The core feature of the class isn't jack of all trades, it's bardic inspiration.
Who said those were mutually exclusive? I'm talking a broad vision of the class, its mechanical niche.
Even as a broad vision of the class it doesn't work. Bard is not a jack of all trades, it is a support + social class. It's not a frontliner, it's not a tank, it's not DPR.
Even as a broad vision of the class it doesn't work. Bard is not a jack of all trades, it is a support + social class. It's not a frontliner, it's not a tank, it's not DPR.
I guess they're a jack of all trades in the sense that you can build a Bard that's decent at a little bit of everything, because even if you focus on making a Swords Bard as martial as possible, they're still good at skill checks, general support, and it only takes one good illusion spell or similar for it to still be good at control/social stealth when it needs to be.
While it's more optimal just to focus on those things, early on or for a less competitive group going more mixed can be competitive (and fun). Later on it'll lag way behind, as even Swords Bard doesn't want to be in melee for long, and will be using spells to help themselves compete (and those same slots could do more if used for multi-support/control). Swords Bard can't compete with a Fighter or Paladin long term, but they can hold their own for a bit which might be all you need, and their ranged is quite good even later on.
Plus, it's really fun to mobile flourish things into hazards, and defensive flourish is pretty solid for a brief burst of eloquent violence. 😈
Even a non-Swords/Valor Bard can do okay if they mix in a little Warlock which you can do "vanilla" via magical secrets or a feat, e.g- green-flame blade and armor of agathys can let you hold your own for a bit. A multiclass dip is better but that's not "pure" Bard.
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Even as a broad vision of the class it doesn't work. Bard is not a jack of all trades, it is a support + social class. It's not a frontliner, it's not a tank, it's not DPR.
I guess they're a jack of all trades in the sense that you can build a Bard that's decent at a little bit of everything, because even if you focus on making a Swords Bard as martial as possible, they're still good at skill checks, general support, and it only takes one good illusion spell or similar for it to still be good at control/social stealth when it needs to be.
While it's more optimal just to focus on those things, early on or for a less competitive group going more mixed can be competitive (and fun). Later on it'll lag way behind, as even Swords Bard doesn't want to be in melee for long, and will be using spells to help themselves compete (and those same slots could do more if used for multi-support/control). Swords Bard can't compete with a Fighter or Paladin long term, but they can hold their own for a bit which might be all you need, and their ranged is quite good even later on.
Plus, it's really fun to mobile flourish things into hazards, and defensive flourish is pretty solid for a brief burst of eloquent violence. 😈
Even a non-Swords/Valor Bard can do okay if they mix in a little Warlock which you can do "vanilla" via magical secrets or a feat, e.g- green-flame blade and armor of agathys can let you hold your own for a bit. A multiclass dip is better but that's not "pure" Bard.
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.