What do you think of the 4e Bard?

[Kzach]

I briefly liked the bard in 1e and thought it was an interesting class, but ever since I've felt it was really... lame.

But this edition's bard I really like. I'm not sure exactly why, but I think partly it's the downplaying of the fluffy, poncy aspects. In fact, I think the stereotype depicted by Devis is the exact opposite of what I want in a bard and I feel 4e has made a deep gouge in that stereotype.

Or maybe I just like how powerful they are

 

[Jack99]

Looks more useful than it has in a long time. I might actually play one at a point.

 

[Rechan]

I played a level 7 bard for about 3 sessions, and I had a blast. I felt very effective at messing up monster tactics/protecting allies.

The multiple sliding ally powers really helped me get the other PCs out of grapples or being ganged up on.

 

[FireLance]

Behold the power of roles.

Previously, bards were jacks of all trades.

Now, bards are Leaders (but they are still more jacks of all trades than the other classes).

 

[Nymrohd]

I want to see the Con built first. I hope it is more skald which is my bard of preference

 

[Khairn]

The Bard has always been one of my favorite character concepts. In my internal paradigm, a bard uses a combination of various "jack of all trades / master of none" capabilities to support and enhance the rest of the group. That could include some sword-play, a well placed spell or just the ability to acquire the knowledge needed to find that tomb you were looking for. I've always viewed a games ability to support such a character to be a benchmark of the type of system flexibility that I usually enjoy.

I loved my Rolemaster bard, and found that my 3.5 bard was very effective and added a lot to my groups ability to thrive. I was worried that the 4E bard would be more "pigeonholed" (limited) but it looks really interesting. I haven't seen it in play yet, but I hope to very soon.

 

[Cadfan]

Mixed feelings. What makes a bard a bard? Is it going into dungeons and singing at the monsters? His powers didn't *feel* very musical to me. But I guess they were kind of stuck with the D&D tradition of bards as jacks of all trades.

Mechanically it seems fine. Its just not my thing.

 

[Ed_Laprade]

All I've seen has been what's in the beta Character Builder, so no vote. What I have seen looks ok so far. Maybe. If a Bard isn't an entertainer first, what's the point? (That should be their ROLE!)

 

[Shroomy]

Behold the power of roles.

Previously, bards were jacks of all trades.

Now, bards are Leaders (but they are still more jacks of all trades than the other classes).

Yes, yes, yes...based on the first 10 levels made available in Dragon, I believe that the 4e bard is probably the best version available in any edition of the game. Ritual casting, skill versatility and multiclass versatility were a really good way to implement a jack of all trades type aspect to the class.

 

[soulcatcher78]

For the first time (any edition) I'm interested in seeing what a bard can add to the D&D play experience. In the past they've always seemed incomplete (the jack of all trades didn't seem to master anything), now they seem to be able to hold their own in any group.