Which class is the most useless?

[the shmoopie]

QFT

But I still get more mileage out of a bard than I do out of any other class. It is so easy to build a powerful one, even with just the core rules.

How do you go about that? I have been trying to build a non-sucky bard for awhile now...

 

[maggot]

I'm not a big fan of the bard because the archetype isn't appropriate for all genres. I would prefer a leader type minus the singing magical skills.

The other vote would be for monk, for basically the same reason.

 

[gamecat]

I would say bard,

But I'd be feeding the the OP's "bards suck revamp them!!!one!11eleven" campaign.

 

[Jack of Shadows]

OK,

Two people voted for Druid. All I can do is shake my head.

Jack.

 

[Felix]

Mine was an "No classes are useless" vote, since we won't really be able to distinguish between the three options available.

And different classes will be useless in different campaign settings.

 

[Oryan77]

QFT

But I still get more mileage out of a bard than I do out of any other class. It is so easy to build a powerful one, even with just the core rules.

Are you talking about a Bard that can be played solo without the need of companions?

The only bard I made was as an NPC. And he sure was hard as hell for the PC's to kill, but he couldn't actually kill any PC's. He was more of nuisance than a threat.

I'd be interested in knowing how to build an offensive Bard that doesn't need friends.

 

[airwalkrr]

How do you go about that? I have been trying to build a non-sucky bard for awhile now...

It's all about Fascinate. The DC is based on your perform check, which is easy to get high into the stratosphere. Skill Focus, mw instrument, max ranks, high Cha, circlet of persuasion, cloak of cha, choker of eloquence. Admittedly, it doesn't work well on undead, constructs, and other similar creatures, but a few feats can fix that.

Completely core sample build: 6th level bard with 4th level bard cohort just for example.

(+6) 15 Cha base + 1 4th level boost + circlet of persuasion (only magic item)
+9 max ranks
+3 skill focus
+2 mw instrument
+2 inspire competence (from cohort)
Total = +22

Fascinate DC = d20 + 22
You find me a pair of creatures (since the bard could affect up to 2) you'd be fighting at 6th level that could come even close to making that saving throw reliably. And on top of that he can give them up to 5 suggestions with a DC of 16? The bard can grind every combat to a halt with a note from his lute. And it just gets worse at higher levels.

 

[Gruns]

Well...

[Snip]Same bard in a campaign heavy on role-playing, diplomatic missions, and scenarios involving finesse and tact make him the most optimum class to play.

Well, except that type of character is still better as a Charisma based Rogue...
BARDS WIN!(Or lose...)
Later!
Gruns

 

[airwalkrr]

Are you talking about a Bard that can be played solo without the need of companions?

The only bard I made was as an NPC. And he sure was hard as hell for the PC's to kill, but he couldn't actually kill any PC's. He was more of nuisance than a threat.

I'd be interested in knowing how to build an offensive Bard that doesn't need friends.

I never said bards could kill stuff. I said they were powerful. They typically have other people kill stuff for them. And since their bardic music ability is so freakin' powerful, there are few people who can say no to them.

 

[Crothian]

Useless at what? I imagine most people are answering the question as "useless of a D&D character" since these are D&D classes on a D&D board. Without specifify something, anything, or providing a sample list of criteria this poll is kind of useless.