Bards

Good news - "Heart of Winter" (IWD add-on) is improving the bard. I've always found bards kinda useless except for role-playing, but this sounds interesting.

"I know I'm going on and on about Heart of Winter but one last thing, the new bard songs alone are giving this class something to rave about. As you gain levels, you get to sing songs that help your party with bonuses, protection, healing, etc. Bards rock!!!

Okay I have to contain myself so that's it for now, have an awesome Xmas!

Harold Kim
QA Project Supervisor"

http://www.interplay.com/icewind/

That sounds totally cool. I'm definitely going to try a bard with those new abilities.

Unfortunately BGII takes away a lot of the bard's talents by presenting the ring of human influence so early in the game, as well as having an identifying item.

I've played bard as a main character since bg1 and he's great! A good bard can cast spells, fight with swords, has good charisma, sing some bonus songs to whole party and bards do get all kind of neat gadgets! ..can't wait till I found something like a "harmonica of flirting" or a "flute of greater ego +4"

-hobs-

And the bards skills in lore can be very handy! I think the bard is a nice part of any great group.

I like bards too , but Hear'dalias (ore wat his name mey be) isnt realy good.
I like Garrick from BG1 , realy good , sad he isnt returned to bg2 .

Another disservice to bards was they let all the magic instruments be useable all characters. That is just wrong!

They're gonna mess up my Bard in IWD. Bard songs? BARD SONGS? You mean I might have a reason to use them in HOW? I mean, in IWD, I never use them. My Bard is just too busy raining down death with acid arrows and such, with the occasional spell thrown in too boot and his long sword for a jab.

I like Bards as well. I treat them as a Mage who can use Bows, but better than a Thief/Mage dual or multi because of the Lore.
I very seldom used the bard song in IWD, however, because my Bard was usually raining death by arrow. The bow also meant he couldn't use the magical instruments.

>I like Garrick from BG1 , realy good , sad he isnt returned to bg2.

Yes he is. South of the Knight's Hall in the Temple district there's a Gnome with a really long nose* making Garrick woo a lady guard. Garrick is doing it *really* badly, and in any case the lady is interested in the Gnome. Go back later to see the conclusion.

*Hmmm, is that a reference to a certain ficitonal character, played very well by Gerard Depardiu...?

i'm making bard items if anyone wants one email me.