[andrewas]

Bards get less spells. They will get high-level magic missile and such, but the fact is that they simply cannot compete with a mage of equal XP.

BG1 does not allow the spell and counterspell dynamic of BG2's high level magic, but a mage will still be able to completely dominate the bard in terms of damage/round - unless the bard can disrupt the mages casting enough, which isnt likely since MM has a cast time of 1 - almost impossible to disrupt. A MM duel will end in death for the bard, since he will run out, and if the bard switches to higher level spells he will start to be disrupted more and more as the casting time increases.

A higher level spell duel will still end in the mages favour, as he has more slots and therefore more choice in what to cast.

Thats assuming magic only, a bard mixing magic and bow fire might well be able to take the mage, although I still think MM will decide the matter in a terminal fashion.