Which Class do you hate/dislike ?

[Flexor the Mighty!]

I would, but Flexor the Mighty is a relic of the grand old days of D&D. Alas his epic heroism is gone from Oerth, maybe one day when the time is right, and a hero with infinite biceps is needed he will return...until that day he exists only in our memories and on this BB.

 

[Zappo]

Like many, I just don't like the bard concept. Music magic is too specialized in my eyes - it may suit a limited number of campaigns, but it shouldn't be core D&D. Besides, really... going around singing in a monster infested dungeon?

 

[Xarlen]

Y'know, Bards can focus all of their skills to be a Class-lite. A lot of Arcane Knowledge, Spellcraft, Wands, and so forth, and they're Wizard-lite. Heal, Knowledge Religion, Knowledge (Outer Planes), a wand of Heal spells, Brew potion, Cleric lite. You can do this with Fighting and Roguery aswell.

Yes, you can be one of the classes, but the Bard is just a smattering of all these things. Take a heal spell, an artillery, a buff, get a sword, some roguery skills, whatnot.

As to the bards doing their singy thing... They don't have to. Or, you can work the descriptions differently. THey don't *have* to sing; they can speak. Generals, Coaches, Commanders, anyone in charge will give a speech to inspire, to whip everyone into a ferver, to influence the crowd, the comrad. Who says you have to strum a lute? Recount the ancestory of your clan, of the Dwarven wars, of the Atrocities of your enemies, to further spurn your fellows, so forth. You don't have to be Barry White.

 

[Wolfen Priest]

It's kinda funny, when you think about a bard as a fat smelly coach, like the one on YouCan'tDoThatOnTelevision.

Somehow, I don't think that's what the designers had in mind... but I actually like the idea!

"C'mon, Tiger! Go get 'em!"

Actually another idea for a bard could be sort of a 'mystic' or hermit-type, who chants like the Hindu monks of yore did ('ohm')... that might be cool too.

 

[candidus_cogitens]

Although there are balance problems with some classes ...

And although it is true that the monk comes from a different cultural source than the other archetypes ...

THERE IS ONLY ONE CLASS THAT HAS A FUNDAMENTAL ARCHETYPE PROBLEM.

No, it's not the bard. The bard is fine, just misunderstood. Its roots are in celtic mythology and history, not in the French troubadours or the contemporary street musician.

It's THE CLERIC. It is archetypally askew. When has there ever been a culture with a priest who both wears armor and heals? The only reason no one objects to this truly fluked up class is that we all sort of just shrug and say ... oh its "religious." And then we stop thinking about it because we're used to religious stuff just being weird and incomprehensible.

In my campaign, I scratched the cleric and created two separate classes: the priest (who is a true light-weight in combat, as priests should be), and the prophet (who specializes in deeds of power, like healing and turning undead, and can wear medium armor and use simple weapons). Think "Moses"

 

[Ashwyn]

I hate how the bard and sorcerer use charisma to get extra spells. I mean, come on, am I expected to believe that how attractive someone is (which is subjective anyway), or how persuasive they are affects their mastery of the forces of magic? Ah, phooey

 

[Zappo]

I hate how the bard and sorcerer use charisma to get extra spells. I mean, come on, am I expected to believe that how attractive someone is (which is subjective anyway), or how persuasive they are affects their mastery of the forces of magic? Ah, phooey

They lie so convincingly that reality falls for it.

 

[Gez]

I hadn't voted, as it lacks a "none, don't have problem with any" option.

I'm not interested in playing bards and barbarians, as these classes don't appeal to me, but I otherwise don't hate the concepts and am perfectly fine of having them in my games, both as PCs and NPCs.

(Although, in character, one of my chars hates barbarians with a fierce passion, after having been harassed by the Sky Pony tribe throughout his journey from Neverwinter to Silverymoon.)

 

[Ashwyn]

They lie so convincingly that reality falls for it.

If that's the case, then they should be WAY more powerful. God-like, even. Hmm, I think I just got an idea. Thanks.

 

[SableWyvern]

My Bard PrC can be found here:

Bard