I’m totally convinced that the Bard-like classes in an MMO, that base attacks and magic around playing music, are the middle child of MMO class-dom. Sometimes completely ignored in the midst of the traditional “trinity” of healer-dps-tank classes or otherwise of low standing for their odd, non-traditional role, Bards have never probably received the love that they so richly deserved. How do I know this? History is one teacher. When I ask people, for example, who they feel their favorite character from the Final Fantasy series is, people would be hard pressed to say “Edward”, the famous harpist who used singing skills and flashy music to help defeat enemies. Nobody talks about Edward unless it’s in the context of a badly translated quote for which he’s being made fun of.
Bards in general may have been doomed in MMOs to live a stereotypical connotation of dressing in clothing way too flamboyant. If not that, they are alternatively a Monty-Pythonesque annoyance to other players. After all, Bards have traditionally played a sort of odd hybrid support role, providing mild healing and a secondary support while occasionally doing damage. This, combined by the fact that primary weaponry consists of a lute, a song, and a distinct lack of a tour bus makes the Bard a seemingly silly role to play.
But Bards are seeing a bit of a resurgence, most recently in games such as RIFT and LOTRO, where the musically inclined can not only serve a helpful support role but one that is essential. Healing is a bit better, the options for damage are greater, and the appeal of the class as one that isn’t expected and a potential refreshing change for people like me who tire of the “green bars go up” support role and want to try something different.
That’s not to say that playing Bard is not a spam button class either. Like their precursors from EQ and DAoC, Bards today are a study in why gamers can get carpal tunnel. Keeping songs up that buff the party and provide a little more punch to a raid or group means being able to continuously refresh them, a sequential process called “twisting” in MMO terms. I forget where the term “twisting” came from, but considering as a Bard class I juggle as many as 5 things at once, I can see how I could literally twist myself into not being able to type for a couple weeks. And that’s just talking about one element of a class that can potentially heal and do damage, as well.
All the recent hubbub about Bard classes in recent MMOs gives me hope that the class itself will not be ignored for future game releases. I personally like the Bard, stereotypical feathered cap and all, for a change from my normal protective roles, but more than anything, being a Bard for PvP is great. Not for the damage, and not really even for the support in groups – but mostly because dying to anything that uses a lute as a weapon must seem to be particularly embarrassing. So bring on the opponents – because unlike my singing and playing ability in real life, I’m sure to belt out a tune that will knock your socks off.
