this bard modification OK?

[BSF]

Actually, the 'helping others shine' bit is really what Bardic Music is all about, and it's also what IMHO the Bard class is all about. This is why I'm hesitant to throw out the mechanics of Bardic Music -- it's a VERY strong and VERY versatile ability set, and it's in no way compensated by having a Familiar.

I definitely agree. My Bard PC is something that I treat as the mortar for the bricks that make up all the rest of the party. He can help out a little with everything.

Because he has healing magic, the Druid is able to pray for a wider variety of spells.
Because he has a little arcane magic, the wizard can focus more on the offensive spells rather then the buffing spells.
He has enough BAB to hold the line with the monk if need be.
Because he is holding the line with the monk, the ranger is able to shoot the snot out of things with his bow.

Those are just the readily apparent strengths of my bard. His music is very useful. I use some stuff from the Enchiridion of Mystic Music (S.T.Cooley Publishing) and he has a wider variety of music tricks that way. And his far from maximized +29 Diplomacy is somewhat useful a lot of the time. He doesn't need to shine, he helps everyone else shine better.

 

[Lord Morte]

Heh. Just had an idea:
Bard as psychologist or counselor. Keep the "music" abilities the same, but change the descriptions so that they represent helpful insights and esteem-boosters.
Or even worse, pyramid sales schemers...

Oratory IS a Perform subtype, so I do see why not

Because he has healing magic, the Druid is able to pray for a wider variety of spells.
Because he has a little arcane magic, the wizard can focus more on the offensive spells rather then the buffing spells.
He has enough BAB to hold the line with the monk if need be.
Because he is holding the line with the monk, the ranger is able to shoot the snot out of things with his bow.

The Bard is the closest thing DnD has to a true Jack/Jill-Of-All-Trades, a class that does a bit of everything but nothing well. Bardic music is a versatile, powerful and useful ability but it does share the class concept with the dabbler archetype, so if some one wants to drop one or the other, they should be able to. Why mess around with a multiclass when you've already got something available that would be suitable with the serial numbers filed off?

I agreed the Lorist would be playable if weak, and think that Ace and Nffft's Spell Lore idea would probably offset that weakness.

 

[wolfheart]

You don't have to sing to be a bard, the description says that the bardic music can be a chant. Why not have your concept that he uses his vast knowledge to orate and get the magical effects from that.