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[lawastooshort]

I like the idea of Bard but...

Yeah I know, I feel pretty useless to be quite frank. I can hide in bushes pretty well though.

[Nerjin]

I like the idea of Bard but... But your idea sounds useful. I personally would prefer you have more Level 1 spells to assist the party...

How's the guy going Jim?

It's Harb, not Jim. And complete, barring story.

Fixed that then.

So... Rogue, Cleric, Hexblade, Favored Soul, and Bard. Is this a decent Level 1 Party? I like the setup personally but I'm still a novice with the system.

[flame99]

I like the idea of Bard but... But your idea sounds useful. I personally would prefer you have more Level 1 spells to assist the party...

How's the guy going Jim?

It's Harb, not Jim. And complete, barring story.

Fixed that then.

So... Rogue, Cleric, Hexblade, Favored Soul, and Bard. Is this a decent Level 1 Party? I like the setup personally but I'm still a novice with the system.

Not exactly a master either, but it certainly seems to be a decent setup. Rogue acts as a skillmonkey, Cleric (And I believe FS as well) can take quite a few hits, the Hexblade can debilitate the enemy, and the bard...Well, the bard can't actually do that much, but that's kind of par for a bard.

[Nerjin]

Isn't bard decent at most things though? Jack of all trades and such?

[Harbingerjm]

Properly built, a Bard can be a lot of things.

[flame99]

Sure, but an average, non-optimized bard will probably not be able to do much in combat. In my opinion, though, they really do shine in more RP based games. Also, for the GM, they make amazing exposition dispensers.

[Harbingerjm]

Sure, but an average, non-optimized bard will probably not be able to do much in combat.

...You're kidding, right?

[flame99]

Sure, but an average, non-optimized bard will probably not be able to do much in combat.

...You're kidding, right?

Maybe I've just been playing with really crappy bard players, but in my experience, the average bard just isn't great in combat. They can provide buffs in combat, which occasionally turn out to be helpful, but most of the time they tend to just lightly pelt the opponents with crossbow bolts, and occasionally pull off some cool tricks with illusions.

[lawastooshort]

Well, so there you go - I can hide in bushes and dispense exposition!

I can also speak to nearly everyone.

I don't think my stats are conducive to optimisation, nor my experience.

Ninja edit: yes, I can... Shoot 1d4 damage arrows? Not really hit with my 1d3 dagger? I'd be more useful if I maxed out Tumble, changed my -2 melee flaw for something else, and spent my time flanking and Aiding Another in combat.

[Harbingerjm]

Yeah, see, that means you're playing with someone who's not really playing a Bard. A Bard is a force multiplier; they're not about throwing a crossbow bolt at an enemy like any peasant can do, they're about making everyone else in the party drastically more dangerous, and that means they're contributing a lot to the combat.

[Nerjin]

So bard's are a TF2 Medic in many ways? Hm... My opinion of bards has shot up if this is the case.

[lawastooshort]

Harbinger, if you'd like to explain further at any convenient or relevant time that would probably benefit me and the group

I do not particularly know what I am doing.

[Harbingerjm]

You don't really need to do all that much; hell, just singing a song will boost everyone. I mentioned earlier taking a 1 level dip in Marshal for the aura. Stuff like that.

[Nerjin]

Would adding a level in Dragon Shaman work out with that build? They also have an Aura... Or does that conflict.

[Harbingerjm]

It doesn't conflict AFAICR, but there's no particular reason the Bard should be the one to take it as opposed to anyone else; the Marshal auras are keyed off the user's Charisma, so Bards tend to add the most benefit.