The Complete Bard

[Darklone]

Heya bard luvas and haters.

There have been soooo many bards sux or bards rock threads, they even started to show up annually... so I decided a few weeks ago to start this thread if I stumble upon more than ten bard threads in the meantime.

It took a little more than a few weeks, but here we are.

What I want you to post here, is the following:
- Bard builds. Multiclass or not doesn't matter. Preferably ~ level 10. Perhaps where they are heading to. I want to see here builds that you played or planned to play, not detailed optimized rules builds. Fluff, not crunch. And post the archetypes, e.g. bard archer, bard assassin, bard mounted combat specialist, bard preacher, bard revolutionist, bard warrior... whatever.
- Post how they played. How you imagined them. Zorro or Cyrano de Bergerac. Post some action where the bard played a vital role.

I don't mind whether your bard was a bard4/ftr6 build. Just post what you enjoyed to play... and how you did it.

 

[Nifft]

Would like to play:

Bard 4 / Warblade 6 (focused on White Raven stances + Song of the White Raven)

Cheers, -- N

 

[Seeten]

dont forget white raven tactics, makes a bard useful

 

[theredrobedwizard]

I played a Bard 3/Marshal 3/Dragon Shaman 1. It was fun, though mechanically I was one of the least effective characters. Sure, I boosted the heck out of everyone, but I did about as much direct melee damage as the average Greatsword Wielding, 6 Str having, level 1 Wizard.

-TRRW

 

[Brother MacLaren]

Next character I'm playing is a bard. One of three types:

1: The Doctor Who-type character. Very high Int, the Obscure Lore feat, and tons of Knowledge skills, as well as pretty decent Bluff. This really requires a DM who lets Knowledge sometimes provide the answer to a problem, and doesn't make the skills SO specialized as to be worthless.

2: The Aasimar Bard/Paladin (with Devoted Performer) whose Inspire Courage ability takes the form of oratory. "Now, villain, you will face holy justice."

3: The Ftr1/Brd4/War ChanterX. Using Battle Caster to wear mithral fullplate and Combat Expertise to get AC as high as possible. Maybe take the Goad feat.

 

[Voadam]

I played an elven bard for levels 1 and 2. Went straight bard and used the class as a basis for him as a friendly and bold charismatic talker/leader/hero with magic and knowledge plus a few elvish weapon skills. I portrayed the bardic music as a form of elven magic using true speech that had nothing to do with music.

 

[two]

I played a Bard 3/Marshal 3/Dragon Shaman 1. It was fun, though mechanically I was one of the least effective characters. Sure, I boosted the heck out of everyone, but I did about as much direct melee damage as the average Greatsword Wielding, 6 Str having, level 1 Wizard.

-TRRW

Ummm... to state the obvious, if you are, for example, granting 4 PC's (+4/+4) to hit/dam, and 4 hit that round, 3 easily and 1 only because of your +4 to hit bonus, you are doing 3*4=12 + entire damage from the 4th hit that would have been a miss otherwise in DIRECT MELEE DAMAGE.

You are just not doing it yourself, but that's beside the point.

Likely your PC is responsible for more melee damage than the barbarian!

 

[|)ar|{]

I played a halfing who often used his hat of disguise to pose as a handicapable goblin with a crutch. By the time the figured out I was a threat it was too late they were already in my power <insert sinister laugh>. It was fun and functional, started to change my parties mind about bards sucking. Later I played a Bard/Warblade with snowflake wardance and some other combat feats and showed them that bards could throw down when they are made right. Next bard I make will focus on showing them that with the right build I can fill the role of the wizard (this one may be a bit tougher).

 

[Felix]

Bard/Dread Pirate.

Perform (Oratory), which the DM allowed as swearing.
Intimidate, Sleight of Hand, and Bluff.
Feats that inspired fear, like Kiai Shout and Intimidating Strike.

He cussed up a storm, had a lie for every situation, made people afraid of him, as many gold teeth as real ones, and had to exit via the window as often the door.

 

[kenobi65]

Ummm... to state the obvious, if you are, for example, granting 4 PC's (+4/+4) to hit/dam, and 4 hit that round, 3 easily and 1 only because of your +4 to hit bonus, you are doing 3*4=12 + entire damage from the 4th hit that would have been a miss otherwise in DIRECT MELEE DAMAGE.

You are just not doing it yourself, but that's beside the point.

Likely your PC is responsible for more melee damage than the barbarian!

This is exactly the point that the player of a bard needs to remember. If you're doing your job properly, it's everyone else who's taking down the BBEG. If you want to be the one who's swinging the greatsword for 2d6+infinity damage...don't play a bard.