Blogs What's the point of Bards?

Crap, people have figured out my true nature...

 

If you've never played a REAL tabletop D&D game with a REAL DM, you don't know bards.

They can, with the right campaign and DM, talk you into and out of anything. Screw singing (their songs can kill,) screw casting (got an awesome one that makes demons reveal their true nature,) screw all that-the awesome Charisma combined with a bit of ingenuity and you can talk through anything so long as it can talk.

I could tell stories of some super-interesting encounters. BTW, my parties always had cash-Perform check at the inn. Bam-money.

Yes, they get watered down in games, but if you invest in an area of theirs, and take time to max it, bards are awesome.

Besides-it fulfills the requirements for Red Dragon Disciple while giving better armor AND HP.

 

My only real experience with Bards comes from BG2, as I am sure is the case with many others.

And judging from that experience, they really don't have a point.

 

+1 - Bards are the best DnD class ^_^. They can be built to do an pwn just about anything.

 

Bards in Wizardry games (Wizardry 8 in particular) could kill EVERYONE in about 3 seconds flat. I luffed me my bard, I did.

 

Bards are great characters. You just need to play at the weakness of your enemy. You're not going to be able to brawl with the barbarian, out cast the wizard, etc... but you will be able to slow the barbarian, stay at range and drop him without getting hit. Or silence the wizard, close to melee range, and drop him. If you have a well built party, your buffs will make them that much better.

The biggest point of the bard is to use that charisma. You can talk your way out of almost any problem. Convince the noble to let you help for a higher price or the guard that this invitation really is legitimate.

That being said, I don't enjoy playing them. I just like having one with me