I am curious. How did you rate Songs of Restoration in the Expert Survey? Personally I was mostly indifferent, but suggested that there be more options for those want to focus on other themes.
I don't remember what I rated it. It's fine for what it is I guess, just a fancy name for some spell access. But I did borrow the suggestion of someone here and said they should just give Bards access to Primal Abjuration spells in addition to their Arcane spells. It's basically the same thing, but easier to write. It offers a few more spells overall. Nothing game breaking. It starts at level 1 where it makes more sense. And it fits with their original theme from back in 1st edition as a nice callback. Then they could use the Song for something actually interesting.
I don't remember what I rated it. It's fine for what it is I guess, just a fancy name for some spell access. But I did borrow the suggestion of someone here and said they should just give Bards access to Primal Abjuration spells in addition to their Arcane spells. It's basically the same thing, but easier to write. It offers a few more spells overall. Nothing game breaking. It starts at level 1 where it makes more sense. And it fits with their original theme from back in 1st edition as a nice callback. Then they could use the Song for something actually interesting.
I don't know if someone else said this, but I had made that suggestion at some point. The Primal Abjuration spell list in addition to arcane, just normally gives them a lot of the spells they are missing including dispel magic and it, in general just felt better to me. And, of course was a call back to their origins which required them to have levels in druid.
I don't remember what I rated it. It's fine for what it is I guess, just a fancy name for some spell access. But I did borrow the suggestion of someone here and said they should just give Bards access to Primal Abjuration spells in addition to their Arcane spells. It's basically the same thing, but easier to write. It offers a few more spells overall. Nothing game breaking. It starts at level 1 where it makes more sense. And it fits with their original theme from back in 1st edition as a nice callback. Then they could use the Song for something actually interesting.
I don't know if someone else said this, but I had made that suggestion at some point. The Primal Abjuration spell list in addition to arcane, just normally gives them a lot of the spells they are missing including dispel magic and it, in general just felt better to me. And, of course was a call back to their origins which required them to have levels in druid.
It might have been you! I didn't remember, but it was a fantastic idea. So thank you!
The only reason I posted this was because I was talking to a stranger while waiting for at appointment and this was the main sticking point that they had with the Bard UA. They didn't want to feel like they HAD to play as back up healer and having those spells preselected for EVERY Bard didn't sit right with them. I had not given it quite that much thought myself. I knew that I didn't really care for it, but wasn't as put off by it as they were. So I made a poll to see how others felt about it.
The only reason I posted this was because I was talking to a stranger while waiting for at appointment and this was the main sticking point that they had with the Bard UA. They didn't want to feel like they HAD to play as back up healer and having those spells preselected for EVERY Bard didn't sit right with them. I had not given it quite that much thought myself. I knew that I didn't really care for it, but wasn't as put off by it as they were. So I made a poll to see how others felt about it.
Huh... that's not something I had thought of, but it makes sense. A lot of people see Bards as suitable substitute healers already so I guess I didn't see it as odd. If they did given them some Primal spells, at least it would help with that a little bit by giving a few other options.
The only reason I posted this was because I was talking to a stranger while waiting for at appointment and this was the main sticking point that they had with the Bard UA. They didn't want to feel like they HAD to play as back up healer and having those spells preselected for EVERY Bard didn't sit right with them. I had not given it quite that much thought myself. I knew that I didn't really care for it, but wasn't as put off by it as they were. So I made a poll to see how others felt about it.
Huh... that's not something I had thought of, but it makes sense. A lot of people see Bards as suitable substitute healers already so I guess I didn't see it as odd. If they did given them some Primal spells, at least it would help with that a little bit by giving a few other options.
I had not thought it odd either, though I did suggest WotC make other Songs of "X" options for subclasses. I could see their issue with mandatory healing spells vs being able to make that choice if you wanted it and wish I had thought of that in the Survey.
Generally I approve oа that feature because it gets the job done, but it kind of feels like an awkward crutch. Still, I don't see a more elegant alternative. It would feel right to let bards partly access primal spell list, but this makes their spell list a bit convoluted. Or maybe they should get access to all spell lists based on schools, like all abjuration, all enchantment, all illusions and all divination?..
I said that it should have been a little bit more like magical secrets but limited to abjuration spells of the same level instead but can be taken from any of the three main lists.
I'm strongly of the opinion that we need class spell lists. Arcane/Divine/Primal is fine as an additional tag and for use with feats like Magic Initiate, but bard in particular needs its own list. Songs of Restoration is a Band-Aid that forces all bards to be healers and is just there to make up for the fact that they're trying to do away with class lists, couldn't put healing spells on the arcane list, but knew people would be furious if bards had no access to the healing spells they used to be able to take. So I put highly disapprove (on the poll and on the survey) because for me, it's a symptom of a problem of much greater scope with their current design direction.
I'm strongly of the opinion that we need class spell lists. Arcane/Divine/Primal is fine as an additional tag and for use with feats like Magic Initiate, but bard in particular needs its own list. Songs of Restoration is a Band-Aid that forces all bards to be healers and is just there to make up for the fact that they're trying to do away with class lists, couldn't put healing spells on the arcane list, but knew people would be furious if bards had no access to the healing spells they used to be able to take. So I put highly disapprove (on the poll and on the survey) because for me, it's a symptom of a problem of much greater scope with their current design direction.
As far as class spell lists go, I don't think they are needed, except for Bard, it is a uniquely Bard issue in my opinion.
The purpose of the songs of restoration mechanic was to allow the Bard to have access to their existing spell list of support magic from the divine list without making them a divine caster.
The implementation was that instead of 'choosing' the support restoration spells you simply get them for free at near 0 cost (the song of rest mechanic could just be stapled onto the Song of Restoration feature as an 'in addition, ....blah blah 1d6 hit points blah blah" if it means that much to you personally, I doubt your DM cares.).
Thus, because both the purpose and the implementation are positive, I rated it Highly Approve.
~~~~~~~~~~~
As for people saying that Songs of Restoration makes you a healer. That makes as much sense as saying a Barbarian cant use a two handed weapon because they have shield proficiency.
Having Access to something does not mean you are required to use it. It only means you have the option to do so.
If your GROUP/TABLE wants you to play the healer role that's a conversation between you and the party, because your wants for your own character are not matching up to their wants for what you are going to do. It has nothing to do with the game or the rules or the implementation. NOTHING, Nada, Zippity doo dah.
If the situation WARRANTS that you cast a healing or restoration spell (healing word the Life Cleric who just got KO'd) then you have the OPTION to CHOOSE to do so. There is nowhere in that sentence where the word 'requires' would fit more accurately, even if you're choosing the option that knowingly leads to a TPK it's your choice and no one can take that from you.
Lastly, being able and willing to cast a healing/restoration/illlusion/enchantment/divination/transmutation spell at the right time does not make you 'a healer', it makes you a Bard.
The purpose of the songs of restoration mechanic was to allow the Bard to have access to their existing spell list of support magic from the divine list without making them a divine caster.
The implementation was that instead of 'choosing' the support restoration spells you simply get them for free at near 0 cost (the song of rest mechanic could just be stapled onto the Song of Restoration feature as an 'in addition, ....blah blah 1d6 hit points blah blah" if it means that much to you personally, I doubt your DM cares.).
Thus, because both the purpose and the implementation are positive, I rated it Highly Approve.
~~~~~~~~~~~
As for people saying that Songs of Restoration makes you a healer. That makes as much sense as saying a Barbarian cant use a two handed weapon because they have shield proficiency.
Having Access to something does not mean you are required to use it. It only means you have the option to do so.
If your GROUP/TABLE wants you to play the healer role that's a conversation between you and the party, because your wants for your own character are not matching up to their wants for what you are going to do. It has nothing to do with the game or the rules or the implementation. NOTHING, Nada, Zippity doo dah.
If the situation WARRANTS that you cast a healing or restoration spell (healing word the Life Cleric who just got KO'd) then you have the OPTION to CHOOSE to do so. There is nowhere in that sentence where the word 'requires' would fit more accurately, even if you're choosing the option that knowingly leads to a TPK it's your choice and no one can take that from you.
Lastly, being able and willing to cast a healing/restoration/illlusion/enchantment/divination/transmutation spell at the right time does not make you 'a healer', it makes you a Bard.
It isn't even close to 0 cost though. It costs and entire class feature that could have been used for something else. You are certainly allow your opinion, just know that there are people that don't share that opinion and theirs is equally valid.
I went with disapprove and said they would be better off just giving access to divine or primal abjuration magic and putting something interesting in there.
Its ironic, in a way. Some people REALLY hate Song of Rest because if feels like it forces bards into a healing role. Meanwhile, lots of people are also complaining that the removal of Tasha's Primeval Awareness spells from the Ranger drains the flavor from the Ranger. You're never going to please everyone with this. Also, I kinda suspect that forcing bards into pseudo-healer role was kinda the point. Crawford said the three were supposed to be partially other roles. The Ranger is a pseudo-warrior Expert. Bard would be the pseudo-healer/priest Expert.
I have nothing against Song of Rest style mechanics in a class. I mean, its just subclass spell additions for a whole class. But I have to agree that Bard really does need its own spell list, and not just make it a worse-wizard with Expertise. I mean, yes, the wizard does have practically every illusion spell under the sun (only missing Silence) and all the offensive Enchantment spells. But that's not what makes a bard, well, a bard.
The purpose of the songs of restoration mechanic was to allow the Bard to have access to their existing spell list of support magic from the divine list without making them a divine caster.
The implementation was that instead of 'choosing' the support restoration spells you simply get them for free at near 0 cost (the song of rest mechanic could just be stapled onto the Song of Restoration feature as an 'in addition, ....blah blah 1d6 hit points blah blah" if it means that much to you personally, I doubt your DM cares.).
Thus, because both the purpose and the implementation are positive, I rated it Highly Approve.
It isn't even close to 0 cost though. It costs and entire class feature that could have been used for something else. You are certainly allow your opinion, just know that there are people that don't share that opinion and theirs is equally valid.
Just to be clear. We are comparing the Song of Rest feature, which adds 1d6 hitpoints to anyone who user a hit die to heal at the end of the short rest. (scales up to 1d8 at level 9, etc) to Songs of Restoration.
So in real play, the short rest starts, the bard announces they are using this feature. The party attempts to use their hit dice to heal while simultaneously attempting to leave 4 hit points unhealed in the hopes that the Bard at the end of the short rest rolls the average or better on a 6 sided die. All so that they can avoid using all their hit die to heal BUT since the healing doesnt happen till the end of the rest there is no chance for the players to use one more hit die to top themselves off. Of course this is likely a moot point since most players walk into their long rest with hit dice still unused OR have such a large hit die that the d6 was less than half of what they could have done to heal themselves.
Now take a look at songs of restoration: always known Healing Word, Lesser Restoration, Mass healing word, Freedom of movement, and greater restoration. 5 extremely useful and highly regarded spells, not an ounce of fluff to be found.
Song of Rest practically looks like a Ribbon feature in comparison. If this was a tasha's variant feature that replaced song of rest we'd be chomping at the bit to pick it up and every Bard guide would read "take this option, don't ask questions". That's why I say its near zero cost, you lost a badly designed barely useful feature that if you think is good is likely because you're using it wrong (its not 1d6 to each hit die spent, it's 1d6 total at the end of the rest.) and in return you get a simple, easily understood feature that is so much more powerful, that the entire Song of Rest could be improved to work the way people think it works and still be just a ribbon of fluff at the end. This isn't opinion, its objective reality.
And that's why I cannot for the life of me or my sanity understand why anyone looks at this feature and doesn't immediately start yelling 'gimme gimme gimme' on a Class that is in a constant state of anxiety over their spell selections and that was back when it was a prepared spell class. <long inhale>
I mean, what's next, people are going to try and sell me on how Counter Charm was a clutch feature?
The purpose of the songs of restoration mechanic was to allow the Bard to have access to their existing spell list of support magic from the divine list without making them a divine caster.
The implementation was that instead of 'choosing' the support restoration spells you simply get them for free at near 0 cost (the song of rest mechanic could just be stapled onto the Song of Restoration feature as an 'in addition, ....blah blah 1d6 hit points blah blah" if it means that much to you personally, I doubt your DM cares.).
Thus, because both the purpose and the implementation are positive, I rated it Highly Approve.
It isn't even close to 0 cost though. It costs and entire class feature that could have been used for something else. You are certainly allow your opinion, just know that there are people that don't share that opinion and theirs is equally valid.
Just to be clear. We are comparing the Song of Rest feature, which adds 1d6 hitpoints to anyone who user a hit die to heal at the end of the short rest. (scales up to 1d8 at level 9, etc) to Songs of Restoration.
So in real play, the short rest starts, the bard announces they are using this feature. The party attempts to use their hit dice to heal while simultaneously attempting to leave 4 hit points unhealed in the hopes that the Bard at the end of the short rest rolls the average or better on a 6 sided die. All so that they can avoid using all their hit die to heal BUT since the healing doesnt happen till the end of the rest there is no chance for the players to use one more hit die to top themselves off. Of course this is likely a moot point since most players walk into their long rest with hit dice still unused OR have such a large hit die that the d6 was less than half of what they could have done to heal themselves.
Now take a look at songs of restoration: always known Healing Word, Lesser Restoration, Mass healing word, Freedom of movement, and greater restoration. 5 extremely useful and highly regarded spells, not an ounce of fluff to be found.
Song of Rest practically looks like a Ribbon feature in comparison. If this was a tasha's variant feature that replaced song of rest we'd be chomping at the bit to pick it up and every Bard guide would read "take this option, don't ask questions". That's why I say its near zero cost, you lost a badly designed barely useful feature that if you think is good is likely because you're using it wrong (its not 1d6 to each hit die spent, it's 1d6 total at the end of the rest.) and in return you get a simple, easily understood feature that is so much more powerful, that the entire Song of Rest could be improved to work the way people think it works and still be just a ribbon of fluff at the end. This isn't opinion, its objective reality.
And that's why I cannot for the life of me or my sanity understand why anyone looks at this feature and doesn't immediately start yelling 'gimme gimme gimme' on a Class that is in a constant state of anxiety over their spell selections and that was back when it was a prepared spell class. <long inhale>
I mean, what's next, people are going to try and sell me on how Counter Charm was a clutch feature?
No, we are talking about the UA version and how those spells should have just been available to pick and that entire class feature could have been something else completely.
No one has said anything about the original version except you.
The purpose of the songs of restoration mechanic was to allow the Bard to have access to their existing spell list of support magic from the divine list without making them a divine caster.
The implementation was that instead of 'choosing' the support restoration spells you simply get them for free at near 0 cost (the song of rest mechanic could just be stapled onto the Song of Restoration feature as an 'in addition, ....blah blah 1d6 hit points blah blah" if it means that much to you personally, I doubt your DM cares.).
Thus, because both the purpose and the implementation are positive, I rated it Highly Approve.
It isn't even close to 0 cost though. It costs and entire class feature that could have been used for something else. You are certainly allow your opinion, just know that there are people that don't share that opinion and theirs is equally valid.
Just to be clear. We are comparing the Song of Rest feature, which adds 1d6 hitpoints to anyone who user a hit die to heal at the end of the short rest. (scales up to 1d8 at level 9, etc) to Songs of Restoration.
So in real play, the short rest starts, the bard announces they are using this feature. The party attempts to use their hit dice to heal while simultaneously attempting to leave 4 hit points unhealed in the hopes that the Bard at the end of the short rest rolls the average or better on a 6 sided die. All so that they can avoid using all their hit die to heal BUT since the healing doesnt happen till the end of the rest there is no chance for the players to use one more hit die to top themselves off. Of course this is likely a moot point since most players walk into their long rest with hit dice still unused OR have such a large hit die that the d6 was less than half of what they could have done to heal themselves.
Now take a look at songs of restoration: always known Healing Word, Lesser Restoration, Mass healing word, Freedom of movement, and greater restoration. 5 extremely useful and highly regarded spells, not an ounce of fluff to be found.
Song of Rest practically looks like a Ribbon feature in comparison. If this was a tasha's variant feature that replaced song of rest we'd be chomping at the bit to pick it up and every Bard guide would read "take this option, don't ask questions". That's why I say its near zero cost, you lost a badly designed barely useful feature that if you think is good is likely because you're using it wrong (its not 1d6 to each hit die spent, it's 1d6 total at the end of the rest.) and in return you get a simple, easily understood feature that is so much more powerful, that the entire Song of Rest could be improved to work the way people think it works and still be just a ribbon of fluff at the end. This isn't opinion, its objective reality.
And that's why I cannot for the life of me or my sanity understand why anyone looks at this feature and doesn't immediately start yelling 'gimme gimme gimme' on a Class that is in a constant state of anxiety over their spell selections and that was back when it was a prepared spell class. <long inhale>
I mean, what's next, people are going to try and sell me on how Counter Charm was a clutch feature?
No, we are talking about the UA version and how those spells should have just been available to pick and that entire class feature could have been something else completely.
No one has said anything about the original version except you.
But there is a good point here. The Song of Restoration gives you bonus prepared spells. If you just got access to these spells, you would lose what is essentially 5 additional prepared spells over the ones you get from the class alone. The specific spells might be too limited for some people, but the feature does serve two purposes - to give access to healing spells, and to give additional prepared spells that don't pull from your normal limits.
The purpose of the songs of restoration mechanic was to allow the Bard to have access to their existing spell list of support magic from the divine list without making them a divine caster.
The implementation was that instead of 'choosing' the support restoration spells you simply get them for free at near 0 cost (the song of rest mechanic could just be stapled onto the Song of Restoration feature as an 'in addition, ....blah blah 1d6 hit points blah blah" if it means that much to you personally, I doubt your DM cares.).
Thus, because both the purpose and the implementation are positive, I rated it Highly Approve.
It isn't even close to 0 cost though. It costs and entire class feature that could have been used for something else. You are certainly allow your opinion, just know that there are people that don't share that opinion and theirs is equally valid.
Just to be clear. We are comparing the Song of Rest feature, which adds 1d6 hitpoints to anyone who user a hit die to heal at the end of the short rest. (scales up to 1d8 at level 9, etc) to Songs of Restoration.
So in real play, the short rest starts, the bard announces they are using this feature. The party attempts to use their hit dice to heal while simultaneously attempting to leave 4 hit points unhealed in the hopes that the Bard at the end of the short rest rolls the average or better on a 6 sided die. All so that they can avoid using all their hit die to heal BUT since the healing doesnt happen till the end of the rest there is no chance for the players to use one more hit die to top themselves off. Of course this is likely a moot point since most players walk into their long rest with hit dice still unused OR have such a large hit die that the d6 was less than half of what they could have done to heal themselves.
Now take a look at songs of restoration: always known Healing Word, Lesser Restoration, Mass healing word, Freedom of movement, and greater restoration. 5 extremely useful and highly regarded spells, not an ounce of fluff to be found.
Song of Rest practically looks like a Ribbon feature in comparison. If this was a tasha's variant feature that replaced song of rest we'd be chomping at the bit to pick it up and every Bard guide would read "take this option, don't ask questions". That's why I say its near zero cost, you lost a badly designed barely useful feature that if you think is good is likely because you're using it wrong (its not 1d6 to each hit die spent, it's 1d6 total at the end of the rest.) and in return you get a simple, easily understood feature that is so much more powerful, that the entire Song of Rest could be improved to work the way people think it works and still be just a ribbon of fluff at the end. This isn't opinion, its objective reality.
And that's why I cannot for the life of me or my sanity understand why anyone looks at this feature and doesn't immediately start yelling 'gimme gimme gimme' on a Class that is in a constant state of anxiety over their spell selections and that was back when it was a prepared spell class. <long inhale>
I mean, what's next, people are going to try and sell me on how Counter Charm was a clutch feature?
No, we are talking about the UA version and how those spells should have just been available to pick and that entire class feature could have been something else completely.
No one has said anything about the original version except you.
But there is a good point here. The Song of Restoration gives you bonus prepared spells. If you just got access to these spells, you would lose what is essentially 5 additional prepared spells over the ones you get from the class alone. The specific spells might be too limited for some people, but the feature does serve two purposes - to give access to healing spells, and to give additional prepared spells that don't pull from your normal limits.
Which doesn't address the issue that was presented. I would gladly sacrifice those 5 spells to get the first Magical Secrets at level 2. That would let the player pick 2 spells that they actually want instead of giving 5 spells that might not want. It opens of the ability to pick up those healing spells or just go for something more thematic. Add to that that Bards are prepared casters in the UA, gaining Magical Secrets at level 2 would give even greater range of utility to start with instead of waiting till 11th level when the game has either ended or is beginning to wind down for most tables.
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She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
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I am curious. How did you rate Songs of Restoration in the Expert Survey? Personally I was mostly indifferent, but suggested that there be more options for those want to focus on other themes.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
I wrote that I preferred the old song of rest because just using more spells instead of a unique mechanic was boring.
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I don't remember what I rated it. It's fine for what it is I guess, just a fancy name for some spell access. But I did borrow the suggestion of someone here and said they should just give Bards access to Primal Abjuration spells in addition to their Arcane spells. It's basically the same thing, but easier to write. It offers a few more spells overall. Nothing game breaking. It starts at level 1 where it makes more sense. And it fits with their original theme from back in 1st edition as a nice callback. Then they could use the Song for something actually interesting.
I don't know if someone else said this, but I had made that suggestion at some point. The Primal Abjuration spell list in addition to arcane, just normally gives them a lot of the spells they are missing including dispel magic and it, in general just felt better to me. And, of course was a call back to their origins which required them to have levels in druid.
It might have been you! I didn't remember, but it was a fantastic idea. So thank you!
The only reason I posted this was because I was talking to a stranger while waiting for at appointment and this was the main sticking point that they had with the Bard UA. They didn't want to feel like they HAD to play as back up healer and having those spells preselected for EVERY Bard didn't sit right with them. I had not given it quite that much thought myself. I knew that I didn't really care for it, but wasn't as put off by it as they were. So I made a poll to see how others felt about it.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
Huh... that's not something I had thought of, but it makes sense. A lot of people see Bards as suitable substitute healers already so I guess I didn't see it as odd. If they did given them some Primal spells, at least it would help with that a little bit by giving a few other options.
I had not thought it odd either, though I did suggest WotC make other Songs of "X" options for subclasses. I could see their issue with mandatory healing spells vs being able to make that choice if you wanted it and wish I had thought of that in the Survey.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
Generally I approve oа that feature because it gets the job done, but it kind of feels like an awkward crutch. Still, I don't see a more elegant alternative. It would feel right to let bards partly access primal spell list, but this makes their spell list a bit convoluted. Or maybe they should get access to all spell lists based on schools, like all abjuration, all enchantment, all illusions and all divination?..
I said that it should have been a little bit more like magical secrets but limited to abjuration spells of the same level instead but can be taken from any of the three main lists.
I'm strongly of the opinion that we need class spell lists. Arcane/Divine/Primal is fine as an additional tag and for use with feats like Magic Initiate, but bard in particular needs its own list. Songs of Restoration is a Band-Aid that forces all bards to be healers and is just there to make up for the fact that they're trying to do away with class lists, couldn't put healing spells on the arcane list, but knew people would be furious if bards had no access to the healing spells they used to be able to take. So I put highly disapprove (on the poll and on the survey) because for me, it's a symptom of a problem of much greater scope with their current design direction.
As far as class spell lists go, I don't think they are needed, except for Bard, it is a uniquely Bard issue in my opinion.
The purpose of the songs of restoration mechanic was to allow the Bard to have access to their existing spell list of support magic from the divine list without making them a divine caster.
The implementation was that instead of 'choosing' the support restoration spells you simply get them for free at near 0 cost (the song of rest mechanic could just be stapled onto the Song of Restoration feature as an 'in addition, ....blah blah 1d6 hit points blah blah" if it means that much to you personally, I doubt your DM cares.).
Thus, because both the purpose and the implementation are positive, I rated it Highly Approve.
~~~~~~~~~~~
As for people saying that Songs of Restoration makes you a healer. That makes as much sense as saying a Barbarian cant use a two handed weapon because they have shield proficiency.
Having Access to something does not mean you are required to use it. It only means you have the option to do so.
If your GROUP/TABLE wants you to play the healer role that's a conversation between you and the party, because your wants for your own character are not matching up to their wants for what you are going to do. It has nothing to do with the game or the rules or the implementation. NOTHING, Nada, Zippity doo dah.
If the situation WARRANTS that you cast a healing or restoration spell (healing word the Life Cleric who just got KO'd) then you have the OPTION to CHOOSE to do so. There is nowhere in that sentence where the word 'requires' would fit more accurately, even if you're choosing the option that knowingly leads to a TPK it's your choice and no one can take that from you.
Lastly, being able and willing to cast a healing/restoration/illlusion/enchantment/divination/transmutation spell at the right time does not make you 'a healer', it makes you a Bard.
It isn't even close to 0 cost though. It costs and entire class feature that could have been used for something else. You are certainly allow your opinion, just know that there are people that don't share that opinion and theirs is equally valid.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
I went with disapprove and said they would be better off just giving access to divine or primal abjuration magic and putting something interesting in there.
Its ironic, in a way. Some people REALLY hate Song of Rest because if feels like it forces bards into a healing role. Meanwhile, lots of people are also complaining that the removal of Tasha's Primeval Awareness spells from the Ranger drains the flavor from the Ranger. You're never going to please everyone with this. Also, I kinda suspect that forcing bards into pseudo-healer role was kinda the point. Crawford said the three were supposed to be partially other roles. The Ranger is a pseudo-warrior Expert. Bard would be the pseudo-healer/priest Expert.
I have nothing against Song of Rest style mechanics in a class. I mean, its just subclass spell additions for a whole class. But I have to agree that Bard really does need its own spell list, and not just make it a worse-wizard with Expertise. I mean, yes, the wizard does have practically every illusion spell under the sun (only missing Silence) and all the offensive Enchantment spells. But that's not what makes a bard, well, a bard.
Just to be clear. We are comparing the Song of Rest feature, which adds 1d6 hitpoints to anyone who user a hit die to heal at the end of the short rest. (scales up to 1d8 at level 9, etc) to Songs of Restoration.
So in real play, the short rest starts, the bard announces they are using this feature. The party attempts to use their hit dice to heal while simultaneously attempting to leave 4 hit points unhealed in the hopes that the Bard at the end of the short rest rolls the average or better on a 6 sided die. All so that they can avoid using all their hit die to heal BUT since the healing doesnt happen till the end of the rest there is no chance for the players to use one more hit die to top themselves off. Of course this is likely a moot point since most players walk into their long rest with hit dice still unused OR have such a large hit die that the d6 was less than half of what they could have done to heal themselves.
Now take a look at songs of restoration: always known Healing Word, Lesser Restoration, Mass healing word, Freedom of movement, and greater restoration. 5 extremely useful and highly regarded spells, not an ounce of fluff to be found.
Song of Rest practically looks like a Ribbon feature in comparison. If this was a tasha's variant feature that replaced song of rest we'd be chomping at the bit to pick it up and every Bard guide would read "take this option, don't ask questions". That's why I say its near zero cost, you lost a badly designed barely useful feature that if you think is good is likely because you're using it wrong (its not 1d6 to each hit die spent, it's 1d6 total at the end of the rest.) and in return you get a simple, easily understood feature that is so much more powerful, that the entire Song of Rest could be improved to work the way people think it works and still be just a ribbon of fluff at the end. This isn't opinion, its objective reality.
And that's why I cannot for the life of me or my sanity understand why anyone looks at this feature and doesn't immediately start yelling 'gimme gimme gimme' on a Class that is in a constant state of anxiety over their spell selections and that was back when it was a prepared spell class. <long inhale>
I mean, what's next, people are going to try and sell me on how Counter Charm was a clutch feature?
No, we are talking about the UA version and how those spells should have just been available to pick and that entire class feature could have been something else completely.
No one has said anything about the original version except you.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
But there is a good point here. The Song of Restoration gives you bonus prepared spells. If you just got access to these spells, you would lose what is essentially 5 additional prepared spells over the ones you get from the class alone. The specific spells might be too limited for some people, but the feature does serve two purposes - to give access to healing spells, and to give additional prepared spells that don't pull from your normal limits.
Which doesn't address the issue that was presented. I would gladly sacrifice those 5 spells to get the first Magical Secrets at level 2. That would let the player pick 2 spells that they actually want instead of giving 5 spells that might not want. It opens of the ability to pick up those healing spells or just go for something more thematic. Add to that that Bards are prepared casters in the UA, gaining Magical Secrets at level 2 would give even greater range of utility to start with instead of waiting till 11th level when the game has either ended or is beginning to wind down for most tables.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master