The New Bard Image

[Mengu]

I'm having difficulty grasping what bard gear is supposed to look like.

The cunning build looks like they benefit from high intelligence, so they might be better off in light armor, but they don't have access to hide. And until you can get an 18 intelligence, chain is likely to be more beneficial. The Valor build will almost always go with chain. They have access to light shield, and little reason not to use one. Their implement is a wand and all their powers use implements.

So is the typical bard going to be geared up in chain mail, with a light shield in one hand and a wand in the other? This is a highly unusual look for the classic bard. Or are song blades and magic instruments going to be a pretty standard substitute instead of wands? Supposedly pact blades were prized items for warlocks, but the majority of warlocks I've seen seem to use rods (though there is hoping Arcane Powers may change that).

So what was the image they were going for, for the new bard?

 

[WalterKovacs]

They haven't shown many Valor powers ... but it does look to be a melee weapon based character, instead of implement based. Similar to a cleric, but with both powers using charisma (making it easier to have a character that mixes both styles, although your secondary stats will color which direction you go).

Also, the bard does have hide armor proficiency, so I'd see the valor build wearing hide armor.

With the ability to go implement or weapon based, the look is likely to be influenced in part by their multiclass choices. They are more likely to multiclass into other arcane classes at the moment, with paladin as one of the few non-arcane classes with a stat that fits into a bards build.

The chain melee wielding bard would look a bit like Elan of OOTS fame, with perhaps a shield as well. The song blade gives them a chance to mix and match their powers without having to worry about their shield (although, one can carry an item in the shield hand, and not be considered to wield it? In that case, they may just be switching hands constantly during the fight.)

EDIT:

Just double checked. You are able to hold something in your hand while wielding a light shield, as long as you don't attack with it.

 

[spooq]

My Half-Elf Valor Bard is indeed wearing chainmail with a shield. Only level 1, so no wand/songblade yet, but I am taking Sneak of Shadows on the next level (as much for Thievery as for Backstab), so right now am using a shortsword rather than the more powerful longsword.

I don't know the strength requirements for scale, but I expect I will probably go for it by the time we get around to dividing up dragonscale armour. Plate is almost certainly out of reach. This is painful because I expect my AC and Reflex defence to lag permanently.

Basically, I am paying the price of flexibility. So far, the tradeoffs seem to be reasonable. At level 15, I may have wished I did things differently. I see my Bard as primarily a long-range Leader type, but as there are only three of us in the party, he needs to be able to defend himself in a scrap, and to be able to occasionally come forward at the right moment to help the other two guys finish off a tough enemy. Other than that, he is all about the Cha-shooting/healing/NPC-talking aspect of the Bard.

I guess the point here is that Cunning Bards will be in light armour, and Valor Bards will be in chain (or better, if they can wrangle it). Both those options make sense to me.

 

[MwaO]

The cunning build looks like they benefit from high intelligence, so they might be better off in light armor, but they don't have access to hide.

That was actually a mistake in the character builder/compendium - they have access to Hide armor now in the compendium and on the next update to character builder, that ought to be fixed.

I think in general, Valor bards will look like 3.5 Light Fighters - chain, shield, longsword/songblade. Cunning Bards will look like 3.5 UMD Bards - hide("chain shirt"), shield, and wand.

 

[spooq]

That was actually a mistake in the character builder/compendium - they have access to Hide armor now in the compendium and on the next update to character builder, that ought to be fixed.

I think in general, Valor bards will look like 3.5 Light Fighters - chain, shield, longsword/songblade. Cunning Bards will look like 3.5 UMD Bards - hide("chain shirt"), shield, and wand.

I would expect most Cunning Bards to find a better use for their other hand than a shield.

 

[arscott]

Just double checked. You are able to hold something in your hand while wielding a light shield, as long as you don't attack with it.

Use wand to cast attack spells = attack

 

[spooq]

Use wand to cast attack spells = attack

Indeed. Most people on this board seem to either not know this, or not want to know it.

 

[MwaO]

Use wand to cast attack spells = attack

Free action to switch something to your other hand, Ruby Scabbard from AV = free action to draw blade.

Want to use the wand again? Minor to sheathe blade back into scabbard, Free to switch hands...

Bards should be using Light Shields.

 

[spooq]

Free action to switch something to your other hand, Ruby Scabbard from AV = free action to draw blade.

Want to use the wand again? Minor to sheathe blade back into scabbard, Free to switch hands...

Bards should be using Light Shields.

Meh, I just don't like the idea of juggling things like that. Once or twice a fight, fine, but not every round. It just feels wrong. Also, I would rather use the minor to heal people or something. *aware that you can stop juggling for a round to heal*

Edit: You still need to get your hands on this Scabbard thing, or you've got one shot with the wand at the start of the fight (admittedly the best time to have it). I think I would be happy doing that.

 

[MwaO]

Meh, I just don't like the idea of juggling things like that. Once or twice a fight, fine, but not every round. It just feels wrong. Also, I would rather use the minor to heal people or something. *aware that you can stop juggling for a round to heal*

Most Bards are going to use one implement most of the time, just like every other multiple-implement wielding class. Spending a minor action once per combat should be enough most of the time.

And besides, you're a bard. Juggling ought to come naturally

Edit: You still need to get your hands on this Scabbard thing, or you've got one shot with the wand at the start of the fight (admittedly the best time to have it). I think I would be happy doing that.

Ruby Scabbard is a level 5 item. In most games, it should be easy to get unless your DM has ruled that AV items aren't accessible.