Quote:Bluemage wrote:The Bard was introduced in the Player's Handbook 2, but that version was just as bland as all the stuff in the first Player's Handbook. Heroes of the Feywild took all the complaints about generic cut and paste classes and addressed them by getting innovative. The Skald Bard's Skald Aura power isn't just a clone of the Cleric's Healing Word power even though it serves the same function. It is an aura which allows all party members within it to heal themselves or someone they touch. No more dying because your turn comes before the Cleric's. Their At-Will and Encounter attacks aren't actually attacks, they're effects that modify their basic attack (which is Charisma based due to a class feature). Their Daily attacks aren't attacks either. They're powers that modify and enhance their Skald's Aura healing power. There is even an optional class feature where you get to choose among iconic bardic perks like always being welcome at inns or being able to demand an audience with an authority figure.
1. Huh. I didn't really get to fiddle with anything beyond late 2010. I believe the Bard had been announced then, but not released- or it was in preliminary release, but not fully available.
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"Anyone can be a winner if their definition of victory is flexible enough." - The DM of the Rings XXXV