Nerd By Northwest #257 – “D&D’s Red-Headed Stepchild”
Dungeons & Dragons is universal...
Nerd By Northwest #257 – “D&D’s Red-Headed Stepchild”
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On one hand I understand the ridicule some aim at the "bard" class. From the 2nd edition on down to the 4th edition, they seemed rather "meh" to me. The attributes of the class were just not all that compelling to me, and since I wasn't all that into the "performer" aspect of the class I just never found it interesting. I admit during the few short years I played 1st edition as a kid I found myself mildly impressed with the class, but that was mostly just the insane requirements to be IN the class... multiple high attributes required in addition to needing to dual-class fighter, then thief, and only THEN you get to start as a bard. So I never got the chance to play one.
Then D&D 5th edition came along. And I had to grudgingly admit, they finally gave the bard class some decent treatment. A lot of different options, a lot of flexibility, and a lot more variety for role-playing. Still very much a jack-of-all-trades and master of none, but a lot more stuff to work with. It's now a class I can see myself playing.
But favorite class? HELL no.... 😏
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I love bards! In 2nd edition their quick advancement made them better at fireballing than wizards.
I remember the quick advancement aspect being one of the bright spots of the class. But ultimately, they didn't have the thief skills I preferred and didn't fight any better than a rogue, so I preferred to just go with a fighter/thief or mage/thief.
But 5th edition? I can dig the new possibilities for the class a lot better now.
In the game I ran tonight, our charlatan-background bard had some moments for entertaining RP.
Essentially, he's Fantasy Alex Jones. Race: Lizardfolk, because cross-conspiracy humor is extra-funny. He has a pet frog he has named Adreno-Toad, and he insists the chemicals made it gay.
When he was typing his inventory after a fight, autocorrect switched "scimitars" to "seminars,"so now he talks about holding seminars, or offering seminars to sell.
And yes, his in-character voice is gruff and gravelly, and sometimes quite shouty.
That is awesome. You should suggest he also do rants on how the New World Order mages are secretly manipulating the weather... 😂
We are using the Tiamat module, and he is telling anyone who will listen that the Dragon Queen is a globalist plot to take over the Forgotten Realms. And he is kinda right on the money. It's the ol' right conclusion despite bad reasoning thing.
Haha. Oh, the poor luckless Bard. They're actually fun if you're up for annoying your colleagues. I played a Halfling Bard last year and, in a fit of inspiration, had him climb onto the shoulders of one of our half-orcs (much against his will) and warble/sing at an oncoming horde of goblins to try to charm them.
It was... less than successful. But quite much fun.