Quote:
Originally posted by Memnoch:
Not a single bard voted! Amazing! [img]graemlins/wow.gif[/img]
I guess a bard's true value lie in being a supporting character - if you can do a bit of everything it means you're good at nothing. Maybe we all want to take centre stage - but I expect that more people will start to use bards once multiplayer really takes off. 
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Well the poll was what "current" character are you using? I have a Bard that I've gotten halfway through Chapter One (solo). He's a great soloist and I think his class is very mis-understood by the average (power) game types:
Here's my bard, and this is more of a general post, not specifically in arguement with you, and many of his advantages, as follows:
1. Bard song is better than most Cleric enhancement spells. All the
bonuses are additive. At level 11, you have +2 to hit, +2 to
damage, +2 AC (dodge), +1 to all saves, +1 to all skills, + 8hp.
With his Bard song, he fights almost as well as a fighter, only
lacking in the extra attack per round that a fighter can get. Add
HASTE (@ lvl 8) and he gets as many attacks per round.
2. Can wear decent (magical leather) with little downside arcane
failure risk because he is sword & shield when in heavy combat.
Also, unless flat-footed or otherwise dexterity challanged,
the armour difference isn't THAT great between a "half-plate"
fighter and a leather wearing elf bard. (AC 17 vs 15 base,
before adjusted for level dependent bard-song ehancers).
3. Dropped his Charisma from 15 to 14, changed nothing else from the
standard set-up. around (to bump UP his intelligence).
Starting ability scores: 12, 16, 12, 10, 14, 14.
Put full points into Performance and Use Magical Item. Spread
the others around.
4. At level 2, took FIGHTER multi-class. Gave me 11 hps, Heavy Armor
and Martial Weapons. Also, one bonus feat: Improved Disarm.
5. At level 3, back to Bard. Combat casting and bardic abilities
enhanced. More points into Disarm, but no more (for the rest of
the game) into Unlock.
6. At level 4, bag to Fighter (last time, despite the future XP
penalty). +1 to strength (now 13). POWER ATTACK + bonus feat
of CLEAVE.
In the future:
Two ability points to CH. Will get all 6 levels. One ability Point to ST (14).
Great combat enhancing spells: Ethereal Visage, Haste, Ghostly Visage, Silence.
Will be pretty much eligible for all feats due to high DEX and meeting STR/INT requirments.
And yes, I know about the downsides. But what I'm trying to show is that the Bard is a pretty powerful character when you USE his strengths. I think too many look at his limitations:
A. Rogue hps w/o rogue combat advantages.
B. Cleric combat table w/o divine spell casting advantages.
C. Few powerful attack MU spells with the Arcane Failure (armour)
problem to hamper what the Bard does have.