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(+)The 5e Bard Doesn't Feel Right. Help Me Fix It?
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<blockquote data-quote="Jester David" data-source="post: 7961212" data-attributes="member: 37579"><p>I've been avoiding these forums the past while.</p><p>But I need a distraction, AND the bard's design is something that has bugged me since release (and prior, since I was not fond of the playtest and super disappointed that they left the bard until the very end when it's arguably one of the hardest classes to get right.</p><p></p><p>So throwing in my thoughts.</p><p></p><p>The lack of cool powers is a big problem with the bard.</p><p>Jack of All Trades is neat as is Expertise, but they don't really stand out, being passive powers that just boost numbers. Song of Rest is fine but forgettable: adding 3-6 hp each short rest is incredibly minor. Magical Secrets is fun for making a unique bard and allows you to make a pretty diverse character, taking a ranger spell to be an archer, a paladin spell to boost melee, or slightly boosting support with a cleric spell.</p><p></p><p>They get one real active Bard power, and that's Countercharm. And it's super situational. And means giving up your entire turn to give people a new save for a single round. Which they might not want to do if making a new save against fear is an action, or be able to do if they can't repeat the save against being charmed each turn.</p><p></p><p>Even the subclasses are a little anemic, only getting three features. Having designed a few homebrew bard subclasses, it's really hard to work all the ideas for a subclass into such a small design space.</p><p></p><p>Heck… there's not even really any ribbons or exploration powers.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I also miss the 3e/ Pathfinder songs, and buffing the entire party. Being the character that "cast fighter" and made everyone else awesome. The 5e bard can be many things, but it's only a so-so support character, and none of the subclasses really boost that aspect.</p><p></p><p>First things first, I like Bardic Inspiration. The floating die people can add when they need it is really slick, and allows for a larger bonus. And it gets really good at 5th level. Or rather, it gets usable at 5th, as 3 uses per day from levels 1-4 are pretty low.</p><p></p><p>While I was disappointed by the final game, Pathfinder 2 does give a great idea of something that is needed by the bard: a buffing cantrip. All bards get <em><a href="https://2e.aonprd.com/Spells.aspx?ID=386" target="_blank">inspire courage</a></em> as a cantrip at first level, which is a single action spell that grants all allies within 60 feet a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls for a single round.</p><p>That could easily work, being a less powerful version of <em>bless</em>. It could be limited to one target at level one and increase with level, going to 3 targets at level 5.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>This is the BIG one. I think the bard really suffers from the decision to make it a master of spellcasting rather than a dabbler. A full 9- levels of spells means there's just less room for unique features. This might be bearable with a 3e/4e style release schedule that boosts the number of spells and gives more bard-centric spells. As it is, there's only a couple spells of 6th level and higher that really seem "bardic".</p><p></p><p>Dropping the bard to a 1/2-level, rounded up caster like the artificer would mean it only gets a big spell boost at levels 5, 9, 13, and 17, so there's be space for a bigger buff at levels 7, 11 (now dead levels), and 15. And possibly a smaller boost at 3rd level.</p><p></p><p>Dropping Font of Inspiration down to 3rd level would help lift Bardic Inspiration up sooner, and mean 5th could use a small buff. Maybe a small ribbon.</p><p>11th level is begging to be a 4th Bardic College feature, making each subclass more interesting.</p><p></p><p>That still leaves 7th level and 15th level as needing something unique to bards. Plus any additional ribbons being added.</p><p>(That's assuming magical secrets isn't dropped. It feels like this is just better suited to existing in the College of Lore.)</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Jester David, post: 7961212, member: 37579"] I've been avoiding these forums the past while. But I need a distraction, AND the bard's design is something that has bugged me since release (and prior, since I was not fond of the playtest and super disappointed that they left the bard until the very end when it's arguably one of the hardest classes to get right. So throwing in my thoughts. The lack of cool powers is a big problem with the bard. Jack of All Trades is neat as is Expertise, but they don't really stand out, being passive powers that just boost numbers. Song of Rest is fine but forgettable: adding 3-6 hp each short rest is incredibly minor. Magical Secrets is fun for making a unique bard and allows you to make a pretty diverse character, taking a ranger spell to be an archer, a paladin spell to boost melee, or slightly boosting support with a cleric spell. They get one real active Bard power, and that's Countercharm. And it's super situational. And means giving up your entire turn to give people a new save for a single round. Which they might not want to do if making a new save against fear is an action, or be able to do if they can't repeat the save against being charmed each turn. Even the subclasses are a little anemic, only getting three features. Having designed a few homebrew bard subclasses, it's really hard to work all the ideas for a subclass into such a small design space. Heck… there's not even really any ribbons or exploration powers. I also miss the 3e/ Pathfinder songs, and buffing the entire party. Being the character that "cast fighter" and made everyone else awesome. The 5e bard can be many things, but it's only a so-so support character, and none of the subclasses really boost that aspect. First things first, I like Bardic Inspiration. The floating die people can add when they need it is really slick, and allows for a larger bonus. And it gets really good at 5th level. Or rather, it gets usable at 5th, as 3 uses per day from levels 1-4 are pretty low. While I was disappointed by the final game, Pathfinder 2 does give a great idea of something that is needed by the bard: a buffing cantrip. All bards get [I][URL='https://2e.aonprd.com/Spells.aspx?ID=386']inspire courage[/URL][/I] as a cantrip at first level, which is a single action spell that grants all allies within 60 feet a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls for a single round. That could easily work, being a less powerful version of [I]bless[/I]. It could be limited to one target at level one and increase with level, going to 3 targets at level 5. This is the BIG one. I think the bard really suffers from the decision to make it a master of spellcasting rather than a dabbler. A full 9- levels of spells means there's just less room for unique features. This might be bearable with a 3e/4e style release schedule that boosts the number of spells and gives more bard-centric spells. As it is, there's only a couple spells of 6th level and higher that really seem "bardic". Dropping the bard to a 1/2-level, rounded up caster like the artificer would mean it only gets a big spell boost at levels 5, 9, 13, and 17, so there's be space for a bigger buff at levels 7, 11 (now dead levels), and 15. And possibly a smaller boost at 3rd level. Dropping Font of Inspiration down to 3rd level would help lift Bardic Inspiration up sooner, and mean 5th could use a small buff. Maybe a small ribbon. 11th level is begging to be a 4th Bardic College feature, making each subclass more interesting. That still leaves 7th level and 15th level as needing something unique to bards. Plus any additional ribbons being added. (That's assuming magical secrets isn't dropped. It feels like this is just better suited to existing in the College of Lore.) [/QUOTE]
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