What's happening to the bard?

[Cadfan]

Musical battlefield control.

MOONWALK!

 

[Driddle]

I wonder if this was one of those decisions of "change for the sake of change?" Gotta make sure 4th edition looks different from the previous product, otherwise why would consumers even look at it, eh?

 

[TwoSix]

I wonder if this was one of those decisions of "change for the sake of change?" Gotta make sure 4th edition looks different from the previous product, otherwise why would consumers even look at it, eh?

I hope so. "Stagnation for the sake of stagnation" just doesn't have the same ring as "Change for the sake of change." But maybe my chaotic biases are showing...

 

[PeterWeller]

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.

It feels more like WotC has decided that they won't release any class until it can actually do something in a fight.

The bard is a great archetype (once you decide which archetype you're using: jack of all trades? inspirational minstrel? erudite scoundrel?), but sadly, it doesn't point to any obvious fighting ability, and in D&D, which is, whether you like it or not, a combat heavy game, the poor bard ends up feeling left out a lot.

 

[Driddle]

It feels more like WotC has decided that they won't release any class until it can actually do something in a fight.

The bard is a great archetype (once you decide which archetype you're using: jack of all trades? inspirational minstrel? erudite scoundrel?), but sadly, it doesn't point to any obvious fighting ability, and in D&D, which is, whether you like it or not, a combat heavy game, the poor bard ends up feeling left out a lot.

I agree.
Bard play may have been a fine option for plenty of players, but experience shows that people who complain loudest ("Bard can't pull his weight in my military strike force!") are those who force change, necessary or not.

 

[Tharkun]

I hope that they go the way of the first edition bard. Make it special to be one not just another class.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

Interestingly, the cover of the 4e players handbook (http://www.enworld.org/images/4e/phb.jpg) says Player's Handbook: Arcane, Divine, and Martial Heroes

While this may seem obvious, I would expect that the bard, if it ever comes along, would need to come along with a new power source (or in another type of book) because it seems that each Player's Handbook would focus on another set of hero types.

So,
[PURE SPECULATION]

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

[/PURE SPECULATION]

DC

There's not enough to support different musical classes, really when you take the terms Minstrel, Skald, Gandharva and Ngoma, they generally refer to just bards.

Besides I don't think they're going to introduce 3 new power sources every year, they're just going to try introducing 1 new power source and expanding on the others.

After all the Swordmage is going to eventually show up, and it'll probably be PHB2, which just might include the Bard, Druid, Barbarian, Monk, Psion, Psychic Warrior, Ardent and Soulknife-Lurk.

 

[Minicol]

The Bard is Here

Since everybody in 4e wanted to slay him and take his stuff, here is his new abode.

PS : can I have my bounty/reward now ? i delivered, him, right ?

http://www.thebardstale.com/music.htm

Oh, it's BAAAD luck to be you ...