Talk:Bard/@comment-81.104.204.181-20180307004220/@comment-2001:16B8:5706:E700:E075:5709:A62C:4AA4-20181014035213

>i thought he'd be an all-rounder fighter/caster

The way pure fighter kits work makes all-rounder fighters redundant, since no other class can match the sheer level of strength and physical damage pure fighters can bring to bear, and the Kensai Kit compensates for multi/duals with armor restrictions already. one fighter with grand mastery will still deal more physical damage as 5 bards and if hasted, even more attacks.

Bards do shine as a support class however, give them a quiver of plenty or effect arrows and let them pelt away. Use any item isn't really helpful - yes, you can potentially have a neutral bard wield Carsomyr or Crom Fayr, but both of these items don't really begin to shine without the necessary proficiency, and they can't make up for anything else the missing class would offer. Also, since UAI is a HLA, it's late-game use really gets dubious.

They do shine in partys that have relatively specialised members like specialist mages, cleric combinations and monks/inquisitors, in that case the bard could easily use with wizard spells and songs to fill a role, but in the "standard" figher/cleric/mage-party, he has no real use other than a nice addition if you have the room.