Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 meabolex May 17, 2004 15:50:17	Since the dawn of Third Edition, people have been trying to figure out what to do with the bard. Often booed and taunted as being weak and silly, the bard is a difficult class to play to many new players. The bard's lack of focus is built into his character. The bard spells are perhaps the most misunderstood and most poorly used spells of any character in the game. The spell list is bizarre. The number of various spells is the most diverse in the game. Some spells, like Speak with Animals, seem completely out of place for a 3rd level spell. This article gives insight into how to best utilize the bard's spell list for maximum usability. We'll define what usability means to the bard and what part the bard spells play in that equation. First, let's discuss the way bards gain spells. The mechanics of the bard spells (which work like the sorcerer) give him a definite number of spells known and a slightly flexible number of spell slots (which can go up with bonus spells). The oddity is that he usually has about as many spells known as he has spell slots. This is a major departure from the spellcasting of the sorcerer. The bard starts with only 0-level spells and gains spells up to 6th level. This number (6th level) is misleading because many of the bard's spells are actually higher level spells on other spell lists. The bard is granted at each spell level several spells that are of higher level on the sorcerer/wizard (or cleric) spell list. The following listing explains which spells come at what level and compares that level to the corresponding sorcerer/wizard (or cleric) spell list. Note: CL = lowest caster level that can cast the spell, s/w = sorcerer/wizard spell list, clr = cleric spell list, lvl = spell level.
#2 zombiegleemax Jun 06, 2004 14:10:48	I agree that a bard doesn't need as high a charisma a sorcerer or a paladin (a 16 lets you cast all the spells and could be considered sufficient) but when role-playing a bard, and acting as the face of the party, wouldn't a higher charisma score be more preferable? Say around 15-16, or maybe even 16-17? A lot of the bards class skills depend on charisma, including the perform skill which (to me) is the most important class skill of the Bard. I know that these skills can be maxed out, and that skill focus (perform) is an alternative, but playing (and being) a bard is all about being social, and being everyone's entertainer and best friend. Wouldn't a 14 in charisma just be a little too low? You're a guy with some musical talent, your nice and friendly and all that, but you can't really captivate the crowd like that paladin friend of yours. And YOU'RE supposed to be the entertainer! Of course this is at the lower levels, and when spending all your bonus ability scores on charisma; of course you get a respectable charisma score in the end. But wouldn't it be of use to also be able to spend those points at other abilities, like Int? Or Con? (I've always been under the impression that int is one of the most valuable stats to a bard, perhaps more valuable than dex and cha.)
#3 meabolex Jun 15, 2004 9:48:22	Originally posted by Larus I agree that a bard doesn't need as high a charisma a sorcerer or a paladin (a 16 lets you cast all the spells and could be considered sufficient) but when role-playing a bard, and acting as the face of the party, wouldn't a higher charisma score be more preferable? Say around 15-16, or maybe even 16-17? I have no problem with a starting 15 Charisma. But you'll just be spending your stat point elsewhere at a later level. Won't that really be the same as starting with a 14 Charisma and boosting it at a later level? You actually get more benefit out of other abilities other than Charisma -- there are several reasons for this, as I'll explain below: A lot of the bards class skills depend on charisma, including the perform skill which (to me) is the most important class skill of the Bard. I know that these skills can be maxed out, and that skill focus (perform) is an alternative, but playing (and being) a bard is all about being social, and being everyone's entertainer and best friend. Wouldn't a 14 in charisma just be a little too low? You're a guy with some musical talent, your nice and friendly and all that, but you can't really captivate the crowd like that paladin friend of yours. And YOU'RE supposed to be the entertainer! The problem is that charisma-based skills are EXTREMELY easy to boost. Observe one of the most important items for the bard: the Circlet of Persuasion. This boosts all your Charisma-based checks (including skill checks) by three. You get the same result by boosting your Charisma by 6 points (!). The bard is specifically about generality, so maxing skills (again) goes against the spirit of the bard. Only a couple of skills are worth being maxed -- Perform and Listen. Other skills can be boosted with your large Charisma modifier, your Circlet of Persuasion, and synergies. Look at how many synergies Diplomacy has. Do you think it's really worth maxing if you can buff it sufficiently by simply putting ranks in other skills? Even UMD doesn't need to maximized to be very effective. Early on it should be maxed out, but later you can forget about it. About ~10 ranks is all you'll ever need for using staffs/wands -- arguably the most important usage of UMD. Of course this is at the lower levels, and when spending all your bonus ability scores on charisma; of course you get a respectable charisma score in the end. But wouldn't it be of use to also be able to spend those points at other abilities, like Int? Or Con? (I've always been under the impression that int is one of the most valuable stats to a bard, perhaps more valuable than dex and cha.) But Intelligence only really helps in the beginning. You get the Int * 4 skills first level and the extra buffs (like Headband of Intellect) don't give you more skills. While I like Int (especially for Bardic Knowledge), it's just as important to me as Dex, Con, and Charisma. It shouldn't get any better treatment because you'll use all the abilities equally. The bard is more about balance than any other class. I look at Wisdom as the one ability that the bard doesn't benefit that much from -- it's the drop stat. Even strength is slightly important; it can increase encumbrance and damage for mighty bows -- not to mention assist in those few times where you must be in melee. But in general, your bard must be as general as possible to be optimal. No other class has this property. Thus, the commonly-perceived myth that the bard is underpowered runs rampant.
#4 zombiegleemax Jun 15, 2004 13:41:59	This was a very detailed look at Bard progression throughout the levels. Also, your discussion of spells was well thought out. I'd add, though, the problems with the spell "Suggestion." This isn't a bard-only spell, as all those that you discussed were, but it's a core spell to bards who will be roleplaying heavily. The wording there, too, leaves much to be desired, but a good DM and an understanding player should be able to come to some agreement. Excellent job!
#5 zombiegleemax Jun 16, 2004 7:19:52	I've been trying to write this post for days now and hopefully this time I can finish it First of all I totally agree with the 22 in Charisma, I love playing bards and try to use my 16 (if I can get one) or other than that the closest to that score available (but not over 16) as my charisma and then raise it using magic items I also agree with your spell picks though I would like to mention two things 1) song of discord targets any creature, that means friendly creatures too, that means that it can affect allies, it's like the "bard's fireball" (that's what I call it though I've never been high level enough to get this spell I usually end up dying or the campaign stops). It also says that the creature affected must attack the closest creature to it. That means allies and enemies too, whichever is closest, but I do not believe that the creature will attack a worm on the ground, I believe when it says the closest creature it means that it will attack the closest creature to it that has the capability of harming it (so normal worms won't do but if a gigantic worm burrowed out of the ground then I think that that would be a target) 2) you have forgot one of the BEST spells (and in my opinion it may be somewhat unbalancing too) in the game. It's name is grease and it can do the following stuff: a) disarm an opponent b) trip an opponent c) allow you to free yourself from a grapple Finally I will disagree with you Larus on the too low charisma thing, I believe a charisma of 22 is a very good stat and in my opinion dexterity is the bard's most important score Also the paladin friend of yours may have a high charisma (though I don't like making paladins with that high charisma but that's another story) but with all the skill points the bard gets you definitely have higher social skills YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH I finished finally.
#6 loopy Jun 21, 2004 22:02:35	Succinct and non-aggressive. Very good. Thank you for such an excellent job.