Now, I love laying bards. I truly do. But recently when I was starting a campaign with my friends. I chose to play a bard, They told each other, as a joke of course, to keep me away from all the Female creatures. Once I asked why they pointed out the stereotype of bards being absolute PLAYAS! NO, I'm not angry about this but once I start thinking about it. I can't help but wonder why this is such a prominent stereotype?
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It came from the musician/rock and roll star having groupies.
Of the Charisma classes, I personally think the Paladin would actually be the playa. High strength = muscles + Charisma and still have access to Persuasion. And you can play the religion card, "Its not a sin when you do it with me." With the right God, it would not even be a lie.
Because they have the skills to support it, and it's how it often plays out at the table.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Of the Charisma classes, I personally think the Paladin would actually be the playa. High strength = muscles + Charisma and still have access to Persuasion. And you can play the religion card, "Its not a sin when you do it with me." With the right God, it would not even be a lie.
Problem is you're competing against College of Eloquence which can have Persuasion expertise with a minimum roll of 10; at 5th-level (+3 proficiency) and Charisma 18 (+4 modifier) you're looking a minimum result of 20 on persuasion checks. Even for other Bard colleges that expertise can make a big difference, not to mention the wealth of spells to further boost their chances (friends, enhance ability etc.).
Personally I think it's a silly stereotype, and it's probably not helped by some of the popular Bard characters like Scanlan Shorthalt in Critical Role and so-on very much leaning into it (and making even more people aware of it). I love Scanlan, but he really does perpetuate the stereotype.
My bards tend not to be Lotharios; my eloquence Bard is more of a con artisté and coward who spends most of his time talking his way out of trouble, while my swords Bard is a Tortle and plays more like a magic dependent barbarian who's properly good at bagpipes, using twin battleaxes with two-weapon fighting and Dual Wielder, plus blade flourish, plus mirror image and/or enlarged for good measure.
Although I guess I can see the appeal in some ways; it's easy to think of Charisma as confidence, and we all wish we were more confident. Plus nothing is more deliciously awkward than flirting with a character played by your DM (or your fellow players, it happens). But personally I prefer to stay clear of making a habit of it, and I have not tried to seduce any dragons (I decided to play as one instead 😉).
I believe one reason Bards have this image is because in earlier editions bards did not have subclasses that helped them achieve their goals without resorting to the Charm angle. So when many bards resorted to charming the Succubus or the Harpy or the Dragon, or whatever, the other players got a good laugh and a stereotype was born. Someday this may die out, but I don't expect to see it.
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Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
I feel the stereotype for Bards has to be a hilarious one in my opinion. They are seen as charmers who in the party always end up being the distraction to a enemy that the party wants to get past, this may not be true in some cases. But in the end, I think most people see Bards as the happy little musicians who sing, play an instrument, and dance with towns people (again may not be the case for everyone). The funniest part about me when I was typing this is that I usually play as a Bard, and also as a High Elf.
Now, I love laying bards. I truly do. But recently when I was starting a campaign with my friends. I chose to play a bard, They told each other, as a joke of course, to keep me away from all the Female creatures. Once I asked why they pointed out the stereotype of bards being absolute PLAYAS! NO, I'm not angry about this but once I start thinking about it. I can't help but wonder why this is such a prominent stereotype?
Why not the Male and nonbinary creatures as well? The charismatic factor of a Bard should be attractive to anyone that perceives the Bard, not just to creatures of one particular sex. This could really be an interesting angle to counter the player who throws around Persuasion checks and Deception checks all the time while using the charming lothario angle: their reputation either gets trashed quickly because they are seen as being to loose with their favors, or fights frequently break out around them because there are too many jealous fanboys and fangirls trying to vie for the Bard's attention.
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Now, I love laying bards. I truly do. But recently when I was starting a campaign with my friends. I chose to play a bard, They told each other, as a joke of course, to keep me away from all the Female creatures. Once I asked why they pointed out the stereotype of bards being absolute PLAYAS! NO, I'm not angry about this but once I start thinking about it. I can't help but wonder why this is such a prominent stereotype?
Lore, Lore, and More! That's what I'm about!
PM me if you wish for some lore on a person or place!
It came from the musician/rock and roll star having groupies.
Of the Charisma classes, I personally think the Paladin would actually be the playa. High strength = muscles + Charisma and still have access to Persuasion. And you can play the religion card, "Its not a sin when you do it with me." With the right God, it would not even be a lie.
because you have the perfect skillset to make every creature love you.
- BigKid10
Because they have the skills to support it, and it's how it often plays out at the table.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
Problem is you're competing against College of Eloquence which can have Persuasion expertise with a minimum roll of 10; at 5th-level (+3 proficiency) and Charisma 18 (+4 modifier) you're looking a minimum result of 20 on persuasion checks. Even for other Bard colleges that expertise can make a big difference, not to mention the wealth of spells to further boost their chances (friends, enhance ability etc.).
Personally I think it's a silly stereotype, and it's probably not helped by some of the popular Bard characters like Scanlan Shorthalt in Critical Role and so-on very much leaning into it (and making even more people aware of it). I love Scanlan, but he really does perpetuate the stereotype.
My bards tend not to be Lotharios; my eloquence Bard is more of a con artisté and coward who spends most of his time talking his way out of trouble, while my swords Bard is a Tortle and plays more like a magic dependent barbarian who's properly good at bagpipes, using twin battleaxes with two-weapon fighting and Dual Wielder, plus blade flourish, plus mirror image and/or enlarged for good measure.
Although I guess I can see the appeal in some ways; it's easy to think of Charisma as confidence, and we all wish we were more confident. Plus nothing is more deliciously awkward than flirting with a character played by your DM (or your fellow players, it happens). But personally I prefer to stay clear of making a habit of it, and I have not tried to seduce any dragons (I decided to play as one instead 😉).
Characters: Bullette, Chortle, Dracarys Noir, Edward Merryspell, Habard Ashery, Legion, Peregrine
My Homebrew: Feats | Items | Monsters | Spells | Subclasses | Races
Guides: Creating Sub-Races Using Trait Options
WIP (feedback needed): Blood Mage, Chromatic Sorcerers, Summoner, Trickster Domain, Unlucky, Way of the Daoist (Drunken Master), Weapon Smith
Please don't reply to my posts unless you've read what they actually say.
I just had the dumbest idea for homebrew lore, a bard succeeds in "Impressing" a dragon, and the dragonborn race came out of it
- BigKid10
I believe one reason Bards have this image is because in earlier editions bards did not have subclasses that helped them achieve their goals without resorting to the Charm angle. So when many bards resorted to charming the Succubus or the Harpy or the Dragon, or whatever, the other players got a good laugh and a stereotype was born. Someday this may die out, but I don't expect to see it.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
I feel the stereotype for Bards has to be a hilarious one in my opinion. They are seen as charmers who in the party always end up being the distraction to a enemy that the party wants to get past, this may not be true in some cases. But in the end, I think most people see Bards as the happy little musicians who sing, play an instrument, and dance with towns people (again may not be the case for everyone). The funniest part about me when I was typing this is that I usually play as a Bard, and also as a High Elf.
Im playing a bare wood elf,
- BigKid10
Why not the Male and nonbinary creatures as well? The charismatic factor of a Bard should be attractive to anyone that perceives the Bard, not just to creatures of one particular sex. This could really be an interesting angle to counter the player who throws around Persuasion checks and Deception checks all the time while using the charming lothario angle: their reputation either gets trashed quickly because they are seen as being to loose with their favors, or fights frequently break out around them because there are too many jealous fanboys and fangirls trying to vie for the Bard's attention.