Thanks so much for watching bros! NEXT UP IS CLERIC, but what other classes would you like to see?! Follow me on Twitch! ► www.twitch.tv/italianspartacus ALL CLASSES OVERVIEW ► ua-cam.com/video/zSakdXTE7d4/v-deo.html Become Part of the Community ► discord.gg/sparty
I will say, on paper it does seem like Lore is the slimmest, and text wise it is, but the things you get for choosing Lore make them amazing. Cutting words is easily the best inspiration use of the 3 sub classes, bonus proficiency goes a long way in terms of being a great skill monkey, and two magical secret spells four levels before the other two means you can round out your spell list to fill in gaps missing in your party composition. It takes the best parts of bard and doubles down on them, if you want the bardiest bard that ever barded a bard, go lore.
I was gonna say. I get where he's coming from about it looking slim but hooooly the Lore features are so strong. The additional Magical Secrets alone shouldn't be overlooked. But you're right, Cutting Words is amazing and the extra proficiencies are also super beneficial. I am only learning about 5e because of BG3 but my very uneducated opinion is that Lore stands out as the best college by far. So far looking like it will end up being my first playthrough option.
@@thicccboislim5623 For sure! I'm going to go with Swords because I think it'll be the most fun magic/melee class, but I think you absolutely cannot go wrong with any of these three. That's probably what I'm most excited about is that aside from a couple of subclasses, pretty much all my favorite ones are here for every class.
its the most bardy subclass. Also helps substantially with support and as a skill monkey. literally no need for a rogue in the party with a lore bard with slight of hand. If your party consists with a warlock, fighter and cleric (like mine will)... its an OP combo because they can also cast short rest which recharges everyones abilities.
The reason why you find a Lore Bard seems weak and a Swords Bard seems strong is probably because you're misplaying a Bard due to not having used it at higher level play. From level 5 onwards a Bard fills one of two battlefield roles. The first is as a support character who puts buffs on allies and debuffs and crowd control (particularly Fear and Hypnotic Pattern) on enemies. The second is as a scout (using Expertise in Stealth) who uses those crowd control spells from the enemy flank. Note that the Lore Bard does both these roles extremely well. A Valor Bard can supplement the first strategy with a Longbow which with 2 attacks can deal significantly more damage than Cutting Words from level 5 onwards. A Valor Bard can't operate effectively as a scout or sniper unless they are wearing lighter armour (Chain Shirt or lighter) or have taken Medium Armour Master sacrificing an Ability Score Increase but when doing so they can attack twice from level 6 onwards which can let you take out more vulnerable enemy targets. A Valor Bard can, and a Swords Bard is encouraged to, go into melee. This is generally a bad idea except as a last resort and is why a Swords Bard is probably the weakest subclass. You don't have the combat abilities as a primary fighter class and won't be as effective as the Bard generally is in a supporting role. A Bard who plans to go into melee is not getting the best out of the class.
Yea sure but don’t forget that this is a role playing game and if you want to be a swashbuckling combat bard who has access to useful spells in top of being a decent fighter, don’t let the fact that it’s not as “good” as the other subclasses deter you from having fun being who you want to be… I think it truly fits the jack of all traits master of none tagline.
@@loukes7758 It is also well worth mentioning that with the level cap of 12 in this game it is actually beneficial for a Bard to take 2 levels of a different class in the late game, and adding 2 levels of Fighter actually addresses the Bard's shortcomings in close combat.
Just a few notes: Expertise *only* doubles proficiency bonus, it doesn't let you pick a new skill to be proficient in. Song of Rest is different in BG3 (at least right now) in that instead of boosting the healing of short rests it straight up gives your team an extra short rest.
Song of Rest in BG3 grants you an additional short rest, which is quite valuable since we're limited to 2 (3 with Song of Rest) between Long rests. This isn't a thing in tabletop because you functionally have no limit on short rests beyond time in a day. So Bards have quite a bit of synergy with Short Rest dependent classes like Warlocks, Fighters, Monks, Moon Druids, and any warlock shenanigan multi-classes. This also includes themselves, since Font of Inspiration makes it so you regain Bardic Inspirations on short rests.
It's rough being a UA-camr picking what games to focus on, with what's happened with games like darktide etc. Just want to say it's exciting to see your going to be on the bg3 train! Hopefully it turns out as good as we all hope it does.
@@italianspartacusI’m in love with this game and I’ve always disliked turn-based top down designs. This has to mean something, but either way this game means so much to myself. I’m glad you’re here providing us fun videos to watch. Thank you so much for your work.
Lore is considered the top tier bard subclass with eloquence in tabletop dnd. Dont underestimate the power of getting magical secrets at level 6 and 10. It is a huge boost
Since BG1 and 5thed PHB when it comes to bard *College of Valor/Skald' will be my go to, probably will be my only human/half orc character too, very viking inspired.
Just thought I'd comment and say great job making these, you really nailed the kind of info I wanted from them. I watched a few others which didn't really mention the skills but just the class fantasy and some that go into builds and stuff. I just wanted these overviews of main ability points and the kinds of skills and abilities to expect from the subclasses. I'll definitely be using your series to plan which characters I'll have.
Sparty you probably recorded a bunch of these all at once, but it might have been easier to drop a video explaining basic D&D character stuff (proficiencies, ability bonuses, skills). I can imagine people not understanding why you could get to lvl 12 but only cast spell level 6 spells for example. Just my two copper though, I'm no UA-camr.
If I was planning on doing one playthrough I would play Bard, because I think they'll have the easiest time navigating conversations. I don't want to be spoiled on all the good outcomes and get the so-so ones the second time I play, so I'm going to choose a less charismatic class first.
U should not start a new game right now If u think it's going to carry over to the full game after release. Devs have said thera are big changes to act 1 and so the save games won't be compatible with the full game.
You are correct that Swords and Valor are fun but Lore is the only viable bard subclass in BG3 if you are optimizing. The bard spell list is mediocre by design. Magical secrets allows you to have Fireball, Counterspell, Spirit Guardians, Pass Without Trace, Hypnotic Pattern, etc in one character. You are using your action casting these powerful things that change the battlefield instead of attacking with mediocre damage compared to the combat focused classes. Totally fine if someone wants to pick Swords or Valor for fun but you totally missed the mark on the power level of Lore.
Bard is a full-caster like sorcs and wizards are, it just has less spell options than wizards do and slightly less than sorcerers do and the spells that are available are mostly a mixture of support and control spells and are less focused on pure damage.
it's not like sorcs or wizards. Bards can be much more martial, it all goes down to the college they pick. They are more like a Cleric or Druid where they cast spells, but again their subclass gives them far more flexibility to be more martial, spellcaster or something in the middle. Nothing in official D&D conpares them to our spellcasters. Even if you go college of lore you still get a D8 HP and light armour profencies, both which is more than sorc or wizard get.
@@Interitus1 Yet they are a full caster that can be played as a full caster just like wizard or sorc. They obviously have a lot of other stuff going on for them and I did mention that their spellbook is mixture of support akin to druid/cleric and cc akin to sorc/wizard. And they can snatch some of wizard spells along the way if you want to play them more as an offensive caster.
combat inspiration is strong as fuck, but cutting words still has the edge since you dont need to precast it on an ally to get good use out of it. if i would only run 1 bard it would surely be lore. still torn between a valour bard and a wizard next to the lore bard. 2 (at least lvl 5) bards with cutting edge and combat inspiration is just something else. i guess it will depend on how larian implements schools of abjuration/divination/enchantement/necromancy wizards. party building in this game will be tons of fun.
At least in early access (and in tabletop) the dueling weapon style works with a shield in your offhand, you just can't use it when dual wielding or using a 2 hander. Bards don't normally get shield proficiency, but it seems like humans and potentially half-elves get it as a racial feature so that could be a good option for college of swords.
Can't wait for tomorrow :D Gonna go with Bard for sure, and actually first time playing bard in DnD/InfinityEngine games. I can't stop to think to multiclass to Thief for that sweet bonus action and sneak attack and extra skills. Does that make sense? Swords 8/Thief 4?
hmm i think bard spells with sorcers meta magic could be really powerfull since with twinned spell you could buff multiple people or increase the duration of a buff spell etc
Very true! I just wanted to help people understand the spirit of the classes upfront. Would a larger disclaimer for future videos be needed you're saying?
Point of clarification - I don't think it's been confirmed that you can fully respec your companions outside of their race. What's been confirmed is that that you can respec your companions' stats. As such, it's likely that you won't be able to change their starting class (subclass is an open question) and this makes sense as Origin characters' storylines are tied to their starting classes.
Fextra confirmed it in his video when he was at the release event! I'm totally open to being corrected in this though brother! It's his video from.... Mmm.. Four days ago I think?
@@italianspartacus Fair enough, though note that in the same video he also mentions he’s not sure if changing your Origin companion’s base class will make it to the final build release. 😊
Focusing on what bardic inspiration gives is a mistake because you only get a limited number of uses. Yeah valor gets to add bardic inspiration dice to weapon damage, but that's just on average 20-ish damage per day even when you use them all.
If the game do really well, maybe. I doubt it though, implementing lvl 8-9 spells will be very difficult, like wish, meteor swarm or storm of vengeance, bec of their details and huge AoE.
@@dharpoon Yea obviously RP heavy or city wide spells could not apply. But DDO does have a level cap of 20 + epic levels. Obviously its not 5th edition but I don't think the difference is too great
My guess is there may be a future expansion that will raise the level cap. The scope of the story so far may not make sense to go higher than level 12.
U going to play (( remnant 2 ))???????????????????? its a bit like hellgate london & dark souls but with guns :) comes out in like 5 ish days i think its going to be good & u get to split class. :) bard 4 life😎
I'm confused... If Bard can't inspire himself but is also intended to be the out of combat master then what's the point? I would expect my Bard to be the one who is making checks against discovering doors and such but he can't help himself??
Thanks so much for watching bros! NEXT UP IS CLERIC, but what other classes would you like to see?!
Follow me on Twitch! ► www.twitch.tv/italianspartacus
ALL CLASSES OVERVIEW ► ua-cam.com/video/zSakdXTE7d4/v-deo.html
Become Part of the Community ► discord.gg/sparty
I will say, on paper it does seem like Lore is the slimmest, and text wise it is, but the things you get for choosing Lore make them amazing. Cutting words is easily the best inspiration use of the 3 sub classes, bonus proficiency goes a long way in terms of being a great skill monkey, and two magical secret spells four levels before the other two means you can round out your spell list to fill in gaps missing in your party composition. It takes the best parts of bard and doubles down on them, if you want the bardiest bard that ever barded a bard, go lore.
I was gonna say. I get where he's coming from about it looking slim but hooooly the Lore features are so strong. The additional Magical Secrets alone shouldn't be overlooked. But you're right, Cutting Words is amazing and the extra proficiencies are also super beneficial. I am only learning about 5e because of BG3 but my very uneducated opinion is that Lore stands out as the best college by far. So far looking like it will end up being my first playthrough option.
@@thicccboislim5623 For sure! I'm going to go with Swords because I think it'll be the most fun magic/melee class, but I think you absolutely cannot go wrong with any of these three. That's probably what I'm most excited about is that aside from a couple of subclasses, pretty much all my favorite ones are here for every class.
its the most bardy subclass. Also helps substantially with support and as a skill monkey. literally no need for a rogue in the party with a lore bard with slight of hand. If your party consists with a warlock, fighter and cleric (like mine will)... its an OP combo because they can also cast short rest which recharges everyones abilities.
The reason why you find a Lore Bard seems weak and a Swords Bard seems strong is probably because you're misplaying a Bard due to not having used it at higher level play. From level 5 onwards a Bard fills one of two battlefield roles. The first is as a support character who puts buffs on allies and debuffs and crowd control (particularly Fear and Hypnotic Pattern) on enemies. The second is as a scout (using Expertise in Stealth) who uses those crowd control spells from the enemy flank. Note that the Lore Bard does both these roles extremely well.
A Valor Bard can supplement the first strategy with a Longbow which with 2 attacks can deal significantly more damage than Cutting Words from level 5 onwards. A Valor Bard can't operate effectively as a scout or sniper unless they are wearing lighter armour (Chain Shirt or lighter) or have taken Medium Armour Master sacrificing an Ability Score Increase but when doing so they can attack twice from level 6 onwards which can let you take out more vulnerable enemy targets.
A Valor Bard can, and a Swords Bard is encouraged to, go into melee. This is generally a bad idea except as a last resort and is why a Swords Bard is probably the weakest subclass. You don't have the combat abilities as a primary fighter class and won't be as effective as the Bard generally is in a supporting role. A Bard who plans to go into melee is not getting the best out of the class.
Yea sure but don’t forget that this is a role playing game and if you want to be a swashbuckling combat bard who has access to useful spells in top of being a decent fighter, don’t let the fact that it’s not as “good” as the other subclasses deter you from having fun being who you want to be… I think it truly fits the jack of all traits master of none tagline.
@@loukes7758 It is also well worth mentioning that with the level cap of 12 in this game it is actually beneficial for a Bard to take 2 levels of a different class in the late game, and adding 2 levels of Fighter actually addresses the Bard's shortcomings in close combat.
Just a few notes:
Expertise *only* doubles proficiency bonus, it doesn't let you pick a new skill to be proficient in.
Song of Rest is different in BG3 (at least right now) in that instead of boosting the healing of short rests it straight up gives your team an extra short rest.
Song of Rest in BG3 grants you an additional short rest, which is quite valuable since we're limited to 2 (3 with Song of Rest) between Long rests. This isn't a thing in tabletop because you functionally have no limit on short rests beyond time in a day. So Bards have quite a bit of synergy with Short Rest dependent classes like Warlocks, Fighters, Monks, Moon Druids, and any warlock shenanigan multi-classes. This also includes themselves, since Font of Inspiration makes it so you regain Bardic Inspirations on short rests.
Awesome thanks dude!! I wasn't sure how it translated! This is huge
It's rough being a UA-camr picking what games to focus on, with what's happened with games like darktide etc. Just want to say it's exciting to see your going to be on the bg3 train! Hopefully it turns out as good as we all hope it does.
Bro their is no doubt in my mind. BG3 is going to be the best RPG ever made. I am willing to cut off my arm if it's not.
Thanks so much man I've been stoked on this since I heard of its announcement EONS ago hahah I grew up on BG2 :)
@@italianspartacusI’m in love with this game and I’ve always disliked turn-based top down designs. This has to mean something, but either way this game means so much to myself. I’m glad you’re here providing us fun videos to watch. Thank you so much for your work.
Lol I was wondering why this UA-cam channel looked familiar. Poor Darktide UA-camrs haha
Lore is considered the top tier bard subclass with eloquence in tabletop dnd. Dont underestimate the power of getting magical secrets at level 6 and 10. It is a huge boost
only note, cutting words is actually kinda great, to the point where it makes it almost worth it to take lore as your college
So glad Diablo 4 killed itself so I don’t have to feel like I’m missing out on s1 playing this
“All the spells the wizard can cast, the bard can too but he bard cannot cast all of the spells a wizard can.” 😵💫
IS THAT WHAT I SAID!? NOOO! Other way around. Bard can cast wizard spells but the wizard can cast all Bard spells and then some
WELLLLLL shit.. Sorry guys, definitely mislead you there :/
Lol my brain is on fire from reading this xD
Since BG1 and 5thed PHB when it comes to bard *College of Valor/Skald' will be my go to, probably will be my only human/half orc character too, very viking inspired.
Just thought I'd comment and say great job making these, you really nailed the kind of info I wanted from them. I watched a few others which didn't really mention the skills but just the class fantasy and some that go into builds and stuff. I just wanted these overviews of main ability points and the kinds of skills and abilities to expect from the subclasses. I'll definitely be using your series to plan which characters I'll have.
Sparty you probably recorded a bunch of these all at once, but it might have been easier to drop a video explaining basic D&D character stuff (proficiencies, ability bonuses, skills). I can imagine people not understanding why you could get to lvl 12 but only cast spell level 6 spells for example. Just my two copper though, I'm no UA-camr.
I actually made that video and I'll put it up next :) I just made two of these at once
@@italianspartacus Awesome! Good stuff bud.
It's out!
@@italianspartacus 🔥
11:24 I'm pretty sure they changed Song of Rest in the game. It's basically an extra short rest now.
This is the third Bard Overview video I've seen uploaded today :D
Christ really?? Welp cleric is next :)
also ive heard that at lvl 10 you get to choose any a spell from any spell list to add to your bard but that might be just for the lore subclass do
I been messing around with a bard in early access and ITS SO FUN. I'm not now so certain that I want to start with a druid now
If I was planning on doing one playthrough I would play Bard, because I think they'll have the easiest time navigating conversations. I don't want to be spoiled on all the good outcomes and get the so-so ones the second time I play, so I'm going to choose a less charismatic class first.
That's a good idea
Scanlen build here we go :-)
U should not start a new game right now If u think it's going to carry over to the full game after release. Devs have said thera are big changes to act 1 and so the save games won't be compatible with the full game.
Can't wait to watch. Tried other class overviews and just wasn't the quality of these. My go to!
You are correct that Swords and Valor are fun but Lore is the only viable bard subclass in BG3 if you are optimizing. The bard spell list is mediocre by design. Magical secrets allows you to have Fireball, Counterspell, Spirit Guardians, Pass Without Trace, Hypnotic Pattern, etc in one character. You are using your action casting these powerful things that change the battlefield instead of attacking with mediocre damage compared to the combat focused classes. Totally fine if someone wants to pick Swords or Valor for fun but you totally missed the mark on the power level of Lore.
Man, the persuasion skill of the bard got me out of alot of unnecessary fights easily. I only recall re-rolling once.
These videos are super helpful. Thanks.
I can only imagine playing regular D&D alongside Sparty.
Mwhahaha come watch the co op streams 😈
Bard is a full-caster like sorcs and wizards are, it just has less spell options than wizards do and slightly less than sorcerers do and the spells that are available are mostly a mixture of support and control spells and are less focused on pure damage.
it's not like sorcs or wizards. Bards can be much more martial, it all goes down to the college they pick. They are more like a Cleric or Druid where they cast spells, but again their subclass gives them far more flexibility to be more martial, spellcaster or something in the middle. Nothing in official D&D conpares them to our spellcasters. Even if you go college of lore you still get a D8 HP and light armour profencies, both which is more than sorc or wizard get.
@@Interitus1 Yet they are a full caster that can be played as a full caster just like wizard or sorc. They obviously have a lot of other stuff going on for them and I did mention that their spellbook is mixture of support akin to druid/cleric and cc akin to sorc/wizard. And they can snatch some of wizard spells along the way if you want to play them more as an offensive caster.
So... you're telling me I cannot be proficient in banging the drums then banging their heads with my fists?
damn collage of swords deffintly is the most versatile i like that
combat inspiration is strong as fuck, but cutting words still has the edge since you dont need to precast it on an ally to get good use out of it. if i would only run 1 bard it would surely be lore. still torn between a valour bard and a wizard next to the lore bard. 2 (at least lvl 5) bards with cutting edge and combat inspiration is just something else. i guess it will depend on how larian implements schools of abjuration/divination/enchantement/necromancy wizards. party building in this game will be tons of fun.
At least in early access (and in tabletop) the dueling weapon style works with a shield in your offhand, you just can't use it when dual wielding or using a 2 hander. Bards don't normally get shield proficiency, but it seems like humans and potentially half-elves get it as a racial feature so that could be a good option for college of swords.
as i understand "duel" fighst style works also with one hand weapon and shield.
Urghhhh I want to watch these videos but at the same time I want to go in as blind as I can when the game fully comes out.... The struggle is real..
Can't wait for tomorrow :D Gonna go with Bard for sure, and actually first time playing bard in DnD/InfinityEngine games.
I can't stop to think to multiclass to Thief for that sweet bonus action and sneak attack and extra skills. Does that make sense?
Swords 8/Thief 4?
hmm i think bard spells with sorcers meta magic could be really powerfull since with twinned spell you could buff multiple people or increase the duration of a buff spell etc
This game has claimed me as it's own
You've made me actually want to play as a bard! Lol Cheers man!
word of caution here: bg3 is only following the PH very loosely, so better wait for the release to see exactly how it works in their system
Very true! I just wanted to help people understand the spirit of the classes upfront. Would a larger disclaimer for future videos be needed you're saying?
Point of clarification - I don't think it's been confirmed that you can fully respec your companions outside of their race. What's been confirmed is that that you can respec your companions' stats. As such, it's likely that you won't be able to change their starting class (subclass is an open question) and this makes sense as Origin characters' storylines are tied to their starting classes.
Fextra confirmed it in his video when he was at the release event! I'm totally open to being corrected in this though brother! It's his video from.... Mmm.. Four days ago I think?
@@italianspartacus Fair enough, though note that in the same video he also mentions he’s not sure if changing your Origin companion’s base class will make it to the final build release. 😊
Great shout my dude!! :) i totally missed that!
I will probably go bard or rogue first playthrough but plan on playing every class!@
My background is ex basketball player turned bard. James Barden
“All the spells that a wizard can cast, a bard can too…but a bard can’t cast all the spells that a wizard can”
Bro what?
HAHAHAHA OOPS. All the spells a Bard can cast, a wizard can as well, but a Bard can't cast all the spells a wizard can ;)
Hi, can you do a breakdown on paladin next? I think a lot of people are gonna play the dark urge paladin on launch, due to the oath dynamic
Where my strength based Valor bards at?
Dual wielding dragonborn sword bard lady, got it
Thanks for the video
I'm waiting for Druid.
Focusing on what bardic inspiration gives is a mistake because you only get a limited number of uses. Yeah valor gets to add bardic inspiration dice to weapon damage, but that's just on average 20-ish damage per day even when you use them all.
Too bad Glamour isn’t included
Hopefully they release an expansion with lvl 20 cap eventually
If the game do really well, maybe. I doubt it though, implementing lvl 8-9 spells will be very difficult, like wish, meteor swarm or storm of vengeance, bec of their details and huge AoE.
@@dharpoon Yea obviously RP heavy or city wide spells could not apply. But DDO does have a level cap of 20 + epic levels. Obviously its not 5th edition but I don't think the difference is too great
The most i can see them raising it to in this game is 14, going all the way up to 20 seems more like a sequel thing
They said they are gonna take a well deserved break after the release and then move on to the next divinity
Will there be more songs for the bard? With the 3 songs u start off with it gets kinda boring...
Level cap 12 is kinda underwhelming for me, i think 14-15 would be the best, not as high up as 20 but more than 12...
My guess is there may be a future expansion that will raise the level cap. The scope of the story so far may not make sense to go higher than level 12.
U going to play (( remnant 2 ))???????????????????? its a bit like hellgate london & dark souls but with guns :) comes out in like 5 ish days i think its going to be good & u get to split class. :) bard 4 life😎
So can I cast a spell while holding a two hand weapon?
Bard: the mushy middle-est of the mushy middle character classes
Groovy.
can you multiclass origin companions?
Where's that chart at? 👀
so Spoony...
Reupload?
Nope, this one is Bard :) ranger was yesterday
I'm confused... If Bard can't inspire himself but is also intended to be the out of combat master then what's the point? I would expect my Bard to be the one who is making checks against discovering doors and such but he can't help himself??