Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 joboo Oct 26, 2007 12:56:23	I know that in the days of yore the Bard in dark sun was a performing assasain. Eversince the devolpment of the rogue class when 3.x came out it always seemed unneccesary to force the bard into the mold of a non magical, performing, assasain. It always seemed suitable to me to leave out the Bard and replace it with the rogue class (you can still call perfoming assasains bards if it means a great deal) give the rogue a use poison feat and send them on their way. Now, I must admit that I really like what athas.org has done, their remake of the bard was very impressive, so why am I here? I am thinking about the future of DS as it adapts to the new fouth edition system. Keep in mind, much about forth edition is speculation. If talent trees are to be used in this system, new trees can be built without overhauling the whole class. This way the Athasian Bard could be a Rogue with new talent trees. I have an interest in making the Bard as an elemental shaman. I think that these elemental "Bards" would do well, reciting tales of heroes and horrors, wandering the wastes and cities spreading knowledge and learning elemental secrets. They would be inspiring to a tribe and work as a healer, a warrior, a spell slinger, and a man of knowledge. The idea would be to create elemantal talent trees that grant access only to those "Bards" that have a bond to that particular element. The cleric class, I feel should not be elemental at all. Instead this class would represent the "civilized" Templars who are devoted to their Sorcerer Monarchs. The talent trees could vary in specialty, Scholar, Enforcer, or Advisor. Scholar tree could be based primarily on researching spells and increasing general knowledge and studying law. The Enforcer tree would be based around Law enforcement and battle. The Advisor would be based around diplomacy, leadership, law, and judgement. It is just a chicken wing so don't flip out!
#2 ruhl-than_sage Oct 27, 2007 15:39:12	Interesting. I must admit that it is quite possible that a separate bard class will be unecessary in 4th ed. In fact there probably isn't going to be a Bard class in the 4e PHB at all. We just don't know at this point. I like your concept for elemetal clerics, but I don't see the point of trying to use a class that we don't even know is going to exist or not as a template. I think there is plenty of room for variation within clerics too and don't see the point of trying to pidgeon hole them as all "reciting tales of heroes and horrors, wandering the wastes and cities spreading knowledge and learning elemental secrets. They would be inspiring to a tribe and work as a healer, a warrior, a spell slinger, and a man of knowledge."
#3 darthcestual Oct 28, 2007 11:48:25	I'd left the Bard as a performing spy/assassin in my setting and had Monks with elemental abilities, as part of their fighting style, and leaving clerics out altogether. Templars were basically the local flavor of Jedi for whatever city/SK they served.