What's the point of Bards?
Posted on 22nd Jun 2009 at 10:32 by Clive Webster with 25 comments
I'm still ploughing through the prequel novel to Dragon Age: Origins (yes, I know it's been ages, but I'm almost finished - review soon, I promise). Between readings I've been musing, as is my wont, about the role of Bards in role-playing games. What exactly is the point of them? They're not as cool as Thieves or Assassins and and don't have the fighting abilities of even a Ranger or Cleric. Why bother?
There might be some point in Dragon Age though, as David Gaider (the writer of the novel and lead-writer of the game) pitches Bards as spies and historians. This could be of use, as Dragon Age sees you travelling around the world trying to recruit people to fight The Blight - perhaps you could use a spy to scope out a noble or even replace him with a more amenable alternative.
However, there's an ambiguity in the plot of the book. A Elven Bard called Katriel is hired to assassinate the protagonist Maric (don't worry, this isn't a spoiler) and yet later talks about the code of Bards:
"A bard must know history so she does not repeat it. She tells the tales but is never part of them. She watches but remains above what she sees. She inspires passion in others and rules her won."
So what exactly is the point of a Bard? They can be hired as assassins or spies but won't take an active role in changing history? Pah!
Perhaps Bards are useful for their lore skill. There's a point later on where Katriel uses her knowledge of history to offer an alternative plan to the tricky predicament that Maric and his friends find themselves in. And then she reveals that she can read some Dwarvish too, and so can decipher some clues.
So, is the only point of having a bard to unlock new conversation and event branches, perhaps? Even if that's true, I can't see myself including a Bard in my party. In fact, I think I've only played as a Bard once in an RPG - in Baldur's Gate and then for about half and hour before realising that it's a rubbish class and I should start over.
Unfortunately I started over as a Mage, which is even harder to play as in BG so I had to restart the game for a second time...
There might be some point in Dragon Age though, as David Gaider (the writer of the novel and lead-writer of the game) pitches Bards as spies and historians. This could be of use, as Dragon Age sees you travelling around the world trying to recruit people to fight The Blight - perhaps you could use a spy to scope out a noble or even replace him with a more amenable alternative.
However, there's an ambiguity in the plot of the book. A Elven Bard called Katriel is hired to assassinate the protagonist Maric (don't worry, this isn't a spoiler) and yet later talks about the code of Bards:
"A bard must know history so she does not repeat it. She tells the tales but is never part of them. She watches but remains above what she sees. She inspires passion in others and rules her won."
So what exactly is the point of a Bard? They can be hired as assassins or spies but won't take an active role in changing history? Pah!
Perhaps Bards are useful for their lore skill. There's a point later on where Katriel uses her knowledge of history to offer an alternative plan to the tricky predicament that Maric and his friends find themselves in. And then she reveals that she can read some Dwarvish too, and so can decipher some clues.
So, is the only point of having a bard to unlock new conversation and event branches, perhaps? Even if that's true, I can't see myself including a Bard in my party. In fact, I think I've only played as a Bard once in an RPG - in Baldur's Gate and then for about half and hour before realising that it's a rubbish class and I should start over.
Unfortunately I started over as a Mage, which is even harder to play as in BG so I had to restart the game for a second time...
25 Comments
Discuss in the forums ReplyHonestly, I couldn't tell you the point of a Bard, either.
I'm sure there's a D&D buff around here that'll school us, though >.>
Dude, don't say things like that too loud or often, it'll only be a matter of time before Activision release 'Bard Hero' with some bizarre peripheral and compatability with Guitar Hero.
Jesus christ.
That's it. I'm leaving the gaming world.
Yes, I realise it's a joke :p
/gets coat, shuffles off
They don't excel at anything though and that's their major weakness - that they need constant back-up in combat situations. That said, their typically high Charisma and Wisdom makes them good spokespeople for your party, even if they don't have anything else to recommend them.
On the other hand though, they aren't ever really worth going out of your way for - especially if you're an experienced RPGer and are confident you can manage with specialists instead. When I play Baldur's Gate 2 I tend to recruit Haer'Dalis though still, but that's mainly because I like his character. His bundle of unique equipment does make him pretty useful though.
LUTE SOLO!
If there's ever a Bard Hero with a Lute controller, I'm blaming you! :P
If they were like Robin's minstrels in Monty Python's Holy Grail, then I'd definitely sign one up. Yet to meet a Bard in a game that doesn't have an annoying voice and poor sense of humour though.
what I loved about lineage was we'd have a 3-4 man team with good micro we could take out groups of insane monsters as long as the tank could hold.. double the healer with bard type skills and it made for a crazy beeoyt who could keep our dps up and keep the tank from going belly up.. only cool thing was the hexes imo, like herpes through the group and those were usually bard types
mage is always a trip to play.. put those bard/crafters rofl to sleep and then wake them up with a fireball to the face.. put them back to sleep- repeat XD let's see you buff your way out of that!
Crap, people have figured out my true nature...
They can, with the right campaign and DM, talk you into and out of anything. Screw singing (their songs can kill,) screw casting (got an awesome one that makes demons reveal their true nature,) screw all that-the awesome Charisma combined with a bit of ingenuity and you can talk through anything so long as it can talk.
I could tell stories of some super-interesting encounters. BTW, my parties always had cash-Perform check at the inn. Bam-money.
Yes, they get watered down in games, but if you invest in an area of theirs, and take time to max it, bards are awesome.
Besides-it fulfills the requirements for Red Dragon Disciple while giving better armor AND HP.
And judging from that experience, they really don't have a point.
+1 - Bards are the best DnD class ^_^. They can be built to do an pwn just about anything.
The biggest point of the bard is to use that charisma. You can talk your way out of almost any problem. Convince the noble to let you help for a higher price or the guard that this invitation really is legitimate.
That being said, I don't enjoy playing them. I just like having one with me :)