D&D (2024) 2024 Player's Handbook reveal: "New Bard"

WanderingMystic said:

The one thing I wish the Valor got more than anything else (and this goes for war cleric and blade warlock) was 1 weapon mastery.

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Kobold Avenger said:

Anyways I considered the idea that a Dance Bard with Evasion might drop area of effect spell on themselves and allies, and hope that Evasion lets them avoid damage from their own spells. Probably not the best idea most of the time.

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humble minion said:

There’s a common saying about the futility of polishing certain objects which seems appropriate here.

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WanderingMystic said:

The big problem with flourishes is that you are not helping your ally. The Valor bard is supposed to be the bard who is fighting on the battlefield inspiring his comrades while the sword bard is just showing off.

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Chaosmancer said:

I'm actually glad the War cleric and Valor Bard DON'T get it. This means the only people with Weapon Mastery are the Fighter, Rogue, Barbarian, Ranger and Paladin (monk getting to focus on the power of unarmed strikes, which act like a Mastery).

Other classes (without the feat) are weapon USERS, martials are weapon MASTERS.

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Staffan said:

I'm not a big fan of the Sword bard's flourishes. I think they miss the point of the bard class in general. Bards are meant to be a support and control class. They screw with the opposition and boost their allies. But the Sword bard is selfish. Their bardic inspiration gets spent on letting themselves make stronger attacks instead of helping their allies.

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Staffan said:

I'm not a big fan of the Sword bard's flourishes. I think they miss the point of the bard class in general. Bards are meant to be a support and control class. They screw with the opposition and boost their allies. But the Sword bard is selfish. Their bardic inspiration gets spent on letting themselves make stronger attacks instead of helping their allies.

That's not to say that Valor bards couldn't use a bit of extra juice. Getting to cast a cantrip as part of an Attack action is pretty neat, but depends a lot on what cantrips they get. The 2014 bard only has two damage-dealing cantrips (thunderclap and vicious mockery), so it would be nice to have some more options there, and preferably before level 10 and Magical Secrets.

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UngeheuerLich said:

I am torn between giving it to them or not.
Maybe a single mastery they only can retrain at level up. Would be significantly less versatile, but could help them fill theor niche better.

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Marandahir said:

Maybe a spot for a feat choice?

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Marandahir said:

Maybe a spot for a feat choice?

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