New Class Idea: Bard

[BroadRiver]

So the only class I can really think that isn't in this game is the Bard- A sort of Jack of All Trades type class that focuses on group buffs and Debuffs (Not too many classes have legitimately GOOD debuffs) and a Bard is a classic DnD / Fantasy character that isn't in the game.

Starting Gear - Lute, Short Sword, Camp Fire

2 songs for each song are recovered by a campfire.

Instrument Types - Lute, Harp, Drums, Horn
Each Instrument brings a different additional bonus to the song you are playing

Lute- Used Skills recover 2 seconds faster for each 1 second the song is in effect.
Harp- Attacks and actions are performed 10% faster
Drums - All damage is increased by 3
Horn - Gives a 15 damage Shield The Horn completes its play time of a song 50% faster but has a 50% reduced duration affect. (New Barbarian Perk allows them to use the newly added horns)

Song List- The Bard has 8 songs to choose from, and they can select 3 to bring into the Dungeon. Every song has 3 uses.
Songs take 2-3 seconds to cast, and last longer if the Bard keeps the instrument out, except for the horn.

Jaunty Tune - Increase movement speed of allies by 10% for 3 seconds

Serenade- Heals allies for 30 hp over 4 seconds

Song of Valor - All damage is increased by 10 for 3 seconds

Warrior's Anthem - Reduces all damage taken by 10 for 5 seconds

Quick Beat - Attack and cast speed is increased by 15%

Holy Chorus - Healing received is increased by 20% for 8 seconds

Classic Tune - Skills recover 20% of their cool down over 5 seconds

Haunting Notes - Invisibility for 2 seconds

Perks-

Virtuoso- Song affects are increased by 20%

Master of Strings - Bard can use Bows and Crossbows

Smash Instrument - Bard can Right click with instrument to smash it on an enemy.

Successful hit deals 50-60 damage, breaking the instrument and you must spend 10 seconds to fix it with the Reload button

Catchy Tune - Allies hum your song and produce the same song affect at 30% strength at 20% radius

Serenade - Facing an ally increases the power of a song by 20% for them, if no ally is targeted you gain the 20% additional affect.

Rhythm - When you hit increase the affect of the last played song by 1 second, up to a maximum of 3 seconds.

Singer- You can play songs without an instrument at 50% effectiveness.

Campfire Composer - Increase the healing of a Campfire by 50%. Provide a 1 minute +5 to all stats for any allies who used the campfire. However the Bard is playing music and can be heard by other parties at this time.

Skills-
Vicious Mockery - Reduce the damage of an enemy by 20% for 3 seconds

Power Chord - Strum your instrument violently to deal 20 damage and knock back in a cone in front of you.

Encore - Replay the last played song to increase duration for 50%

Favorite Song - Next Song played does not use a song charge

Silent String - Next song played can't be heard.

Shaking Vibration - Play a quick song that slows in front of you for 20% for 3 seconds.

Charm - Strum your instrument to fire a short ranged magical missile when it hits that causes the enemy to walk towards you lowering their weapon for 1 second.

Tune Instrument- Take 10 seconds to recover some of your songs.



Some things would need some tuning and a song or two could be switched out / changed etc. but a bard would be a very interesting addition and could make for some very interesting group compositions. A drum playing double melee with barb / fighter, or a quiet playing attack speed boosting bard with two rogues and haunt could make for quick ambushes and escapes. Or if you are running with a cleric boosting their healing while playing a more melee focused build to maintain the healing buff with Rhythm.

[UncleIstvan]

Will it have a guitar hero mechanic?

[BroadRiver]

Originally posted by UncleIstvan:

Will it have a guitar hero mechanic?

not sure if serious question but I think having to click things for playing while also dodging swords would be a lil too hard xD

[Kunjunction]

only if i can get a skin for it that turns it into a banjo. so i can go into battle playing the deliverance tune

[Lap]

Your idea remind me this video :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2dCzFZ9qcM
Well, Bard is useless in combat hahaha

[Jabba]

I have Mordhau bard ptsd

[BroadRiver]

Originally posted by Kunjunction:

only if i can get a skin for it that turns it into a banjo. so i can go into battle playing the deliverance tune

I think being able to pick the music you play would be an amazing addition, and the community would definitely provide playable stuff for the dev's to implement, and playing songs back to back could make for interesting orchestrations.

[BroadRiver]

Originally posted by L4ughz:

Your idea remind me this video :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2dCzFZ9qcM
Well, Bard is useless in combat hahaha

I feel like Charm would be huge with a barbarian though. Land charm on fighter in front allows for quick kill so you have to really consider pushing forwards against one.

Increased attack speed with fighters, or increased damage with rogues or wizards + Haunt would make for strong combos, or just go classic heal support dps and pump a barbarian with strong heals / dmg buffs.

[Volto]

the devs already confirmed bard was going to be a class at release I'm pretty sure, with more coming in the future.

[lag]

I'll add that player playing bard needs to sing in voice chat :P

[BroadRiver]

Originally posted by lag:

I'll add that player playing bard needs to sing in voice chat :P

I need a skilled singing stream playing bard 24/7 in my life.

[Proeliator]

I kinda hate the idea of adding more races and classes. The more you add the harder it is to balance. Everything serves a role right now and has it's pros and cons. The more classes you add the more overlap you get between roles. We have 6 good flavors of ice cream right now. Do we really need 10, 15 or 20? There is already way too much overlap between fighter and barbarian but they were from original dungeons and dragons so I guess I'll allow it.

[BroadRiver]

Originally posted by Proeliator:

I kinda hate the idea of adding more races and classes. The more you add the harder it is to balance. Everything serves a role right now and has it's pros and cons. The more classes you add the more overlap you get between roles. We have 6 good flavors of ice cream right now. Do we really need 10, 15 or 20? There is already way too much overlap between fighter and barbarian but they were from original dungeons and dragons so I guess I'll allow it.

I think bard is extremely unique and brings a LOT of interesting group / play mechanics that would also counter a lot of cheesy strategies. Plus smashing someone in the face with a lute would just feel epic xD

[DekuScrub]

Originally posted by Bolenarrow:

Originally posted by UncleIstvan:

Will it have a guitar hero mechanic?

not sure if serious question but I think having to click things for playing while also dodging swords would be a lil too hard xD

Git gud

[BroadRiver]

Originally posted by Mesonjer:

Originally posted by Bolenarrow:

not sure if serious question but I think having to click things for playing while also dodging swords would be a lil too hard xD

Git gud

That would be the ultimate get good but I don't know how you hold mouse click, click movement buttons, and also click buttons for notes... you need a third hand xD

[Brontanius]

They already plan to add bard, it barely didn't make it for the latest playtest and might be in the next one from what they said in their Q&A