory are the one manifesting the magic effect, your bard only knows of to call for them (much like a summoner). From the PoE Chanter's description: ''Chanters can be found in almost any culture, but are most often seen in communities with a strong oral tradition. They are repositories of folk knowledge and common wisdom, tellers of tall tales and hallowed legends. They use these stories and legends to stir the memories of the dreaming lost souls and soul fragments that surround them. The spirits respond by creating magical effects, essentially playing their part in the recreation of the legends. In this way, chanters act as directors of supernatural actors playing out momentary plays for the chanter's benefit.''

But that's just fluff, on the mechanic side, I agree with you that the warlock's spell progression would have been interesting on a bard; you gain less spell, but gain Chants (invocations-like) giving your party and yourself passive/at-will buffs.
I also miss the roguish part of the bard, even if it can be argued that I can have expertise in thieve's tools for the same result.

 

[Wulffolk]

I would have preferred something along these lines for the Bard, but I would have also preferred auras for Paladins.

 

[steeldragons]

Also in agreement. The Bard was the logical choice -to round out a triad of "sword swinger/spell slingers" combos: Paladin: cleric magic half caster, Ranger: druid magic half caster, and [regardless of my own opinions of what kind of magic they SHOULD have] Bards could have been/should have been/would make more sense as the arcane/wizard magic half caster.

Plus the auras, chants, innate magical ability charms that they have traditionally had access to/been capable of.

I don't know if I'd go the full on "warlock" spell progression way. But definitely should have been a half-caster progression of spells known/prepared.

And, actually, maybe for the bard's special mechanical "hoo-ha" a class feature that allowed them to access magic as/by a limited number of "Spells Known" AND access to "Spells prepared." That just literally hit me just now and came out my fingertips. So I'm not sure how it would work. But it's an intriguing concept for a class ability: being, at once, a "known" and "prepared" [half] caster that can access either as needed/wanted.

 

[Aldarc]

Also in agreement. The Bard was the logical choice -to round out a triad of "sword swinger/spell slingers" combos: Paladin: cleric magic half caster, Ranger: druid magic half caster, and [regardless of my own opinions of what kind of magic they SHOULD have] Bards could have been/should have been/would make more sense as the arcane/wizard magic half caster.

Hmmmm...That would make for an interesting bard variant. Now I will be grappling with what could have been.

 

[Jester David]

I would have preferred a half-caster bard that does many more assorted bardic things rather than becoming a master of magic rivaling the wizard...

 

[Satyrn]

Alternatively, I wouldn't mind a spellcasting Bard as much if their spell slots worked more like Warlock's. Always casting at the highest level, few spell slots, refreshes on a short rest.

And invocations called chants or songs or the like.

 

[thethain]

I understand, a lore bard is pretty much just a better Sorcerer. Especially since one of the big weaknesses of sorcerer is the limited selection of total known spells by max level, well if you bard it up, you get 8 more known spells, ANY spells. And on top of that you have your bardic inspiration/cutting words, song of rest, Not to mention 4 skill expertises and half a dozen skill trainings. And the Jack of All Trades, which is free bonus initiative!

 

[discosoc]

I don't know, I just feel like a Bard being a caster doesn't fit the concept. When I think Bard, I just don't think throwing out magical spells.

It's basically the way bards have been portrayed forever. The problem is (and always has been) that the bard class probably needs it's own unique spell selection so that it's capable of "casting" spells that are uniquely bard-like, rather than the normal stuff that other classes can do anyway (cure wounds, etc).

With 5th edition, specifically, bards also lost a lot of the "jack of all trades" feel due to the skill system being simplified quite a bit.

Lastly, I think a big problem with people understanding bards is that they often separate the playing of music with casting of spells, when the two are supposed to be the same thing. You're bard isn't waving his hands and speaking arcane words to charm his foe -- he's singing or banging drums or something, and the spell is cast through that action. Different spells should evoke a different tone or mood for the music he's playing.

 

[Quickleaf]

I would have honestly preferred the Bard class to be structured/built in a similar way to how the Monk was built. 1d8 hit dice, focuses on charisma in the same way a monk focuses on wisdom. Bardic inspiration that scales in the same way as ki points, and class abilities that use bardic inspiration to use in place of spells(perhaps you spend a few bardic inspirations to sing a song that buffs the party during a fight)

Unarmored defense(Dex + Charisma) your quick wit irritates the enemy and makes them attack more sloppily and recklessly, thus allowing you to evade more easily.

Vicious mockery is no longer a cantrip, and instead becomes a class feature.

Alternatively, I wouldn't mind a spellcasting Bard as much if their spell slots worked more like Warlock's. Always casting at the highest level, few spell slots, refreshes on a short rest.

I don't know, I just feel like a Bard being a caster doesn't fit the concept. When I think Bard, I just don't think throwing out magical spells.

Welcome to ENWorld Yes, yes, and yes. I'd play such a bard class in a heartbeat.