D&D BARD RANKING

Storyteller, lorekeeper, mage-warrior-scoundrel-healer, sing to us O scion of muses, and tell us of the dreams you dare to dream.
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Music:
“Requiem in Cello” Hanu Dixit
“Acoustic Symphony” Hanu Dixit
“Jesse’s Carnival Waltz” The Great North Sound Society
“Distant Lands” Hanu Dixit
“221B Baker Street” Hanu Dixit
“Thunderstorm” Hanu Dixit
“Realization” Hanu Dixit
“Sahara Rains” Hanu Dixit
“Bellissimo” Doug Maxwell
“Dramatic Swarm” Doug Maxwell
“Victoria” Density & Time
“Organic Apples” Ashley Shadow
Music from KZbin Audio Library
kzbin.info...
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

[@ShugoAWay]

Didn't see any timestamps so 6:48 the start of the ranking 19:15 lore 23:04 valor 29:50 glamour 34:34 swords 39:43 whispers 46:16 cross ranking

[@aleksejtratnik817]

Not the hero we deserved, but the hero we needed.

[@devin5201]

You dropped this. 👑

[@themightybosch5923]

Thank you! I get being a bard is great, I play bard. But like sweet Tiamet did that take forver to get started

[@harperthegoblin]

May the stars guide you, and inspire songs of great power that may shake the world.

[@ethankly12]

Thanks babe

[@decobyjones9491]

The artificer gets expertise to all tools they are proficient with.

[@esperthebard]

Well there ya go

[@kinghoenn3478]

@@esperthebard except in 5e if it's not thieve's tools then every other tool is pretty worthless. They really dropped the ball with making all those tools so underwhelming.

[@akrinornoname2769]

@@kinghoenn3478 You can make health potions for half their cost with a herbalism kit. Disguise and Forgery kits are situational but extremely powerful in their niches. And all the tools are expanded upon in Xanatar's

[@dynamicworlds1]

@@akrinornoname2769 Xanatar's expanded tool use is excellent.

[@ianmorse9381]

@@kinghoenn3478 I had a dwarf that used smith's tools to help kill a banshee once. She was taken aback by the beauty of the trinket I made long enough for us to get our ambush on.

[@brunop.8745]

A whole video about bards and not a single joke about them being uberhorny bastards I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Esper

[@marcolu5395]

Correction: It's said in the PHB that you can use the hand holding your focus for the somatic components of a spell.

[@esperthebard]

True that! Though the valor bard still gets shortchanged.

[@Jedibigfoot]

the weird thing is based on RAW and sage advice that works with spells that have both material and somatic components, but not when you only require somatic components. which doesn't make much sense because it says you can make somatic gestures while holding the focus in all other cases, but not when you only require somatic??? I guess because the somatic is involved with the material focus of those spells?

[@davidwoek3041]

@@Jedibigfoot That's really weird indeed

[@dustinsmith2021]

How about you just ignore those rules like 90% of players.

[@Mr911superstar]

@@Jedibigfoot I'd hand wave that away as a DM but I think of the RAW like you move the materials in the somatic movements but without materials, somatic components are more precise, like manipulating your fingers to trace arcane sigils or make hand gestures etc.

[@deanhoweymusic5385]

Yo your speech at the beginning was very well done. As a D&Dr, Music Teacher, and Bard myself, I want to say bravo for such wonderful and true words

[@MatthewMFoster]

I admit I sighed when I saw you'd done this as I'd just finished writing up a Bard Guide with plans to make a KZbin video, and I signed more as you pretty much covered everything I had to say and said it better. You even had the same kind of sarcastic build to the capstone. And you're the only one (of guides I've seen) besides myself who loves Enthralling Performance. I might still do mine as you didn't include the new version of the College of Eloquence (from Mythic Odysseys) -- it's really good. And you like Swords more than I. But overall, you just did it better than I could hope to. You've got a really nice tone to the whole thing, making it easy to listen to.

[@esperthebard]

Thanks Matthew! If you do your video, let me know.

[@Ghost_in_the_Rain]

My main character is my tiefling lore bard, and I love him. He is heavily inspired by Brütal Legend, being a master lute player/singer who unleashes deadly fire and thunder spells through the power of METAL!

[@Raoul9753]

So... Jack Black. You made Jack Black as a D&D Character.

[@HiopX]

This isn't the best bard in the world, this is just a reference ;)

[@lyravain6304]

Made a similar character; a Half-Orc Bard. Starts the campaign getting kicked out of a tavern because his son "Master of Zombies" (obviously an expy of "Master of Puppets") infuriated the peasants (calling them mindless zombies) as well as the nobles (calling them necromancers).

[@poilboiler]

"those who are self important, narcissistic and arrogant" so... bards?

[@dracowolf3212]

So... the bully who always gave me a hard time in primary school

[@Ricky_Nixon]

Esper, it’s not just because you’re a fellow lore bard- your content is unmatched and this channel is my absolute favorite. You’re the man.

[@FinalTroop]

Psychic blades is the bard roasting a enemy by peering at their soul. Like two people in a rap battle but one person came with receipts.

[@notorious.scoundrel]

A small fix for countercharm: any charm or fright effect while in the radious is suspended on an ally for the duration.

[@crimfan]

That's a good one because it forces you to get into danger with songs but makes the songs themselves quite potent.

[@Etherwinter]

I'm so glad Glamour is appreciated this much. I played it once and fell in love with it. I've seen people disparage Enthralling Presence as being too situational. But if you manage to hold a couple peoples' attention for more than 1 minute you can change your speaking to them into a performance. It's something you can creatively use on the fly. And if you manage to get a bunch of enemies stalled for a minute (you're a bard, be convincing) you can attempt to charm them and the ones who aren't charmed will probably turn against them. And then Mantle of Inspiration can just destroy an encounter if your party uses their reaction movement right.

[@SH-qs7ee]

"Cutting Words: An effective and thematic feature that broadens the range of what you can do with Bardic Inspiration" Quite an eloquent way of saying your Bard character is pretty much yelling "Hey you, think quick!"

[@ethankly12]

Great video Esper! I always loved the College of Whispers but I feel like they were done a little dirty. College of Lore is my favorite just for the sheer amount of flexibility it has. A lore bard covers anything from lawyers to witty Shakespearean actors.

[@snappingshrimp235]

I really love this channel, the information, the tips, the fun facts. But the narration, man that one is gorgeous.

[@qsviewsrpgs4571]

I love the detailed breakdown of the various aspects of the Bard, etc. 5e flaws and all, I want to roll one up for my next campaign. Thanks for taking the time to put this together.

[@davidwoek3041]

Great video! I really like this format, it just works!

[@Tomrash]

Great vid. Small correction though: Blade Flourishes use the Attack Action, Booming Blade is not an Attack Action, so you could not combine those.

[@PKAnon]

I really liked the historical contexts in this video, both about the bard class through the versions of DnD and the real world histories of bards and armor. Subbed.

[@jasonwitt7943]

This was a treat, as always. I suppose I'm most looking forward to the Paladin and Monk videos in this series.

[@enzosanti3278]

Finally, a new video I always love your content Esper Keep doing this magnific content 💕🇧🇷

[@esperthebard]

Valeu Enzo!

[@kahanebarkenat]

Swords bard is my favorite subclass right now, flavor wise. Mechanically it's right up there with lore.

[@xanderwyatt8234]

College of Swords has the decent parts of fighters with none of the good parts of bards. I always just play a bladesinger or a cleric if I want a martial caster

[@conradkorbol]

Xander Wyatt yeah except it does have the good stuff of bards. They have all the spells and skills. The sword bard is way better than blade singer which is the worst acceptable class. It’s not as bad as purple dragon knight or undying warlock, but it is terrible. Sword bard gets a shield spell, you can push and maneuver and control the battle field. It’s pretty incredible. No body I know who has played it felt like they were not playing a bard.

[@tristinanderson6320]

@@conradkorbol swords bard is really good. But it does get the least amount of bard like abilities, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. But if you think bladesingers are bad your just wrong, the are the best gish class in the game easily. The only things that come close are multiclasses ie college of swords either a one level dip into hexblade and paladin hexblades. You get free AC and the ability to mix cantrips with your attacks is amazing.

[@conradkorbol]

@@tristinanderson6320 I was saying baked singer is terrible. I played the sword bard way before the one ever dip thing came out. I actually went 5 levels hexblade tho instead of 1. I think it’s better if you aren’t reaching even 20.

[@enddorb]

Esper the Bard: "the bard is the character class I most identify with, personally" Endorb the barbarian: "Wait, what? I thought you identified with Warlocks!"

[@Lordmewtwo151]

Who's Endorb the barbarian?

[@enddorb]

@@Lordmewtwo151 the version of me that is stupid in comedic ways

[@Lordmewtwo151]

@@enddorb Okay. How many "versions" of you do you have?

[@enddorb]

@@Lordmewtwo151 8, unless another number is more comedicslly viable

[@Lordmewtwo151]

@@enddorb Just out of curiosity, how do you keep track of them all?

[@ColorsAndWhatnot]

I’ve been waiting for this moment for months!

[@jonathanvander5761]

Ah! Every time I watch one of your videos I want to tear up my character sheet and make whatever character you just spoke about. I hate and love you for this! I appreciate your videos mad props!

[@esperthebard]

May a glorious soul arise from the ashes of your ruined character sheets!

[@SpidermanandhisAmazingFriends]

The twentieth level of bard just means taking that level of rogue, sorcerer, or warlock early on won't cost you that much.

[@Raoul9753]

Esper: "College of Glamour is the best bard College!" A few weeks later: College of Eloquence : "Allow me to introduce myself, I am overpowered."

[@FaresTk]

Why few weeks later ? Eloquence has been out for a while.

[@freedfalchion9860]

YOU DESERVE SO MANY MORE VIEWSSSS; one of the best vernaculars for DnD reviewers on youtube!

[@esperthebard]

Thank you!

[@zuggy1231]

Literally your first words in this video were mine. Finally baby finally. Can't wait to see what you pick as number 1.

[@Valandar2]

Superior Inspiration: Reason for a bard to take 1 level of almost any other class for funsies, since there's no reason to take lvl 20 Bard.

[@xanderwyatt8234]

Yeah, of course that's fine since lvl 1 rogue, cleric, and fighter are good options for extra utility and/or martial prowess

[@Archimonde259]

Honestly the second 7th level spell slot is a much greater loss than Superior Inspiration

[@atosm8300]

HELL YEAH

[@esperthebard]

Hell yeah, Celestia yeah, and Feywild yeah!!

[@binolombardi]

Peerless skill can be used on spell checks that ordinarily don’t incorporate proficiency bonuses, and stacks with Jack if all trades. Let’s you become the most reliable user of spells like counterspell dispel magic. Makes lorebard the most reliable user of the telekinesis spell too which is incredibly powerful as it imposes a lot of the effects of the restrained condition, bypasses spell resistance, and also bypasses legendary resistance. Only gargantuan creatures are safe.

[@tahapamuk]

Good point 👍

[@PATHAKkumarANKIT]

Was waiting for soo long for this

[@JazzOfTheStinson]

The bard is every class in D&D

[@The482075]

All Bard party: If I were to write a story about all of the subclasses, this would be it. Eloquence: The Diplomat with a silver tongue. Able to beguile, charm, deceive, inspire and intimidate all in equal measure. Glamour: The Performer of the party. Over the top entertainer who treats life itself as one grand play. Theatrical, flamboyant, excitable and at times melodramatic. They experience every emotion except boredom. Their imagination will transform the mundane into sheer brilliance. Lore: The wizard of the party. Adept with all of the knowledge whilst borrowing spells from other classes. This one is the least charismatic in the party though still above average in terms of wit and charm. They are not the Tactician, but they are the one who informs the party. Because of their extensive Lore, the party can formulate plans. If the party comes up with a bad plan, the Lore Bard will explain why. Logical and methodical, their music leans towards complex classical compositions as opposed to the improvised compositions of the rest of the party. Swords: The daring Swashbuckler adventuring pirate, acrobatic powerhouse and flanking speedster. A dirty fighter with little regard for honour but a heroic individual in their own right. Their lack of a strong moral compass will make them the most flexible member of the group. Valour: A warrior who revels in the heat of combat. Feisty, heroic and charming with a wreckless disregard for their own welfare. Willing to risk everything to save everyone, this honourable Knight is not only the storyteller, they are the main character and leader of the party. Whispers: Assassination, burglary, disguise, espionage, forgery, infiltration, exfiltration, reconnaissance, sabotage, stealth etc. A charming Performer by day and a shadowy Operative by night. Equally Adept at hiding in both the shadows and plain sight, this is the dark and mysterious Rogue whose true nature is always out of reach. In terms of conflict, it would be between. The Swords and Valour since they both occupy the same space. They are the most competent fighters of the group but they are also ideologically opposed. The other party members will simply go with the flow, but these two will duke it out at times leading to Eloquence to be the one talk them out of fighting one another. Glamour is always disappointed when Eloquence meditates between Swords and Valour. Glamour loves a bit of drama and gossip.

[@HiopX]

Now you all know, the bards and their songs. When hours have gone by, I'll close my eyes In a world far away, we may meet again But now hear my song about the dawn of the night Let's sing the bard's song

[@rangerecho]

When could we get the Cleric video(s)? I know no one wants to cover 11 subclasses, but it'll have to come sometime

[@Business_Skeleton]

It'll probably be the finale of the series

[@dickonlord]

Estefano Arraya Guillen and same for the wizard, which he’s already done.

[@svartrbrisingr6141]

I'm hoping for paladin with all the official oaths and hopefully not the like 3 PH oaths

[@rangerecho]

@@svartrbrisingr6141 when there's not that many, he usually tackles them all in one video, much like in this one

[@killertoxin1121]

Love the bard I main a bard in Everquest I also love a cleric nearly as much. I think I just like the support aspect you know just making you group preform better to know that they might not have done it without you.

[@lugoinvicto1656]

Excellent video

[@SuperAmaton]

13:15 I used the same picture for my Bard :D While i haven't had the opportunity to use her, i chose a variant Tiefling with Wings. I just love the Idea of a Bard playing his Instrument, while hovering over the Audience

[@Dyrnwyn]

flap-flap-flapping away, awkwardly twisting back and forth to stay in one spot?

[@SuperAmaton]

@@Dyrnwyn Nah, Piece of Cake just flapping with the Wings, Acrobatics +6 also helps. Not that our GM would roll on something like that, it doesn't matter in the overall story.

[@jeremyleonjonas7657]

I hope we'll get the artificer next xD I just really like the concept of forging your own magic items and weapons. Across fantasy stories (regardless of literature or RPG), I always enjoyed the artifacts that centered the lore and story. So I naturally love the class that allows you to make your own (at least by concept) to write yourself into the settings lore. Its only a matter of time until my party will hear the words... "One ring to rule them all..."

[@WolfHreda]

Excellent. I definitely want to make a Bard now.

[@Rothgarrr]

Aye! I was waiting for this one XD

[@Awoken0]

Peerless Skill works with Counterspell and Dispel Magic. Automatically makes it at least B-tier.

[@Herbalizer28]

yes, Lore Bard should be 1st or 2nd ..I honestly don't buy in much in the Glamour Bard and Lore is definitely better than the Sword one ...College of Sword bards have to always sacrifice potent spells for attacks ..an extra D8 once in a while isn't worth a well placed Hypnotic Pattern, or even Fireball (which the Lore bard can acquire). The Lore Bard, with Cutting Words and Counterspell can decimate all battle plans !

[@chillinon3263]

People also harp on about how good cutting words is, but I wonder if they encounter many things that are immune to charm, especially towards the ends of campaigns. I just don't think the contextual reliability of that scales as well as Mantle of Inspiration or Combat Inspiration (used for AC). Definitely will give that everything else about Lore is pretty stellar though, and I would still probably put it as the strongest bard overall.

[@theuncalledfor]

@@Herbalizer28 Why would Swords Bards have to sacrifice spells for attacks? You attack when you don't have a good spell to use.

[@Herbalizer28]

@@theuncalledfor why would you play a swords bard if you don't build around using the attack action ? All subclass features are tied to the attack action !!

[@theuncalledfor]

@@Herbalizer28 You can play Swords Bard to be more survivable in melee combat, use your flourishes to get out of melee unharmed while still not wasting your turn on Disengage or Dodge. Or you can engage in melee to conserve spell slots when you're on a long adventuring day and expect many combats. Or you can fire off a big concentration spell at the start of combat and then go into melee (though you better have War Caster if you do this, otherwise you're gonna lose concentration real quick). Also makes you more survivable if you get surrounded or otherwise can't escape. You don't _have to_ use your Action to Attack. You _can_ use your Action to Attack. You don't need to justify being a Swords Bard, you can just not use your subclass features if you'd rather sling spells at the enemy. Combat is about using the right tools at the right time to ensure victory, and the Swords Bard adds better melee options to his tool belt as an option.

[@GURGLEGUY12345]

Huh, Paladin got Oath of Conquest in _Xanathar's,_ too... Some pretty sinister subclasses in that book...

[@street1111]

The 1st really good DM built a multi year campaign 14 of us said we would play but when time came only 4 showed up so he got creative allowing us to be 2 classes so the most experienced guy played a psionic paladin then came a bard then a ranger cleric and I had a magic user monk the only character I remember after all those years

[@travis1508]

Esper, great video! Bards are my favorite! but what about the College of Eloquence from the Mythic Odysseys of Theros?

[@RIVERSRPGChannel]

Bards are very versatile and cool too Nice video Good information

[@simondean5227]

Can't wait for the Paladin episode, no other class has such a consistently powerful lineup of subclasses

[@theonlymatthew.l]

*cough* Purple Dragon Knight *cough* 😏

[@simondean5227]

@@theonlymatthew.l lololol

[@ryanhale6339]

The Whisper and Glamour Bard really work for House Phiarlan and House Thurani in Eberron. It makes them a serious threat/power in the world.

[@LuAlphaSC2]

So much yes!

[@willdufifie3750]

Before I watch this video I just want to say. It's about time 😆. Meaning I'm surprised this wasn't your 1st class ranking, BUT THE WAIT IS OVER!!! XD

[@peteraguilar7600]

My recommended 2 fixes to the Bard Class that I let my players use: 1) Countercharm. As brought up in this video, I let Bards make this feature cost a Reaction instead of an Action. 2) Superior Inspiration. I throw away the PHB mechanic and say this ability makes a 20th level Bard unparalleled in Charisma by first giving a +2 bonus to the bard's Charisma score. The bard's maximum Charisma score is now 22. Additionally, whenever the bard as well as any characters would normally roll a die either as part of the bard's Song of Rest class feature or to use your Bardic Inspiration, instead use the highest possible number on that die. I promise these fixes will earn you the undying love of your bards. Countercharm will actually be used in your games. Song of Rest will be appreciated more as every player gets a guaranteed +12 to their hit points. Every character the bard gives a Bardic Inspiration die to gets a guaranteed +12 to the ability check, attack roll, or saving throw that player chooses to use it on. If the player had maxed out their Charisma by Level 19 or earlier, then they will now have the highest Spell Save DC as well as Spell Attack Modifier of all the spellcasting classes. Lastly, the bard's Charisma skills become even more potent by possibly having a +6 modifier. Level 20 characters are suppose to be the heroes of heroes, and these 2 fixes make the Bard a true Idol of the masses.

[@user-vm9xz4kv9z]

Inspiration doesn't work on saving throws though...

[@peteraguilar7600]

If you turn to page 53 of the Players Handbook and look at the 2nd paragraph about Bardic Inspiration, it says: "Once within the next 10 minutes, the creature can roll the die and add the number rolled to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw it makes." So it specifically says it does work on saving throws. @@user-vm9xz4kv9z

[@user-vm9xz4kv9z]

@@peteraguilar7600 pg 53 of the PHB is about the cleric, it doesn't make mention of the bard let alone bardic inspiration

[@peteraguilar7600]

@@user-vm9xz4kv9z As I am typing this reply, I have my Players Handbook open. The section of the Bard class starts on page 51and ends on page 55. My best guess is that you do not have an English version of the Players Handbook and that is what is causing the confusion. Whatever language you have for your Player's Handbook, I urge you to go the Bard section and re-read the rules about Bardic Inspiration as you will see that you are not remembering the Inspiration rules correctly. It specificially says that it does work with saving throws.

[@user-vm9xz4kv9z]

@@peteraguilar7600 i'm using a digital version... It turns out i confused bardic inspiration with Jack of all trades,it's the latter that doesn't work of saving throws

[@masoncox4140]

Finally!! The long awaited Esper the Bard's ranking of Bards!! The final word of Bardotry lmao

[@scullystie4389]

I really like your house rule for light armor... Gonna have to try that in my next game.

[@jodylester9118]

Playing a College of Whispers Bard right now, and really leaning into the spooky factor. I've taken to calling Inspiration "Fear of Failure" and send horrid images of what will happen if they fail through their mind. Also makes the Psychic Blades seem more fitting.

[@gonior1]

hi love the ranking of the subclass. can you please make the next one on monks

[@Matthewcmiel]

loving the Shakespeare!

[@sladevalen2120]

I was originally turned away from playing hard thanks to the stereotypes surrounding it but once I played it myself it's become my second favorite class behind the wizard. My favorite character actually is a bard and she's a young girl who's family was burned alive in their Manor while she was away playing with friends in town and the only thing to survive was a blackened violin. She took it with her and learned to play to earn enough money to scrape by until the party recruited her in and as she leveled up she ended learning alot of the debuff style spells and eventually learned to raise dead and become a little necromancer and thought it was her way of connecting with her dead parents.

[@onemisterfranko]

I like the bard class the flexibility is great and you can fill in just about any gap with how you set them up between the backgrounds, subclasses and even the races you chose with the characters creation, its very strong in that regard, perhaps the strongest of all the classes.

[@volstadgermaine2510]

By the Lady Esper. It makes my heart shine to see love given to these good people. My good friend Eric was a fine Minstrel....... a bit of Barbarian in his blood also, but that made him all the more stalwart of a companion. There are fewer men or women that the tallented Bard I would rather have beside me in a fight, or journey. Hazzha my brother, huzzah.

[@havokmusicinc]

I once played a whispers bard using the basic skeleton statblock in place of a race (with somewhat reallocated stats via point buy) - kitted out as a necromancer through magical secrets. It was a good time.

[@sesimie]

As a 3 year LoreBard player....This has been like music to my ears!! Huzzah!!

[@hemicuda1995]

Can you please do the Ranger's subclasses next, also just wanted to say thank you for all the effort you put in your videos.

[@tituswise4131]

I have been watching your channel for a long time, and have played DnD for a while. I think I have seen just about everything you have done. I would love to be in a campaign with you. I am not a bard man like yourself. My heart is with the warlock class. But I think it would be fun.

[@josiaharaki7310]

For Swords bard, how about using a Magical secret to pick up shadowblade? By feeding it a 2nd level slot, you get 2d8, 4th for 3d8, 6th for 4d8, and 7+ for 5d8.

[@Cannonmaster24]

Can I get a "HELL YEAH"?

[@SuperAmaton]

HELL YEAH!

[@bengrimm321]

HELL YEAH, CANNONMASTER!

[@wbbartlett]

"A bard is a professional story teller, verse-maker, music composer, oral historian and genealogist, employed by a patron to commemorate one or more of the patron's ancestors and to praise the patron's own activities." Oooh, that sounds so exciting. Let's make 1000 different versions of that for our bloated travesty of a game.

[@JulienMaynard]

Really hoped to find the College of Eloquence here as well...

[@ruka9700]

Tasha added some amazing extra spells and options . Grab magic initiate for your swords and Valor options and booming blade all day

[@nathan8219]

Can you do a paladin ranking in the near future?

[@hermionesydneygoldmanphynn498]

this video, and particularly the valor bard part of it, reminded me of my lizard folk sailor bard; Which I’m currently using in a campaign on Amino They have problems with their halfling parents, they’re not the best parents; they raise them more for a weapon Less then raise a normal child.

[@braulioservodedeus]

I feel I N S P I R E D! BTW great video as always.

[@Mike-rb2fm]

Esper, I held off watching this ranking video as I was sure you would personally offend me with an affront to the Glamorous. Alas, I succumbed to curiosity, and watched this video. Although I would like to say I was pleasantly surprised, I always knew no rational man could disregard our majesty. Consider yourself sufficiently tolerable for the time being. Good day to you.

[@nicolaezenoaga9756]

Thank you.

[@AllenFeatherlin]

Playing a Valor Bard for the past 2 years in Storm Kings Thunder. Didn't see a good path as a front line fighter for a secondary healer, caster and buff type char, so I took Variant Human and took Xbow mastery off the bat. Works great for getting in a little damage with a hand crossbow while throwing out spells and heals in battle. Lets him work on his heroic music compositions whilst having a great view of his friends being song-worthy in battle!

[@ANIMEniacReview]

My House Rule answer to my Bards needing to use Somatic Componets while using a sword and board is I allow the Bard to carve the arcane symbols into the air using their blades. They loved the image of pulling a Zorro like move and carving acane runes into the air. My favorite description they have used is thrusting their rapier into the rune to launch a Fireball at a group of enemies.

[@thelordethan3682]

What about the new College of Eloquence? It's in a source book

[@maximilian7858]

in which one?

[@thelordethan3682]

@@maximilian7858 Mythic Odysseys of Theros

[@rictoectol9814]

2 other places I’ve seen say it’s the optimized best bard.

[@karsten69]

College of Eloquence is insanely OP.

[@thelordethan3682]

@@karsten69 did you see the UA or the final version? They changed things a bit

[@MaestroMagnifico21]

My favorite character i have ever played is a human lore bard named Maestro Magnifico bards are such a great class probably one of if not my all time favorite class

[@piece1309]

When I played a valor bard I took one level of fighter to get heavy armor and dueling fighting style. Ya it put me behind in spells and ASIs but at low levels I really enjoyed the extra damage. Edit: I took fighter at first level for the saves as well

[@enderjedi9581]

Actually, you can use a spell focus for somatic components.

[@theuncalledfor]

Apparently, according to some others in the comments (I have to yet to see the passage that allegedly says this), you can only use your focus for somatic components if the spell also has a material component. I find this a highly dubious claim, and even if it does turn out to be true in RAW, I would rule otherwise if I was DM'ing.

[@binolombardi]

All swordbard features except the fighting style work with ranged weapons. Makes it very versatile if focusing on dexterity. It also works very well with a battlemaster multiclass for wonderful martial versatility that can be effective and entirely non magical. Bard6/fighter3 is awesome as you get the majority of those resources back with a short rest.

[@steveharrison76]

Oho... some Bard on Bard stuff... oho yes

[@Lordmewtwo151]

00:01 Unless I'm mistaken, that quote is from Macbeth specifically (the same soliloquy as life being a tale of fury and violence told by an idiot signifying nothing iirc).

[@markoholic_]

One of my characters is a glamour bard that always gets targeted in the face in every encounter. I think its just hilarious being the face of the party and for rp :D

[@VileScarMind]

Bolster just means to support or strengthen - in this case it's the support meaning they are using. It's referring to their abilities, that they can fight with arms and armour and their magic adds an additional aspect or strength.

[@defensivekobra3873]

22:06 at 15th level you can cast glibness to get a minimum roll of 15 on this check

[@1pieveofKH]

I already treat the Valor bard as if they can cast while holding their weapons. Anything less would just feel terrible...

[@vxicepickxv]

College of Lore Bards extra magical secrets don't count as spells known. They're extra spells.

[@esperthebard]

They're extra spells known in additional to the baseline ones you get from the "spell known" column. There wasn't ever any confusion about this.

[@fightingfalcon777]

I could totally see as a Fighting Style for the College of Swords Bard the Superior Technique style from UA

[@dillonschneider9375]

My boy goes mega into detail

[@Spiceodog]

2 alternative capstone features. rallying song, using a use if bardic inspiration, you give that die to everyone in 30 ft of you. magnum opus, once per short rest, your bardic inspiration die turns to a d20.

[@nicolasreinaldet732]

My favorite DnD series.

[@archon536]

One tip for any current or future swords bards: Flourish only requires you to hit with a WEAPON ATTACK, NOT A “MELEE” ATTACK. Daggers can be THROWN (20 ft short range). Do with this what you will.

[@IDrawOthers]

48:31 "What is a Dungeon Master with no one to play in his campaign?" Me :(

[@Dyrnwyn]

Usually there's a shortage of DMs!

[@darkenedblade2585]

Same

[@snforde4603]

Honestly a bard would make an interesting sort of semi-comedic or even sympathetic villain. For example: Jaelric Nycto is a bard who for some time now has been down on his luck with his music not pulling in any money. Worse still is his father who is afflicted with a horrible curse. With his ailing father’s condition getting worse. As such he finds employment under one of the bbeg’s lieutenants. He primarily tries to stay out of combat and generally seeks to avoid casualties, well, unnecessary ones anyway. In lieu of this he charms creatures into fighting his battles for him and makes frequent usage of illusions to aid in his schemes and escapes.

[@razarinothechainerinokripp3684]

I've always felt the purpose of the bard capstone was to highly encourage bards to multiclass to an extent. Which is in it of itself in flavor for the bard as a jack of all trades

[@agilemind6241]

I kind of feel the same goes for the Whisper Bard, it really shines as a multiclass dip. Add it into a rogue and you get a really nice political manipulator build, or with one of the more neutral/evil paladins, or even something like a samurai fighter, or a shadow monk.

[@jaredpuwalski8545]

I feel that valor and swords especially get a lot with starting in paladin for 2 levels for heavy armor, access to the defense fighting style, and divine smite. Besides the capstone, you only lose one asi/feat and one level of Spellcasting slots. You still get access to your last round of magical secrets which I feel is the true capstone of the class.

[@marionforge2769]

My favorite class. Preferably support role.

[@jymbeautuesday]

I have been wondering when we would hear of the musings of Esper the Bard on the Colleges we just got in Tasha's...

[@Kilo6Charlie]

I really feel like the Valour Bard got shortchanged by the Swords Bard, especially since Valour bards are the ones who actually do the Bard thing and buff the party, while the Swords Bard (until that broken level 14 ability at least) hordes all his Inspiration just for himself. Maybe an expanded spell list feature for Valour bards? Maybe even a similar ability to Sword Bards that lets them use their weapon as their Focus... (Though giving Voice as an "instrument" option would be better IMO, especially since Skalds are known for spoken word, and Bards can use their instrument as their focus)

[@conradkorbol]

Valor bard get medium Armor and use their bardic inspiration to add to damage and ac. Which is amazing for buffing the martial. Most people just don’t like playing support and prefer the big number go big style of martial. Sword bard maneuver ability allows you to push an enemy off a cliff and magically teleport to their body. It also allows you to push them so your party doesn’t get opportunity attacks.

[@Hromovlad1]

So I guess this was being made before Mythic Odysseys of Theros came out Also, make a Lore Bard choose Find Familiar, Find Steed, and Find Greater Steed as your Magical Secrets spells And now you have a Beast Master Ranger that does not suck

[@theyonlycomeoutwhenitsquiet]

He’s been letting those subclasses that come from Wildemount and Theros wait for a video on those books. He specifically said so about Wildemount at the back end of his video on fighters, and assuming the same is true of Theros seems a reasonable proposition