in many ways a bard is better... have a single thief level will open anything you find before act 3
[Linked Image from gog.com]

also as you don't know the game understand Larian design their games that the player should be the party face for any talking/ skill tests... it is pssible to work around that but much better to just go with it at first

Luke Skywalker: I don't, I don't believe it.
Yoda: That is why you failed.