Martial Bard - balanced?

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.dnd (More info?)

I was wondering how balanced this bard variant would be:

Martial Bard
- Full BAB progression.
- No spells.

Optionally,
- Good Fort/Reflex saves (instead of Good Reflex/Will saves)

Everything else is the same (including armor and weapon proficiencies)


If it's too weak, here are five options to make it stronger:
- d8 hit dice
- medium armor proficiency
- all three good saves
- Evasion / Improved Evasion as Rogue
- Uncanny Dodge series as Rogue

(the last three seem a little too strong... bumping up against
"would everyone take this class?")


What do y'all think?

Donald

 

[drow]

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.dnd (More info?)

Alien mind control rays made Donald Tsang <tsang@soda.csua.berkeley.edu> write:
> I was wondering how balanced this bard variant would be:
>
> Martial Bard
> - Full BAB progression.

+20 points

> - No spells.

-80 points, net -60

> If it's too weak, here are five options to make it stronger:

its too weak.

> - d8 hit dice

+10 points, net -50

> - medium armor proficiency

+10 points, net -40

> - all three good saves

+10 points, net -30

> - Evasion / Improved Evasion as Rogue

+15 points, net -15

> - Uncanny Dodge series as Rogue

+15 points, net +0

> (the last three seem a little too strong... bumping up against
> "would everyone take this class?")

it might be. its somewhat rogue-like, but oriented more towards
front-line combat. better ac, hp, saves, bab. bardic music, but no
sneak attack or trap skillz. i think i'd leave off both of the
'as rogue' abilities.

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[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.dnd (More info?)

drow wrote:
> Alien mind control rays made Donald Tsang <tsang@soda.csua.berkeley.edu> write:
>
>>I was wondering how balanced this bard variant would be:
>>
>>Martial Bard
>>- Full BAB progression.
>
>
> +20 points
>
>
>>- No spells.
>
>
> -80 points, net -60
>
>

Just out of curiosity, what are those numbers based upon? Is there a
new, 3.5e based, class calculator out there?