[GenXCub]

Anyone can learn the portal spell.. but it's 2 spells, Set Portal and Return to Portal... you either have to find both spellbooks, or choose on on level up. It's a level 5 spell, so your Ninja will have to be Level 16 to get it.

When you choose the spell on Level-up, it automatically gives you the other for free... but if you use the spellbook, you have to get both Set and Return as different books, learning one will not give you the other.

It can be quite difficult to get Ninjas up to that point though, you have to REALLY be diligent with getting his alchemy up high. Learn Heal Wounds and use it often instead of resting, or before resting.

For the other person, I'd still say use a Gadgeteer... the gadgets do great spells that won't use up mana (they use stamina which will regenerate on its own quickly). If you want to go more melee oriented, stick a Samurai in there. There are some good Samurai-only weapons in the game (the Muramasa), and Samurai-specific Armor... and they're the only other class that learns Wizardry (Mage) spells... that makes him REALLY easy to train as far as spells go because he can cast the Enchanted Blade / Missile Shield before combat instead of your Bishop to save spell points for offense.

As far as changing your bard at 18, you really may not need to do that... but if you do, it will depend on what you have built up skillwise by the time you get there... you don't want to turn him/her into a Fighter if you don't have any Close Combat / Melee Weapon skills, or don't turn him to a Ranger if you don't know Bows.. because you'll be a 1st level Ranger in a world full of 20th level monsters, and that hurts. Take a look at what you've learned by that point and change... you could even change to a Gadgeteer... when you class change to a Gadgeteer, you'll automatically get an Omnigun (though it's the crappy Mk 1, but at least you'll be able to start using some Gadgets... the Lightning Rod and Jack-in-the-box only require Level 1 Gadgeteer.

I'd go mostly for a Ranged character because that's what your bard is... casting spells from range... so your new class should be able to still do that.

Technically Fighters do more damage with polearms because they can berserk... Valks don't get anything special except 25% bonus points in polearms... but once that reaches 100, it doesn't count anymore, but Valks who have enough stamina can't be killed... when a valk hits 0 hit points but has enough stamina, she "cheats death" and just goes unconscious (and gets a few HP's), and loses a bunch of stamina.

Sorry for the length, but wanted to hit on all your points... oh, and There isn't much benefit to changing to a Bishop early, but it shouldn't hinder you much either.