I'm branching this off a discussion titled "Storm Sorcerer over Divine Soul?", which included these bits
What I really don't understand is why you would include both Swords and Valor Bard. It is not that Swords Bard is terrible or anything but it is basically the exact same thing again. Bard with armor, extra attack and so on. Why?
I’ll admit that one puzzled me as well. I guess Larian felt they had to include Valor as it’s PHB, but folk seem to prefer Swords so they’ve added that. I don’t really know anything about 5e that I’ve not learned through BG3 so am not sure why. From my reading Swords are probably better fighters as they get a fighting style and can use their inspiration themselves for flourishes, whereas Valor bards boost allies with combat inspiration?
Personally I think I’d have preferred a more distinctive third bard class as well, but that said Swords does sound pretty cool.
And I'm moving to the Suggestions & Feedback forum, because I could summarise my position as follows.
I'm somewhat disappointed to see that Larian's new Bard Subclass is the Swords Bard, as this Subclass is so similar to the existing Valour Bard.
Between the Eloquence Bard, the Glamour Bard, the Whispers Bard, the Creation Bard ... there were so many ways to make a Bard that doesn't sound like a minor variation on the Valour Bard.
Then again, maybe it's good news !
Initially, the Bard' Performance Action gave access to singing one of 3 songs (no difference in mechanical effect, the game just plays 3 different songs). Later, the Deluxe/Collector's Edition doubled down on Performance meaning Singing, by adding songs from DOS2.
But of course, Bard don't have to be singers. They can be artists in so many ways, and their performance may include so many types of art (giving speeches, story-telling, reciting poetry, dancing, acting, miming, doing prestidigitation, etc).
I am dead certain, and nobody can convince me otherwise, that this choice of Subclass is a subtle indication that Larian decided that, in the full release version of the game, we'll be able to use the Performance Action and choose from more than just a list of songs.
After all, which 5E Subclass to better embody a Braavosi Water Dancer than the Swords Bard ?
And who does not remember BG2's Blade, Haer'Dalis, who was an actor ? (Blade was the name of Swords Bards back in 2nd/3rd edition.)
Is that correct, Larian ? Are we getting more Performance Action sub-choices than just singing ?
And if not, well, can you work on this for post-release support/development of the game ?
