Your post has predecessors in the part of the board now inhabiting the ether. Try a search on Bards.
Your post will invariably provoke response because there are those of us that love Bards and the roleplaying aspect, and those - who possibly don't understand how to use them properly - who can't stand them.
Your Skald is a people person. Don't expect him to smash into hobgoblins himself, he's a musician not a soldier. He'll inspire others to do the job, support with longbow/crossbow, and the odd spell, and of course his song. The Skalds song helps his allies the most, the Jesters confuses enemies.
Then of course there's their ability to IDENTIFY (the function of lore) most items in the game. Freeing up 1st level mage spells for magic missile etc. and saving bucketloads of cash.
True Bards and Jesters also pickpocket really well, often better than thieves who specialise in locks, traps and stealth. This can create an unbelieveable arsenal and a LOT of money if you re-sell stuff at the docks. With gloves of pickpocketing and a potion of master thievery you can achieve a rating of 200 early on with one of those two. Nothing is safe from you. Obviously the Skald and Blade perform this function a little worse, but they are stronger in other areas (unlike Blades, Jesters can't uses Halberds and Bastard swords for example).
It requires a different approach and the use of NPCs in a different manner.
As for hitpoints try giving him a familiar for a start. I never use them - I find them annoying - but they give you more hitpoints.
Hope things turn around for you as I find the Bardic classes - and their stronghold subquest - some of the most enjoyable in the game.
Oh and with magic/armour go for bracers until you find a very nice armour that lets you wear it while casting. I won't spoil because it's really not hard for a Bard to find.
Au'voir
|