Christmas Blog # 2-The Bard

Anyone remember back in 2^nd edition D&D when Bard was the first prestige class? Yeah, back in the day in order to be a Bard the Character first had to-if I remember correctly- take 4 levels as a Warrior, 4 levels as a Rogue and I think 1 level as a Wizard before they could become a Bard. Yeah back then bards were Bad Ass and had songs that could ruin whole city’s and stuff.

Today the Bard is something of a laughing stalk and often bards are made fun of in RPG literature and at games when really when you think about it bards are the ultimate Jack of All trades character and if played right can still be Bad Ass!

Think about it, under pathfinder /D&D rules a bard can use the same weapons and wear the same armor as a Rogue, and that can be upgraded with a feat. They have all the sane skills as a rogue, they have a verity of spells that allow them to Heal and buff the party as well as do some ranged DPS as well. In addition there are all the amazing skill synergies and Buff's bards provide. Need to know where the God of water hid her Trident? Bardic Knowledge for the win!

Bard can pretty much fill any role in the party, maybe he does not fight as well as the Warrior or spot traps as well as the Rogue but he can do both. With his skills and buffs and spells he can pretty much be built to be any character the player wants

Indiana Jones type hunter for lost relics=Bard.

James Bond style of spy=Bard.

Swashbuckler swinging from the chandler while drinking=Bard.

Grumpy sage=Bard.

Stem punk Crazy inventor=Bard.

Its time to stop laughing at the bard and realize that it is the ultimate Jack of All trades/ Utility character that also allows for the most specialization and quirky personal builds of any class.

Sure the Rogue gets more skill points (8 as opposed to the Bards 6) but they both have the same skill list and while the Rogue is often pigeonholed into being the Disable Traps/Back Stab guy the Bard has no such limits. His play style and build is far more up to you then the Rogue, plus the vast Knowledge Skills and Synergies eventually allow the Bard to be better at almost everything-except for disabling traps and back Stabbing

Plus the bard is just Fun. He is the ultimate Fun character, he can be the ray of hope in a dismal dungeon Providing much needed Buffs for the party and a little levity to that grim scenario

Or, he can be the grim bringer of doom.

Bards have there origins in the many cultures of the World who did not have written Languages and who's History and Story’s were passed on via Song or Tale.

In the dark Ages they did not have Google, the only way any one knew what was happening in the wide world was when a Travailing minstrel or message runner (both rolls of the bard) came to town They would be paid in Coin and free food in exchange for keeping the town up to date in the events from around the World.

It was considered Bad luck if a Viking long boat did not have a Scald adored to sing the raiders praises to Odin and to beg the Sea Gods for a good voyage.

In the tales of Middle Earth the power of Song is well known, many of the Characters sang in the books. From Bilbo’s walking song to the powerful songs of the Elf's that told the history of the World. Strider sang , Gandalph sang, even the Ork's sang (where theirs a whip, theirs a way) Plus Music has changed the World in more ways then another forum of Communication Songs to fill our hearts with pride and joy. Songs to remind us of who we were and where we came from. Songs of protest, of anger, of grief. MTV,Elvis, The Beatles

Now all this does not mean the bard has to just sing? Oh no. James Bond is a Bard and he does not sing. A bard can play a Flute or a Lute, tell a Joke or Dance up a Storm, and heck there is not much distance between dancing and Martial Arts.
So my dear Christmas reader, it is time to stop considering the Bard the Joke of the pathfinder/D&D world and realize that he is a pretty amazing Jack of All trades world Changing man about town and for a change of pace, try running One . Cant make up your mind what Character you want to play, be a bard because they can be EVERYTHING.

Till next time when we close to door on D&D for 2014

Happy Holidays and

Be Excellent!