I agree with the general though that it is poorly designed, too bad the play test version didn't make the cut. I kind of wonder about the feedback. For hunters mark for example the no concentration buff the only complaint I saw about it was it came too early so it was too dipable. Not that they should ditch it entirely. So I kind of wonder if the complaints with this were something like I love it but I'd like some way to hand it off to the rogue before he goes scouting and not just as a reaction. And all they read was the but and not the i love it part.
As someone who played a bard for two years, I believe that the OP has a good point if we only look at the basic function of the bardic inspiration. However, I do think that the subclass specific use of BI was extremely powerful for some subclasses. I was an Eloquence Bard and dominated the field using Unsettling Words in combination with my own spells or someone else's when we had another caster on the team. I would argue that playing Eloquence makes for the most satisfying experience using BI and that it is very satisfying forcing failed saves almost always. Some subclasses though, just are awful with it and if that is the case, having the core use of BI being a bit of a snooze just makes playing those lesser subclasses all the more challenging.
Eloquence is a great subclass but I think unsettling words is overated.
The problem with unsettling words is you use the inspiration up before the roll is made. Say you are at level 3, with a +3 to charisma trying to cast blindness. Your save DC is 13. If the enemy rolls 12 or less on the save (before the unsettling words) they would have failed anyway so the dice does nothing. If they roll 19 or more again the inspration dice is wasted because they are guaranteed ot make the save, it is only if they roll between 13 and 18 (maximum 30% chance) that the inspiration dice does nothing.
With vanilla BI, if they need your friend needs to pass a DC13 save they will only use the BI is they roll between 7 and 12, the 70% of the time they roll outside of this they will keep it until next time. Unfailing inspiration and Infectious inspiration really boost bardic inspiration but even before level 6 I think most of the time the eloquence bard is better off giving friend their inspiration.
At level 3 its not great but at level 5 when it recharges on a short rest it is awesome. Sure you use it before you know if they fail, but every day, there are clutch moments and standard moments, you will have more than enough inspirations for all of those clutch moments and still have some left over for standard inspiration. You wont bother using it on a hold on random orc #5. If they succeed on the save its just a oh well.
Well, part of your problem is that you aren't using it correctly. Bardic Inspiration is used after the roll fails, not before the roll is made, and it doesn't have to be used when the roll fails. If the player rolls a 2 they can save their BI (for an hour) until they roll 14 and find out that they still failed. At that point BI has a great chance of turning the failure into a successful roll.
You give it to someone and they roll a nat 20 on their athletics? That's fine. There is still an entire hour before it expires, so there's every likelihood that they will have need for it on a later roll.
And, at 3rd level Bardic Inspiration is typically more than just a bonus to a D20 roll. For College of Valor it can be spent to add to a D20 roll, subtracted from an opponents attack roll (again, after they make the roll, so you don't have to burn it against an attack which way overcomes the player's AC), or it could be added to the damage roll for an attack (and it is only expended after the attack hit). I don't recall what the other colleges give, but I assume their Bardic Inspirations can be added to more than just D20 rolls as well.
Is it a completely earth shattering ability at level 3? No, but then it is only level 3. At level 5 it is now a D8, recharges after a short rest, and since the number of times you can use it is based on your charisma modifier you are probably looking at handing out between 4-6 d8's every short rest.
That is still not earth shattering, but it is far from useless.
We are specifically referring to eloquence bards unsettling words which is used before the enemy rolls their save. You use a bonus action and the bardic die is rolled as a penalty on their NEXT save. If it was after it would be a reaction ability.
Which probably would have been broken with the playtests reaction based bardic inspiration.
And, at 3rd level Bardic Inspiration is typically more than just a bonus to a D20 roll. For College of Valor it can be spent to add to a D20 roll, subtracted from an opponents attack roll (again, after they make the roll, so you don't have to burn it against an attack which way overcomes the player's AC), or it could be added to the damage roll for an attack (and it is only expended after the attack hit). I don't recall what the other colleges give, but I assume their Bardic Inspirations can be added to more than just D20 rolls as well.
For clarification, under 2024 rules all Bardic Inspiration (BI) can be given to another who can use that BI when they fail a d20 Test. A d20 Test refers to an Ability Check, an Attack Roll, or A Saving Throw. This is a useful feature and it is more reliable after the 2024 changes that last an hour to use and is used after failing that roll. Rolling before knowing with a 10 minute limit was definitely less reliable.
Combat Inspiration (Valor Bards) allows the BI to be used to add to AC against on attack or be added to damage after hitting a target with an attack roll. Note that this can be at range or a spell attack; the ability does not specify weapon or melee. There are better spells and some comparable feats (like Defensive Duelist) but this is still useful for those moments that it matters.
Cutting Words or Peerless Skill (Lore Bards) allow the Bard to use BI more directly. Cutting Words applies a penalty to Attack rolls, Ability Checks, or Damage rolls and in the case of Attack rolls or Ability checks is now improved to be used after a success by the target. Peerless Skill can be used by the Lore Bord on their own Attack rolls and Ability checks, but with the added benefit (and very under-rated IMO) of not expending a use of the BI dice if that Attack roll or Ability check still fails after adding the bonus.
Beguiling Magic or Mantle of Inspiration (Glamour Bards) mix it a bit. Beguiling Magic is refueled by expending BI dice and enhances Enchantment and Illusion spell casting for the Glamour bard. Mantle of Inspiration only works on others and grants temporary hit points and an off-turn movement as a reaction. These are excellent uses of Bardic Inspiration when the situations arise.
Inspiring Movement or Tandem Footwork (Dance Bards) mix others and the Dance Bard with benefits. Inspiring Movement grants the Dance Bard and one ally off-turn movement as a reaction and also triggers Agile Strikes for an off-turn attack. This is useful. Tandem Footwork allows the Dance Bard and each ally within 30' ti add the BI roll to Initiative. This is always useful and an excellent use of BI dice.
And that's how BI dice are used, in a nutshell, ignoring pre-2024 PHB Colleges. ;-)
Creation Bards gain Note of Potential
Eloquence Bards gain Unsettling Words
Spirits Bards gain Tales from Beyond
Swords Bards gain Blade Flourishes
Whispers Bards gain Psychic Blades
Some abilities are better than others, but I would agree if you're saying that they all get something worth using.
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I agree with the general though that it is poorly designed, too bad the play test version didn't make the cut. I kind of wonder about the feedback. For hunters mark for example the no concentration buff the only complaint I saw about it was it came too early so it was too dipable. Not that they should ditch it entirely. So I kind of wonder if the complaints with this were something like I love it but I'd like some way to hand it off to the rogue before he goes scouting and not just as a reaction. And all they read was the but and not the i love it part.
Well, part of your problem is that you aren't using it correctly. Bardic Inspiration is used after the roll fails, not before the roll is made, and it doesn't have to be used when the roll fails. If the player rolls a 2 they can save their BI (for an hour) until they roll 14 and find out that they still failed. At that point BI has a great chance of turning the failure into a successful roll.
You give it to someone and they roll a nat 20 on their athletics? That's fine. There is still an entire hour before it expires, so there's every likelihood that they will have need for it on a later roll.
And, at 3rd level Bardic Inspiration is typically more than just a bonus to a D20 roll. For College of Valor it can be spent to add to a D20 roll, subtracted from an opponents attack roll (again, after they make the roll, so you don't have to burn it against an attack which way overcomes the player's AC), or it could be added to the damage roll for an attack (and it is only expended after the attack hit). I don't recall what the other colleges give, but I assume their Bardic Inspirations can be added to more than just D20 rolls as well.
Is it a completely earth shattering ability at level 3? No, but then it is only level 3. At level 5 it is now a D8, recharges after a short rest, and since the number of times you can use it is based on your charisma modifier you are probably looking at handing out between 4-6 d8's every short rest.
That is still not earth shattering, but it is far from useless.
We are specifically referring to eloquence bards unsettling words which is used before the enemy rolls their save. You use a bonus action and the bardic die is rolled as a penalty on their NEXT save. If it was after it would be a reaction ability.
Which probably would have been broken with the playtests reaction based bardic inspiration.
So no, we are not using it wrong.
Sorry. I missed that you were referring to a specific use case.
For clarification, under 2024 rules all Bardic Inspiration (BI) can be given to another who can use that BI when they fail a d20 Test. A d20 Test refers to an Ability Check, an Attack Roll, or A Saving Throw. This is a useful feature and it is more reliable after the 2024 changes that last an hour to use and is used after failing that roll. Rolling before knowing with a 10 minute limit was definitely less reliable.
Combat Inspiration (Valor Bards) allows the BI to be used to add to AC against on attack or be added to damage after hitting a target with an attack roll. Note that this can be at range or a spell attack; the ability does not specify weapon or melee. There are better spells and some comparable feats (like Defensive Duelist) but this is still useful for those moments that it matters.
Cutting Words or Peerless Skill (Lore Bards) allow the Bard to use BI more directly. Cutting Words applies a penalty to Attack rolls, Ability Checks, or Damage rolls and in the case of Attack rolls or Ability checks is now improved to be used after a success by the target. Peerless Skill can be used by the Lore Bord on their own Attack rolls and Ability checks, but with the added benefit (and very under-rated IMO) of not expending a use of the BI dice if that Attack roll or Ability check still fails after adding the bonus.
Beguiling Magic or Mantle of Inspiration (Glamour Bards) mix it a bit. Beguiling Magic is refueled by expending BI dice and enhances Enchantment and Illusion spell casting for the Glamour bard. Mantle of Inspiration only works on others and grants temporary hit points and an off-turn movement as a reaction. These are excellent uses of Bardic Inspiration when the situations arise.
Inspiring Movement or Tandem Footwork (Dance Bards) mix others and the Dance Bard with benefits. Inspiring Movement grants the Dance Bard and one ally off-turn movement as a reaction and also triggers Agile Strikes for an off-turn attack. This is useful. Tandem Footwork allows the Dance Bard and each ally within 30' ti add the BI roll to Initiative. This is always useful and an excellent use of BI dice.
And that's how BI dice are used, in a nutshell, ignoring pre-2024 PHB Colleges. ;-)
Some abilities are better than others, but I would agree if you're saying that they all get something worth using.