Pathfinder: Re-Skinning the Bard so People Will Play it

I don’t really have anything against the bard, but I do believe he is the least-played character class of them all. In my experience, the better you are at one thing (like multiplying damage on a charge) the more likely it is that you will be played as a character class. It also helps if your game mechanics set you up to look dramatic or cool while you’re doing your thing (like shapeshifting, backstabbing, or blasting away the undead with a firmly presented holy symbol).

Most bards do NOT look like this. This image was created by Jason Engle.

In short, bards do everything pretty well, but seldom as well as the classes built to fulfill those critical roles, and their non-traditional adventurer activities (playing music, singing, poetry) relegate them to enjoying very little love at the gaming table.

I have a partial solution that I’m sure has occurred to many of you out there—I edited the bard in a number of ways to give him a new flavour that is less care-free performer and more hardened marine.

Here are my sweeping changes.

• Change the name of the Bard class to Soldier, Warlord, Adventurer or something else that speaks of experience, wisdom, and/or command.
• Naturally, replace the word “bard” throughout with your chosen class name.
• Instead of activating his/her spells and abilities through song, make it Rhetoric, Command, Inspiration, or something else that speaks to the force of will and charisma that we’re looking for.
• Replace the names of abilities wherever they no longer fit with your theme. Bardic Knowledge becomes Well-Traveled. Bardic Performance becomes Command. Countersong becomes Shout, Distraction becomes order, and so on.

Simple, but I can’t leave all the work to you. Here’s an alternate class and role description for your new bard-based character class.

Officer

The failed tactics of an ancient army, the secret lore and customs of a cabal of prickly wizards, and the best way to crack a safe, a prisoner, or a whip; all of these are well-known to the officer. Typically educated, formally or not, the officer has forgotten more mundane and archaic lore than most learn in their lifetimes, and she uses this knowledge to outmanoeuvre her enemies, get into places she doesn’t belong, and get out with ever more valuable experiences. Comfortable in armour and well-trained with a variety of weaponry, she is nonetheless an able spellcaster, and she has learned to empower her commands in ways that have profound effects on her audience. For the officer, every day brings new challenges, adventures, and rewards, and she is more than equipped to claim the treasures of each.

Role: Experienced well beyond her years, the officer’s versatility as a combatant, dungeoneer, or party leader are her greatest strengths. A deep skill pool allows her to train to fulfill many party roles, from diplomat to assassin. A capable support combatant, she is most effective away from the front lines where she can weaken her enemies while empowering her allies with knowledge, magic, and her potent command abilities.

What do you think? Have you found bards woefully underplayed over your gaming career? Would you play a warlord, soldier, or officer in a pathfinder campaign? Let me know in a comment below. 

Comments

[Patrick]

I really don't know where you're coming from. While I very rarely play bards they are very popular in the many D&D groups I've played with. On top of that, anybody with even the smallest bit of ability to char-op knows how powerful of a support class a bard is. They're also perfect as the party face or diplomancer. The biggest problem I've seen with them is ego. Some people can't handle a support role because they always want to be the biggest or baddest or best X and a bard takes skill and knowledge of a parties inner-workings in order to live up to full potential. I think they're a fantastic class with great power, even more options and, if played by the right player, a very valuable party member.

[Dyson Logos]

You'll need to do more than re-skin the PF bard. It has actually, SOMEHOW, become a weaker class than it was in 3.5.

[RPG Ike]

Haha! Right on—effectively opposing points of view.

Patrick, that's cool that you see a lot of bards being played. I've only seen one in over 10 years of gaming, so obviously we've got a different viewpoint there. Ego might be factor, but I'd be more inclined to single out a player's desire to be unique and useful as a factor in how little bards are played in some gaming circles, like mine. I play with rather career-minded people who are generaly looking for the shortest path to fun, which means taking a very active role in kicking ass.

I'm not sure if I agree with you, Dyson, but I'm hardly in a position to argue against your claim since I've so little experience playing or running bards. They look like a lot of fun and more than able to contribute in meaningful ways to the party, but I'll leave my comments at that and hope to have a chance to run one sometime soon.

Thanks for stopping by, guys.

[Patrick]

Ah ha, that makes a lot of sense as well. It's worth noting that out of the 4 or so people I've played with that liked bards two are musicians themselves, at least at a hobby level. One would bring a small acoustic and sometimes pluck a few chords and sing a line or two when he was using bardic music. He didn't do it every time and it never got annoying or show-hogging but it was nice in that it gave him a little extra spotlight that sometimes a bard doesn't get besides being the face of a party.

Partly because of this conversation and partly because the 4 traditional roles are filled in my new party I will be playing a bard myself. I'll be putting my money where my mouth is so to speak and if you would like I can comment back here in a couple weeks with a follow-up.

[RPG Ike]

Yes, please, Patrick. I'd love to hear about your bardic experiences.

[elucidarian]

Bards don't work in every campaign. It relies on the imagination of the GM and at least one player to elevate that storied class.

The GM must present scenarios in which the NPCs and other creatures respond to the attributes of the bard. I have had bards in my games, though not currently. Regardless, I make it a point to arrange encounters where each character has a chance to shine, even when using published material that may or may not be so balanced. I won't remove the degree of challenge, but the players deserve the satisfaction of seeing their characters utilize their strengths. You have to weave each of their talents into the needs of the story.

For bards, why not provide cultures immersed in song or oratory, traditions where champions are chosen for their persuasive prowess, interactions dependent on history and politics. These ideas could be employed frequently in combat scenarios where the routine hacking and blasting is going on. The GM is responsible for making these encounters interesting, suspenseful, and inclusive for the other characters. It's a challenge, and thus, less represented in average play.

Incidentally, if you feel the need to change up the class in question, check out the bardic themes from the Advanced Players Guide. Each of the following provide a list of bardic features to replace some of those in the Core Rulebook:

Arcane Duelist, Archivist, Court Bard, Detective, Magician, Sandman, Savage Skald, Sea Singer and Street Performer.