-
NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
The Complete Bard
- Thread starter Darklone
- Start date
der_kluge
Adventurer
Felix said:You think your character is 33% suck? I'm sorry.
Well, what frustrates me with the bard is that you can't use levels of bard as the "jack-of-all-trades" that they used to be in 2nd edition. I miss that. They are very focused classes in 3rd edition. Nothing "Jack-of-all-trades" about them at all anymore.
My character is basically sort of crazy, and dabbles in things. I had to take a level of rogue to pick up things like open locks and disable device. The GM was letting me stacked the Cloistered Cleric and the Bard's "Lore" abilities which was handy. And since bless replicates Inspire Courage, there's not really any reason to take levels of Bard. If I wanted to enchant people, I'd play a Sorcerer.
the Jester
Legend
Don't forget interesting bard prestige class ideas!
I have the disparager in my game- a bard who focuses on giving enemies penalties, instead of aiding their friends, and who insults foes constantly. Then there is the orcish war beater, a warrior-drummer. And, of course, the jester. But everyone has done the jester.
I once played a really fun bard named Sarcastro, whose whole schtick was insulting humor and ethnic jokes.
I have the disparager in my game- a bard who focuses on giving enemies penalties, instead of aiding their friends, and who insults foes constantly. Then there is the orcish war beater, a warrior-drummer. And, of course, the jester. But everyone has done the jester.
I once played a really fun bard named Sarcastro, whose whole schtick was insulting humor and ethnic jokes.
Zaruthustran
The tingling means it’s working!
Bards rock.
I'm playing a bard in Neverwinter Nights, which has a new feat called Curse Song. Essentially a no-save debuff of limited radius and duration, counts as a bard song, and improves with level.
I think he has 16 Str (with level bump), 14 Dex and Cha, 12 Con, and 8 Wisdom. feats are Power Attack, Cleave, Battlecaster, Curse Song.
With Inspire Courage and a few buffs he's very effective in combat, and the bardic knowledge and maxed-out UMD make him the party's toolchest--and sometimes armory (captured Wands of Lightning Bolt for the win!). He's so much fun, I don't think I could ever go back to a non-charismatic, non-spellcasting character.
-z
I'm playing a bard in Neverwinter Nights, which has a new feat called Curse Song. Essentially a no-save debuff of limited radius and duration, counts as a bard song, and improves with level.
I think he has 16 Str (with level bump), 14 Dex and Cha, 12 Con, and 8 Wisdom. feats are Power Attack, Cleave, Battlecaster, Curse Song.
With Inspire Courage and a few buffs he's very effective in combat, and the bardic knowledge and maxed-out UMD make him the party's toolchest--and sometimes armory (captured Wands of Lightning Bolt for the win!). He's so much fun, I don't think I could ever go back to a non-charismatic, non-spellcasting character.
-z
Darklone
Registered User
Yeah, bards should be second rate rogues in regard to traps. They are tricksters and skillmonkeys, I really don't understand why the assassintype rogue class has to be the single class who can do that. Except for clerics (which doesn't make sense at all!).der_kluge said:
Bless? I think it's much worse than Inspire Courage... that damage bonus really helped a lot IME. Depends perhaps on the number of archers and TWF monkeys in the group.
But as you say: The D&D bard develops away from the jack of all trades and IMHO that's bad. Even the spelllist changes from 3rd to 3.5 made him stronger in his specialisation and weaker overall... real bad IMHO. Without letting this thread steer towards 4E: First I'd love to see bardic music removed (by changing all those abilities into bard spells). Second, the bard should be a sorcerer type with less spells to cast but more known. And his spelllist should include all those music and enchantment effects as well as many utility spells. Add the trap stuff to the skill list and you'd have the Jack of all Trades I (and I think many others) want.
Sarcastro?
Spoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooon!
What about race advice?
Scaled back aasimar, feytouched, star elves, anything with a charisma bonus.
Don't forget to try to slap the Magic-Blooded template on it, too.
If you're not going to be using a bow or buffing for melee a great race is gnome. Seriously.
A lot of the best Bard spells are Illusions and the strength penalty doesn't mean jack to you. The constitution bonus is always welcome, too. The +1 to hit from size also makes ray spells a little more of an option if you're going to focus a lot on your Charisma and Constitution.
Last thing, melodic casting is a HOUSE. Its the Bard's Natural Spell. Every high charisma bard should think about taking it and if you're going into prestiges that focus on the bard's magical side its a no brainer.
Spoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooon!
What about race advice?
Scaled back aasimar, feytouched, star elves, anything with a charisma bonus.
Don't forget to try to slap the Magic-Blooded template on it, too.
If you're not going to be using a bow or buffing for melee a great race is gnome. Seriously.
A lot of the best Bard spells are Illusions and the strength penalty doesn't mean jack to you. The constitution bonus is always welcome, too. The +1 to hit from size also makes ray spells a little more of an option if you're going to focus a lot on your Charisma and Constitution.
Last thing, melodic casting is a HOUSE. Its the Bard's Natural Spell. Every high charisma bard should think about taking it and if you're going into prestiges that focus on the bard's magical side its a no brainer.
pdkoning
First Post
I'm playing a bard in a campaign that now runs over 1 year.
It's a single classed jack-of-all-trades.
Using a rapier (weapon finesse + weapon focus) for melee combat.
Lingering song as a feat for the bardic music, some magical item that gives a +1 bonus to the inspire courage bardic music.
Negotiator as a feat, max skill points in diplomacy / bluff / sense motive.
As spells a nice mixded selection.
He is really a support guy, healing, buffing, being the diplomat, the only thing he does not really focus on is the stealth / rogue things. But we have a rogue in our group anyway.
It's a single classed jack-of-all-trades.
Using a rapier (weapon finesse + weapon focus) for melee combat.
Lingering song as a feat for the bardic music, some magical item that gives a +1 bonus to the inspire courage bardic music.
Negotiator as a feat, max skill points in diplomacy / bluff / sense motive.
As spells a nice mixded selection.
He is really a support guy, healing, buffing, being the diplomat, the only thing he does not really focus on is the stealth / rogue things. But we have a rogue in our group anyway.
Similar Threads
