THIS makes a bard a bard

[MarauderX]

If a "bard" is someone who holds their own in combat with the most talented weilders of sword and sorcery, then what is the guy who collects and tells stories and performs for money? Its just kind of redefining the word "bard" to mean something pretty radically different than any non-D&D definition (whether historical or fictional) of the word.

Having seen some bar fights go down while playing in bars, I can say that having the power of the mic can certainly settle things down or redirect things your way. None of us were ever called 'bards' (I am called The Drummer), but that didn't mean we couldn't classified as a musician. And Musician as a class would sound a little one dimensional, not to mention the many kooky things you learn from the locals when you go on tour.

Reviewing the bard class above, I feel that Intelligence is out of place as a stat the bard needs. In game terms I would estimate the class to be like a Warlord with focus on sonic/silence and minor healing as a paladin (without the need to be Good). A bit of the 3.5 Stormcaster class from Stormwrack would do nicely.

 

[SSquirrel]

That can't be the Bard. It doesn't suck enough! A system with a non-craptastic Bard is NOT D&D

heh

 

[arscott]

Fflewder Flan (from the Chronicles of Prydain) is described as a bard and fits the traveling minstrel definition. Written in the late 60's, pre-D&D (and probably an influence thereof).

Fflewder was specifically the Gaelic poet sort of bard. I thought he had a royal patron, rather than being a dude who sung in taverns for his supper, but It's been a while since I read those books.

I second the idea of Bards getting a limited healing surge-triggering ability as other leaders do. And I would make that Countersong ability an Encounter, rather than a Daily power; but that's just me.

Encounter was my first thought, too. But:
Dispel magic is a wizard daily 6, and requires a standard action. Countersong probably has a narrower effect than Dispel Magic, but between it being an immediate action and it's status as an implement power (higher attack bonus), I think it's about equivalent.
It's specific enough that it won't actually get used once per encounter--so why not reserve those slots for something more broadly useful?

Reviewing the bard class above, I feel that Intelligence is out of place as a stat the bard needs.

I think Int appropriate given the bard's focus on lore. And since it adds to Reflex defense in 4e, I think that Int also represents the sort of mental quickness and grasp of timing that's absolutely essential for most musicians.

 

[cferejohn]

Fflewder was specifically the Gaelic poet sort of bard. I thought he had a royal patron, rather than being a dude who sung in taverns for his supper, but It's been a while since I read those books.

To be fair, been a while for me too. He definitely had a lute though. I think the strings broke whenever he told a lie or something like that?

Anyway, the point I guess I was trying to make was that the closest fictional thing to a D&D bard I can think of is Jon Tom in those shudderingly awful Alan Dean Foster novels.