Which is better? A cleric, or a bard.

Bards have limited spells, but there bard song makes up for it, if they hog all there spells, they are as strong (some times stronger) as a fighter or barbarian. At the same time they gain spells SLOOOOWLY

Clerics have more spells, and are literally buff machines, but they lack the arcane spells of ghostly Visage or the spell death armor or wounding whispers. The only Dmg reduction spells I know of are stone skin.

So in the long run, which is better, a Bard, or a cleric.

Post what you think and why, single word answers Like "Bard." or "cleric" Don't quench my curiousity.

It's comparing apples to oranges. Don't worry about "which is better." Focus on your character concepts, and what might fit for concepts you come up with. People could start discussing which class is has the mechanical advantage, but there is little point in doing so.

Bards rock!

I was thinking on a mechanics basis, not which is easiar to play. I have received tells saying that clerics are better than bards etc... Anyhow, I have yet to see any items meant for clerics that a bard cannot use. So, Beat that ya war mongering clerics!

I am not very good at powerbuilding, but a cleric is much better solo. If you're not alone, then bards probably have the edge, depending on the situation. Still, nothing too drastic either way; I'd just let my character concept and playing style decide.

From a role-playing standpoint, I prefer bards by far.

Clerics and Bards are actually fairly similar, when you think about it. They can both be either self-buffing tanks of mass slaughter or gropu-buffing support characters that help the rest of the party get out alive. Really, neither of them is 'better' than the other, and both offer huge oppertunities for memorable characters and general awesomeness.

Even if Clerics are probably slightly overpowered at lower levels, high level bards kick some serious ass when they buff themselves up...

Clerics!

You seem to be overlooking something obvious, that being, the power and rage of the Domo-Kun.

They're completely different classes whose only similarities exist in that they use Charisma and have magecentric skills.

It all depends on how well you know game mechanics.

Question I ask the bard: "Can you ID this for me?" Question I ask the cleric: "Can you make me a potion?"

Hee hee!

But seriously-- hack and slash aside-- There has only been one really entertaining bard, and that was Hennerick (I think I got the name right) the Stoutheart hero. Great songs, great dancing, and an all around enjoyable show. Where's all the singing? I know Bern wrote some songs-- never got to see her perform them, though. As for all the other bards I have bumped into, they act like grumpy jugglers. Where's the songs? I want to be entertained! (And no-- sitting in a bar doing perform checks does not count as being entertaining!)

As for clerics-- I have only had one try to convert me to their religion. And I would have really thought about it-- I mean-- really giving it a go-- Cept I was a paladin of Tyr, and they were a cleric of Bhaal. :P

One other Cleric has done a good job-- but I really wish they would stop putting everything they say into quotation marks (you know who I am talking about! Not going to *spoiler* it for ya!). Yes, it makes what they say more prophetic (I guess). But all in all they are doing a fine job.

All the other clerics just seem to be brew factories-- haha. Just like I said about the bards-- where are the sermons? I would go to one, if there was ever a sending-- (hint hint)

Scratch all that-- I am making a BARD and I am having my cleric make some sermons!

And ya-- before you comment-- I know-- I will make a sending and end up in the shrine talking to meself and those two lonely helmites!

^_^

I saw Orison Hallifat take out the craziest scripted quest boss on the server in three hits, being one round. This boss has singlehandedly annihilated large, high-level parties. And the first time I saw Terio fight was equally as impressive. So bards can be mechanically powerful if you know what you're doing.

The best thing about both classes is that they have so many awesome RP avenues to pursue.

You're all wrong.

Oh yeah, Arcaia? Prove it.

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Remarks like 'only one other cleric has done a good job' bother me. Maybe it's because I played a cleric up until recently, but the comment reeks of ignorance. There have been a lot more than two good clerics. What about Granard Rube? He sermonized several times weekly, and played the dogma of Grumbar to the letter. What about Michael Collier who opened the House of Light because he was a cleric of Ilmater?

Others as well. I'd like to believe Gibbon was an excellent cleric of Talona; while he didn't sermonize in public, he frequently preached to the Faithful, and offered cures and aid to citizens who were diseased and willing to pay and give praise Talona. I confess I didn't try to convert a great many people; there were a few in the beginning, but when I realized that was either going to get me killed violently, stoned, or never turn up a single convert (not everybody is very open minded about their character's religion- more concerned with their own plots and goals, and having the character the way they want him to be).

My point is that there have been more than one good cleric, and they don't all have to be preachy sermonizers. While it would be great to see more trying to convert, it'll first require more people trying to be openminded about their characters' religions. Which I don't foresee happening.

The most important part really, I think, is playing the dogma to a T, making the religion appear attractive to those outside your character, and holding an agenda that would do your god(dess) proud. Like trying to destroy Sslal'teesh. Or trying to save the world, end world hunger, slavery, and everything else bad in existence.

(If you want a complete list of everything Gibbon did I'll be happy to tell you, too.)

And bards are lovely too. While there have been significantly fewer, there have still been more than one bard. The issue is that they are greatly difficult to play, and they don't all manage to work up the notoriety that Hennrick managed to.

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And, mechanically speaking, I think a cleric is better in general; especially if you're poor at mechanics. But given the war stories I've heard about bards, I'd say if you know what you're doing, and you're doing it right, a bard can trump the stuffing out of a cleric.

Fuinn tries to convert all the time. I spend about an hour minimum preaching at one person at a time, and by the end of it? I've usually persuaded them that Ibrandul has some good points. But I've never had a single person convert. I'll get them to pay him a little lip service but they've already got a god, thank you very much. The closest I get is very occasionally persuading people to specifically -make- characters who are already in the faith. And even then, they tend to be more bloody *spoilers*.

I've also seen several well RPed bards. I know Morn actually had a file of songs on his computer that he'd specifically made or stolen for Amoth, and regularly put on small performances.

However, both classes are challenging from an OOC perspective - either finding appropriate songs or spending hour after hour fruitlessly repeating your god's dogma (which incidentally really cuts down on questing time - even when I logged on every day I was averaging maybe one quest per login of 4+ hours).

I haven't played a bard yet, as I want to build up a large portfolio first, so I can't compare the mechanics, but a cleric is useful as long as she has time to prepare the right spells. Catch her with no spells and she's screwed, though admittedly less so than a mage.

Depends on what conceapt you want

If you want a warrior who smites those he opposes, cleric, if you want to play a jack-of-all-trades type character, bard.

Mechaniclly, its almost impossible to tell which is better, since so many factors need to be taken into account, stats, feats, skills, equipment, situation.

Admittidly, I might clerics better since it is easier to fit certain conceapts around them, since clerics can worship any god. Bards on the other hand, can't be lawful, so they are limited.

However, both classes are challenging from an OOC perspective - either finding appropriate songs or spending hour after hour fruitlessly repeating your god's dogma

Nero24200

Admittidly, I might clerics better since it is easier to fit certain conceapts around them, since clerics can worship any god. Bards on the other hand, can't be lawful, so they are limited.

I find myself disagreeing, A bard can worship any god, at any time, at any place. My bard regulary visits the Grumbar shrine ((more out of repetance for nearly blowing it up but I can't go into details)) to have himmself cured etc..My bard sometimes agrees with the law and has been called a singing cleric of Torm ((He nearly went beserk at the that but I couldn't exactly attack a lvl 7 druid with the rock bottom Inn full)). At the current Moment I am working out a plot for him to worship Orcus and if you read his journal you would know why, ((cause he is insane but appears sane)). Say for instance, if a couple drow found him and told him to praise Llolth or die, he would praise Llolth and even give 1000 gold donation to her clergy. Say a cleric of Lathander wandered by collecting donations, he would pitch in with 100 gold. Though he gives money to the beggars, refused to donate to the house of light. ((I am still trying to figure out why ><))((...I also forgot my guy's deity, I have him a follower of mystra till I can remember what it is or have the nerve to ask a dm))

Clerics will worship there god to the end of time ((Unless your going to get a deity change, but who knows?)) and will not shake that dogma like a bard can. ...oh yea, UMD is what makes a bard known, *I could* get a cleric lvl for my bard, but that is power building.

Outta curiousity, why do bard's have the medium armor feat?

Bards!

Rogues, defenatly...

>.> wrong topic?

heh, Bard are much stronger, I've seen it, but, sometimes you just *need* a cleric. A bard won't cure your disease, or poisioning, a bard must choose his spells every level while a cleric can rest it up and woop, no level drain anymore!

So you see, you can't actually compare them both..!

I am worried this might spiral off topic, and really, this isn't a very productive conversation!