4E Bard Review

In the latest Ampersand column, Bill Slavicsek posts some info on the new Bard class from the upcoming PHB2. Unfortunately, it is only available to D&DI subscribers. Fortunately, I am a D&DI subscriber and will review it. Granted, I can’t get too in-depth because it is subscriber information only, but I will do my best.

Is it much different than the 3E Bard?

The answer is, definitively, yes. The bard’s role has been set so that he/she is no longer set to just hover in the back, granting allies bonuses while not doing much else but fill the role of a minor healer. Instead, they are put into more of a leadership role, telling allies where to move on the field of battle and giving them the confidence they need in combat.

Then is the bard still an inspiring musician?

Again, the answer is yes. Their musical abilities allow their allies to perform tasks better as well as being a morale booster. The bard’s musical genres have been narrowed down to singing and  playing instruments, unlike 3.5 where you had to put ranks into performing on multiple instruments.

Speaking of Perform checks….

They are no more. Instead, the bard’s performing meshes with their spells. You no longer make a check; you simply perform as part of a spell.

Can the bard still heal people?

Absolutely.

Is the bard still a “jack-of-all-trades”?

Oh my, yes. They have an ability available to them now that can make them a more well-rounded class than any other in the PHB.

Is the bard still relegated to being the back?

I like the bard but, in my opinion, the 3.5 bard was not meant to be an up-front fighter. In 4e, the bard gets more hit points and can wear heavier armor, such as chainmail. They can also use more weapons than previously allowed.

Would you play a bard in 4e?

Again, yes. It’s definitely made into a more viable class than in 3.5 and I would be very happy to play one. :)

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Posted in: 4E, RPG, Reviews

9 Responses to “4E Bard Review”

Stuart November 3rd, 2008 at 5:58 PM

“Granted, I can’t get too in-depth because it is subscriber information only, but I will do my best.”

Huh? Did they make you sign an NDA when you subscribed?

Stuart´s last blog post..Fallout 3 and thoughts on edition change

reveal November 3rd, 2008 at 6:42 PM

@Stuart – Of course not, but it’s available only to subscriber’s so I don’t want o give away too much to people who don’t pay for it.

Tom C. November 3rd, 2008 at 7:10 PM

Thanks for this — if you’ve seen or have access to the 4e Bards in the XRP “Advanced Player’s Guide” and/or Goodman’s “Fang, Fist, and Song”, how would you say they compare to the official WotC version?

Jeff Greiner November 3rd, 2008 at 7:10 PM

I have to agree with your assessment entirely. I gave up on the 3e bard years ago. I never made them as PCs, I never had them around as NPCs, they were generally useless compared to the other options (especially with additional classes in other books). Beyond that I found the flavor of the 3e bard overly corny. Really, you just know everything? Really, the “power of music” is such a huge thing that it needs an entire core class tied to it? No and no.

But the 4e bard looks dynamic, interesting, “performance” looks fun, versatile, etc. They get the ability to ultra-multiclass, they still do the music thing but it’s not part of EVERYTHING, and they’re an arcane leader.

All in all, I was long bored with the 3e bard and I’m completely thrilled and excited about the 4e bard.

Jeff Greiner´s last blog post..The Tome Ep 88: FRCG/PG

reveal November 3rd, 2008 at 7:23 PM

@Tom – I have the Advanced Player’s Guide. The troubadour is very similar to the bard. They have the same HP, same armor profs, same bonuses to defense, etc. There are some differences, of course. For example, the 4E bard can use more ranged weapons than the troubadour. The troubadour has to choose to be the “skillful troubadour” as opposed to a different kind of troubadour but the bard is basically a skill monkey and jack-of-all-trades. The troubadour also doesn’t seem to be very much focused on musical talents as opposed to the bard, For example, none of the first two level spell descriptions for the troubadour mention singing or playing an instrument as opposed to the bard which does make mention of it.

@Jeff – Agreed. :)

Jonathan November 3rd, 2008 at 7:39 PM

crap! now you are making want to fold my cards and buy into the DDI madness just to keep my “bloggerific edge”… [humph!]

Jonathan´s last blog post..UPDATE : 2008 Anthology of Roleplaying Game Blogs

reveal November 3rd, 2008 at 8:07 PM

@Jonathan – One of us! One of us!

Wyatt November 3rd, 2008 at 9:11 PM

I got the article too. By means of dark and mysterious magic.

And I have to say, as one who never played Bards in 3.5 and hated a player using on in my games (I would sneer and ask if they knew a friend who could play something with impact on the game – 3.5 made me just that mean) but the 4e Bard looks to be splendid. Though…I still wouldn’t play one, I don’t think. I dunno, just something about the bard never clicked with me. I would be more likely to take some of his powers via multiclass and stick them on a scholarly wizard or a charismatic warlock or a poetic cleric or something.

Wyatt´s last blog post..Toradora In MY Turbulent Thoughts? (RPG Anthology)

Deistangle March 27th, 2009 at 1:32 PM

I for one am completley pumped. I loved the bard as a concept (leaning more towards the skald variant, id multiclass a fighter and be a buffing secondary tank) but could never make a character that could compete with others.. i was kept around soley for countersong and talking to people.. which is great in a role-heavy game, but we dont see those as often as we’d like.
The 4e bard just kicks ass. The Con-build option makes me squeal with joy. If they *Didnt* have the multiclass capability, ic ould still make a skald character with just bard powers, but the multiclass ability makes it so much better…combine this with paladins not needing to be LG anymore, and you can have such awesomeness as Bard/Paladin… mmm mmm good.

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