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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Primitive Screwhead" data-source="post: 4227024" data-attributes="member: 20805">I disagree here. The Bard is a supporting role class in a game of heroes. The stories told after a game revolve around the brash ranger ringing the bells in Castle Ravenloft because he is bored, or the Mage who saves the party with just the right spell. The stories are almost never about the Bard whose actions allowed another character to succeed....The people who play the Bard are, like me, more interested in playing a supporting role character and will play it regardless of whether they have to lug around a lute. Personally, I like the tie to music and the Scottish Skald, the drummers of the Roman Legionnaires, and the thousands of other examples real history shows us of musical efforts on the battle field. Trumpets have been used for ages to marshal forces and give commands for the furthement of a battle.  Also, normal music has the capability to stir emotions...just go watch a 'tear-jerker' movie and listen to the sound-track. Having a character that uses arcane magic to enhance this quality is perfect.  In my 'perfect Bard' world, the instrument of choice would be similar to the Mages 4e implements. You don't need them to do the job, but they enhance particular aspects. Harps are better at soft manipulation, drums are better for inspiring courage, etc.. but all the magical effects created by the bard would be either illusions or emotional shifts based on music/cadence/words.No 'Heroic Pose' performances allowed!So what would my 'perfect Bard' look like in 4e? Until I see the full rules, I cannot be sure...but it would include these things:Trained in Insight and Blufffights with light weapons and is as good as a Rogue in combat.Very good at bluffing into combat advantagecapable of boosting, or lowering, the morale of one side or the otherable to cast minor illusionsacts primarily in support of the teamYMMV  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /></blockquote>

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