What's happening to the bard?

[Driddle]

It feels as though WotC has decided that unless a character is designed specifically to wade through combat, it's not worth the time to play.

 

[KingCrab]

Blah! I really don't like waiting for Bards and Druids until a future handbook. They're pretty distinctive classes from the others, which means if someone wants to play one (or try to "convert"), I have to fudge it until later.

My theory is that this is WotCs way of ensuring that the PHBII is really thought of as core. By picking two races a lot of people like (and that really belong in the game) and putting them in the next book it will make the next book feel essential instead of optional. Otherwise more people might just play PHBI without PHBII games. I don't like that they chose two classes I like, since they could have chosen Ranger and Paladin instead, but I think that might be why they did it.

 

[Counterspin]

It feels as though WotC has decided that unless a character is designed specifically to wade through combat, it's not worth the time to play.

And that's why they excluded the druid, one of the strongest combat classes in 3.5? That doesn't make any sense.

 

[SteveC]

Bards may not be in the official PHB, but I'm sure we'll see several takes on them shortly after 4E launches. For my part, I will be releasing my very first OGL book on the bard.

And he will be metal. At least one of the power sources for my bard is going to be metal. Yes, metal, the primal force of creation and destruction in the universe is the bard's to command.

The other power source I have developed is the blues. A bard with the blues power source relies on the power of an otherworldly patron that is acquired via a pact made at the crossroads. Warlocks got nothin' on the bluesman bard.

I hope to include at least one other power source with the initial product, but that one is going to be a super secret surprise.

Maybe I should post this under press releases...



--Steve

 

[Drkfathr1]

Sold!

All kidding aside, I think we'll see alot of 3rd party sources for the stuff that WOTC is trying to save for later. Which is going to muddy up plenty of campaigns!

maybe for the first time we'll see a large portion of the gaming community accepting 3rd party sources for chunks of 4E, over the official WOTC versions.

And if you're not kidding, I'm still sold!

 

[Raven Crowking]

And that's why they excluded the druid, one of the strongest combat classes in 3.5? That doesn't make any sense.

Yes, but the druid directs animal companions, and I imagine they thought directing others was unfun, unless you can also direct and smite, say, or direct and smite and heal. Besides, you need to reserve something more powerful for the next booster pac....erm, sourcebook.

RC

 

[TerraDave]

Its just a question of when..

When the bard enters the 4th Edition stage, she’ll have class features and powers that help her fill what we call the Leader role. As a character whose songs help allies fight better and recover hit points, the bard is most likely to fit into a player character group that doesn’t have a cleric, the quintessential divine leader

.

From here

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drdd/20070831a

 

[SteveC]

Sold!

And if you're not kidding, I'm still sold!

As a preview, the core ability of a Metal bard is called Empower Instrument. This ability gives the bard the power to project the sound of their instrument (or voice...one of the traditions of the Metal bard is vocals) to 100x the normal levels. All of the Metal bard's powers require an, ahem, empowered instrument.

...and a high level Metal bard can, in fact, fly and shoot laser blasts at his foes, all while projecting rocking tunes.

So, yes, bards will exist, and will fit right in with the 4E world. The tiefling bard with the blues power source and the harmonica tradition, oh yes, that will be the soul of 4E.

--Steve

 

[Remathilis]

Mind you, just because PH1 has Divine, Arcane and Martial powers, doesn't mean they have exclusively ALL the D/A/M classes. I'm sure we'll see some of those classes return and not necessarily be tied to new power sources.

 

[Nahat Anoj]

[PURE SPECULATION]

Player's Handbook: Musical, Natural, and Psionic Heroes might be in the offing next.

[/PURE SPECULATION]

I want to play a Musical Striker!