What makes a bard a bard?

[Goobermunch]

I think the defining characteristic of a bard is that it grows from the cheeks and/or chin of, in nearly all cases (with the exception of dwarves) males of the species.

Any other distinction is merely stylistic.

Clearly, the cheeks and/or chin aspect is important, because the "Amish style" clearly counts even though there is an absence of coverage on the upper lip.

At the same time, we need to respect the wearers of the "goat" style, as it only rarely implicates the cheeks to any great degree.

Oh, wait. I thought you said Beard.

--G

 

[Novem5er]

I've always liked Bards, but I've also always found the idea of playing an instrument in battle to be a little silly. Don't get me wrong, I think a Bard's ability to charm enemies is perfect, but I always imagined it as a pre-battle tactic, not a mid-battle.

For instance, two orc guards are watching a doorway. A bard approaches them, playing his lute and singing. Okay, the orcs might be charmed and let the rest of the party walk right past (or get in position for a sneak attack!).

However, if the orc see a party of adventures burst through a doorway and draw their axes to engage, it feels a little too late to be charmed by music. I don't know... something about: "This dwarven warrior is hacking at me with his battle ax, but that MUSIC... it's so... enchanting! It makes me want to completely ignore all the steel weapons being jabbed in my face..."

I always picture a bard fighting with a sword or bow, shouting encouragement to his allies, or casting spells like most other mages. Save the music for before-battle buffs or after battle healing

With the exception of a Skald... I can totally imagine a dwarven skald, swinging a battle axe while he belts out battle chants or narrative history in a deep baritone.

 

[lutecius]

Song magic with powerful but subtle effects like charms, enchantments and divination.
I guess illusion and healing are ok, blasts and flying are not.

If they make specialist casters such as Illusionist and Necromancer classes of their own, the new Enchanter should be the Bard, NOT the Psion, like some designer suggested.

Charisma based inspiration and a lot of what the Warlord does actually, should have been bardic powers, but with a much better justification: it’s magic!
I wish they’d give that wargamey [successful hit = random bonus/movement] routine a rest, though.

Animating plants or elements at higher level is very bardish too. Those nature powers should have been the Druid's shtick but he's going to be a weather-controlling shape-changer and won't get nature allies anymore :\
If they wanted focussed classes, they should have gone with:
Druid=Controller, Bard=Leader, ShamanicShapechanger=Striker or Defender

Lots of social skills, theoretical knowledge but NOT automatical physical or thieving skills.
Bards have nothing to do with Jack-of-all-trades. If you want one, make some spell casting rogue or ninja, but call it something else.

I know I've said this in almost every thread about the bard, but this one is particularly appropriate:
NO FING OTHERWORLDLY PATRONS!


Oh, and S.Rouse and I clearly don't have the same idea of what a cool bard is. El Mariachi....really...pshh

 

[Aristotle]

I dunno that bard has ever been a class in my mind. Even the better attempts, such as Monte's, did little for me. Maybe it just seems too specific to me. At the best it is an NPC class in my mind, or a 'profession' that a character of any class might pick up.

 

[MichaelSomething]

The power to inspire you allies!

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0004.html

 

[TarionzCousin]

<snip>

FIFY

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

Only if played poorly.

With Inspirational Boost and Song of the Heart (feat), my 6th level Bard boosts my party (self included) for +3 to hit/+3 damage. Hardly ineffectual.

Whenever I see this argument, I remember the bard in our group:

Level 12 Half-Orc Barbarian, raging, buffed with Heroes Feast, Greater Magic Weapon, Righteous Wrath of the Faithful from the Cleric and has the Reckless Rage feat. +32 to hit normally, power attacking for full lowers his to hit to 20.

Barbarian: I power attack for full. I roll a 5, I hit AC 27 with flanking.
DM: Yeah, the monster has a AC of 24.
Barbarian: Oh, in that case I hit and crit with my second attack, hit with my third attack, but miss with my 4th. I do 2d6+49+1d6(flaming) damage each attack, so I do 225 damage to the creature this round.
Bard: Umm, don't forget my +3. That means you did 12 more.
DM: Yeah, like it matters. The creature had 160 hitpoints. He's dead.
Cleric: Besides, Bard Song doesn't stack with Righteous Wrath of the Faithful or Heroes Feast. You didn't actually add anything.

 

[pawsplay]

Only if played poorly.

With Inspirational Boost and Song of the Heart (feat), my 6th level Bard boosts my party (self included) for +3 to hit/+3 damage. Hardly ineffectual.

Last night we had our second lesson in Delusions of Granduer convincing an opponent that he didn't need to run away, but could take us all on by himself! (Charge! Tpwapthwapthwap Thud.)

Outside combat, +16 Diplomacy, with rock solid Bluff, Sense Motive and Gather Information. Plus Fascinate and Suggestion.

Oh, and my Bard is a Orator. Talking, not singing.

That's not impressive. To be awesome, you want to boost your party by +3/3 while attacking the bad guys with a longsword while using Mirror Image and flanking with the fiendish dire rats you summoned. There's nothing about those silly influence abilities that any wizard couldn't do better, if perhaps less subtlely.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

Bards have already been confirmed as Arcane Leaders.

They'll probably have something like 'song of healing' powers. They'll probably also have many powers that confuse or daze enemies, and maybe some sonic/thunder damage attacks (in 3e they had shout and greater shout). They might have something like that spell "improvisation" with the floating bonuses.

Just because they can effects the minds of enemies, doesn't mean they're not leaders. Clerics after all cast Fear, and they're leaders too. And some of their powers might for example cause an enemy to be dazed after they or one of their allies successfully attacks an enemy

 

[Kobold Avenger]

Also I think they're going to draw on things like 'battledancer', 'sublime chord', 'seeker of the song' and 'virtuoso' for some things the 4e bard can do.