History Main / QuirkyBard

* In ''WebVideo/OneForAll'', the Bard is the worst fighter in the party, and the others make fun of him for being useless. However, the others: a Fighter built exclusively for combat and a Sorcerer who only knows fire spells; are massively [[CripplingOverspecialization overspecialised]] and the Bard is the only one who can do anything requiring stealth, deception, etc. As such, he is very useful whenever they run into a problem the others can't just kill.

* In ''1 for All'', the Bard is the worst fighter in the party, and the others make fun of him for being useless. However, the others: a Fighter built exclusively for combat and a Sorcerer who only knows fire spells; are massively [[CripplingOverspecialization overspecialised]] and the Bard is the only one who can do anything requiring stealth, deception, etc. As such, he is very useful whenever they run into a problem the others can't just kill.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' has Blue Mage, a Job that starts with only weak water spell, but through their unique progression and spell-learning system can grow powerful enough to solo entire dungeons and have access to status effects and instakills that no other Job has or ever will have. This powerful gimmick comes at a big price, however: Blue Mages are considered officially as a 'Limited Job': they cannot reach the same level cap as normal Jobs, and thus are disallowed from any current expansion content, and are completely unable to queue into normal content of any kind, meaning if they want to do any raids or dungeons they have to create a pre-made party or attempt to solo it. For this reason, most players consider levelling and using Blue Mage more of a side activity or minigame than a 'true' Job.

* Karyl[=/=]Johnny Sheeden of ''VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny'' is one of, if not the only bard in the entire VideoGame/TalesSeries thus far, exclusively using a lute in battle and singing songs with various effects to help the party out, although one scene in story unexpectedly proves that he happens to be the best swordsman in his home nation of Aquaveil (and beneath his lively personality hides some emotional issues bottled up as well). He joins you sporadically throughout the game and only permanently joins upon Hugo Gilchrist's defeat. Unlike most examples though, he eventually could become pretty damn powerful when used and powered up correctly, his sonic-based artes are a common weakness for endgame enemies, and his Revolving Rondo arte, which he learns last and is also sonic-based, can endlessly juggle and combo even the likes of BonusBoss [[VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny2 Barbatos Goetia]] to death. It got to the point where the final boss would actually immediately use a [[LimitBreak Mystic Arte]] to counter Revolving Rondo itself. Additionally, one of Karyl's mystic artes summons [[AnachronismStew modern day-style music amps to blast his victim to shreds with.]]

"Spoony Bard" used to redirect here. If you're looking for the Internet personality going by that name, see Creator/NoahAntwiler. If you're looking for actual bards, see WanderingMinstrel and TheBard. If you're looking for '''the''' Bard, see Creator/RobertBurns if you're UsefulNotes/{{Scot|land}}tish, or Creator/WilliamShakespeare throughout the Anglosphere in general.

** As far as types go, for a while, the Grass and Poison types shared this niche. Neither type has many Pokémon designed to score huge amounts of direct damage the way types like Fighting and Normal would, nor do they have a lot of moves for such a purpose. Instead, the Grass-type is more designed to inflict a variety of status effects, and the Poison-type is meant to erode away the opponents' HP, at the expense of the Grass-type having [[KryptoniteIsEverywhere a lot of types that can deal super-effective damage against it]] and the Poison-type not having many options to deal super-effective damage itself. This was undermined by how Grass Pokémon, being based on plants, tend to have low Speed and would often get knocked out by said super-effective attacks before they can do much, as well as the inability to stack most conditions; and Pokémon battling progressing too quickly for the Poison Pokémon to effectively use their strategy. [[note]]One particularly damning drawback being the fact that [[ExtraOreDinary Steel-types]], already one of the most useful defensive types as it is, being outright immune to Poison-type attacks[[/note]] The Grass-type situation has been slowly getting remedied with each generation, however, with fast Pokémon like Shaymin-S, pairing it with types that negate its super-effective weaknesses like with Ferrothorn,[[note]]except for Fire damage, which is super-effective against Grass ''and'' Steel, making Fire damage [[UpToEleven quadrupled]] against it[[/note]] and increased accuracy for status moves, most notably Spore, a guaranteed Sleep move. The Poison-type, on the other hand, climbed out of the pit all at once in [[VideoGame/PokemonXAndY Generation 6]] when another type weak to Poison attacks was introduced.

*** Plusle and Minun were used to highlight the new Double Battles. They have an ability that increases their special attack when they battle together... but their movepools and stats suck, so no sane man would ever use them both in one team. In short, they are a bit less useless in double battles. A bit.

** As far as types go, for a while, the Grass and Poison types shared this niche. Neither type has many Pokémon designed to score huge amounts of direct damage the way types like Fighting and Normal would, nor do they have a lot of moves for such a purpose. Instead, the Grass-type is more designed to inflict a variety of status effects, and the Poison-type is meant to erode away the opponents' HP, at the expense of the Grass-type having [[KryptoniteIsEverywhere a lot of types that can deal super-effective damage against it]] and the Poison-type not having many options to deal super-effective damage itself. This was undermined by how Grass Pokémon, being based on plants, tend to have low Speed and would often get knocked out by said super-effective attacks before they can do much, as well as the inability to stack most conditions; and Pokémon battling progressing too quickly for the Poison Pokémon to effectively use their strategy. [[note]]One particularly damning drawback being the fact that [[ExtraOreDinary Steel-types]], already one of the most useful defensive types as it is, being outright immune to Poison-type attacks[[/note]] The Grass-type situation has been slowly getting remedied with each generation, however, with fast Pokémon like Shaymin-S, pairing it with types that negate its super-effective weaknesses like with Ferrothorn[[note]]except for Fire damage, which is super-effective against Grass *and* Steel, making Fire damage [[UpToEleven quadrupled]] against it[[/note]], and increased accuracy for status moves, most notably Spore, a guaranteed Sleep move. The Poison-type, on the other hand, climbed out of the pit all at once in [[VideoGame/PokemonXAndY Generation 6]] when another type weak to Poison attacks was introduced.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'' has the Songstress dressphere (class), which, despite being plot-important, is almost completely useless. There ''are'' some redeeming features to the Songstress, such as the MP Mambo (which causes all spells to have 0 MP cost) and Magical Masque (which causes all magical attacks to your party to be 0). Though, both dances can only be gotten late in the game, and neither one can come even close to touching the [[GameBreaker Cat Nip.]]

** Prince Edward Chris von Muir from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'' is [[JokeCharacter singularly useless]], employing a ''[[MusicalAssassin harp]]'' as a weapon and possessing the special ability of [[MusicalAssassin "singing" at enemies]] -- a skill that's supposed to inflict [[StandardStatusEffects status ailments]] but [[UselessUsefulSpell which frequently does nothing at all]]. Edward's other special ability, unsurprisingly, is to run away and hide for a turn. As Game Informer so aptly summarized, "His special command is Hide, which allows him to run away and leave a twelve year old girl to take his lumps for him. Classy, Edward." In "hard-type" he's ''slightly'' more useful because he can also spread potions amongst the whole party. Slightly.

*** The Dancer class from the same game is a straighter example, as its signature ability is completely random, much like the aforementioned Geomancer.[[note]] The Geomancer class returns for FFV, but the Gaia command [[BalanceBuff was reworked to be much more consistently powerful,]] making it very useful against {{Mooks}}. In the case of both Gaia and Dance, both the attack used and the target are randomized.[[/note]] It has a 1/4 chance to do massive damage to a single enemy, but its other three effects([[StandardStatusEffects Charming]] the enemy, absorbing HP, and absorbing MP) aren't as useful.

** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'' the Bard is an example of the Gamebreaker side, it is so popular (due to its completely free buffs) that most people say that you can get offers for LevelGrinding parties without raising your invite flag (to signify that you are looking for a party); this gets to the point to which some people have to go into anonymous mode (which hides what job and level your character is) to avoid getting invites. Though this has happened with other jobs, bards are pretty much the only one that has always been like this. [[SummonMagic Summoners]], traditionally the most powerful job in ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games, fits this trope on the other side due to being able to do useful things less frequently than any other job.

** In 5th Edition, Bards received a frankly ''terrifying'' increase in power compared to previous editions, most notably the ability to cast spells up to 9th level, and ''learn spells from other classes'' (including spells exclusive to Paladins and Rangers, which are enormously powerful for their level). This is in addition to their wide variety of Bardic Inspiration powers which can affect themselves, their allies and enemies: if there's a number attached to it, chances are that the 5e Bard can expend a use of Bardic Inspiration to increase or decrease it. The Lore Bard in particular is considered the best build in the entire game.

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* Elan from ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' is as {{Cloudcuckoolander}} as they come. His bard songs are pretty much useless, his motivational speeches have a tendency to horribly backfire, and the only weapons he can use can be [[BreakableWeapons Sundered by someone cursing too loud.]] However, his real talent is a result of his bardic training: he's as GenreSavvy as they come, and sees damn near everything coming. Whenever he works close enough with the smart leader Roy, he exploits it too. And that training perfectly synergizes with the Dashing Swordsman PrestigeClass he literally [[TookALevelInBadass took a level in]] -- which turns entertaining quips and drama into badassery. His [[TookALevelInBadass leveling up]] hasn't drowned out the endearing aspects of his character: optimism, ''extraordinary'' loyalty to his friends, and a certain bumbling charm that makes him what he is. [[CharacterDevelopment Elan's progression]] from a simple Bard to Dashing Swordsman isn't just about getting more/useful class powers, but him developing the chops to be a genuine hero. As part of this growth he also is slowly shown to be [[HowDoIShootWeb learning how to properly use his regular bardic spells]]. It's also worth nothing that Elan is the only member of the party who has a [[MinMaxing smart class build]]. Everyone else in the party made some of the worst possible character class choices.

** Gamzee subverts this. Despite being a [[TheStoner Stoner]] LoveFreak and having the title of Bard of... Something (exactly what it is, he forgot), he takes down the [[FinalBoss Black King]] of the Trolls' session with ''[[BewareTheSillyOnes frightening]]'' efficiency and brutality. Subverted even more when we find out that he's actually the Bard of [[spoiler: ''[[AxCrazy Rage.]]'']]

Ah, the much-maligned bard class... For some reason, when game makers want more {{splat}}s, bards are the way that ''everyone'' tries to make their game "different." Bards provide an entirely new role that falls outside of those standard four roles of [[Main/FighterMageThief Fighter, Wizard, Rogue]] and [[Main/WhiteMage Priest]], which lets players who want to try something different have a way to support the party in a way that is (questionably) new and (possibly) unique.

** In 3rd edition, the bard gained a significant power boost. Now armed with a completely unique set of bardic spells, it became a [[JackOfAllStats jack of all trades]], master of a few, being able to take up a few roles to extremely high power (adding huge bonuses like 10d6 damage per hit to become a very strong support, or dual wielding rapiers and then going Snowflake Wardance to be a melee monster, or a good caster with powerful battlefield control and debuff spells). Plus, at the end of the day, Bards were still spellcasters in the edition that codified LinearWarriorsQuadraticWizards, so while they'd never rival an equally well played wizard, even with only the core rulebook, they can still prove far more potent than more mundane classes, it just takes a lot more effort and understanding of the game to achieve it. A 3.X Bard has been described as "the ideal [[SixthRanger sixth party member]]," because once you have your Fighter, Rogue, Wizard, Cleric, and literally anything else, a Bard won't bring anything unique to the table. . . but ''will'' make all those characters more effective than they would be without a Bard in the party.

** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIV'' had Torneko. Once you got him in Chapter 5, he started goofing off just like the Gadabouts in III. He's something of a subversion, though, because while he's an underwhelming fighter, he isn't useless, and unlike the Gadabouts of III, his goofing off will almost always result in something useful. He's still more useful for what he can do outside your party rather than in, though.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'' zigzags this trope with the recurring 'Dancer' class and the two bards [[VideoGame/FireEmblemElibe Elphin and Nils]]. True to trope, none of these units can fight well (if at all), they usually join around the midpoint of the story, have terrible stats all-around, and are often underleveled and killed easily by enemies. In spite of this, it is widely accepted that [[GameBreaker their ability to give other units an extra turn]] is the solely why [[TheLoad they are not immediately benched upon recruitment]]; their unique ability is just ''that'' good.
** Also completely averted with [[VideoGame/FireEmblemJugdral Lewyn and Homer]] as they are only bards in-story; mechanically, the class itself is essentially a wind mage. They also happen to be [[GameBreaker Game Breakers]] once they promote, ''especially'' Lewyn.

"Spoony Bard" redirects here. If you're looking for the Internet personality going by that name, see Creator/NoahAntwiler. If you're looking for actual bards, see WanderingMinstrel and TheBard. If you're looking for '''the''' Bard, see Creator/RobertBurns if you're UsefulNotes/{{Scot|land}}tish, or Creator/WilliamShakespeare throughout the Anglosphere in general.

* TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons has the Bard base class, of which mainly is a versatile jack of all trades, often played as a support class. Its precise abilities and effectiveness have varied a lot over each editions, although the earlier edition version are usually seen as underpowered or even outright useless, due to a perception that their attempt to be [[JackOfAllTrades decent at multiple roles]] instead ends up making them [[[[MasterOfNone barely effective in any of them]].

** In 3rd edition, the bard gained a significant power boost. Now armed with a completely unique set of bardic spells, it became a [[JackOfAllStats jack of all trades]], master of a few, being able to take up a few roles to extremely high power (adding huge bonuses like 10d6 damage per hit to become a very strong support, or dual wielding rapiers and then going Snowflake Wardance to be a melee monster, or a good caster with powerful battlefield control and debuff spells). Plus, at the end of the day, Bards were still spellcasters in the edition that codified LinearWarriorsQuadraticWizards, so while they'd never rival an equally well played wizard, even with only the core rulebook, they can still prove far more potent than more mundane classes, it just takes a lot more effort and understanding of the game to achieve it. A 3.X Bard has been described as "the ideal [[SixthRanger sixth party member]], because once you have your Fighter, Rogue, Wizard, Cleric, and literally anything else, a Bard won't bring anything unique to the table. . . but ''will'' make all those characters more effective than they would be without a Bard in the party.

** In 3rd edition, the bard gained a significant power boost. Now armed with a completely unique set of bardic spells, it became a [[JackOfAllStats jack of all trades]], master of a few, being able to take up a few roles to extremely high power (adding huge bonuses like 10d6 damage per hit to become a very strong support, or dual wielding rapiers and then going Snowflake Wardance to be a melee monster, or a good caster with powerful battlefield control and debuff spells). Plus, at the end of the day, Bards were still spellcasters in the edition that codified LinearWarriorsQuadraticWizards, so while they'd never rival an equally well played wizard, even with only the core rulebook, they can still prove far more potent than more mundane classes, it just takes a lot more effort and understanding of the game to achieve it.
** In 4th Edition, bards were delayed until the 2nd "Player's Handbook" to receive further testing and development. Designated as Arcane Leaders[[note]]a combat role designation that signifies classes built around supporting the other members of the team[[/note]], they now doubled-down on the MagicalMusic theme, with a huge array of potential spells to choose from, allowing them to throw around buffs and debuffs like candy. They also have the unique ability to multiclass more than once, an exclusive trait that allows 4e bards to gain an incredible arsenal of mixed combat and utility abilities.

* TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons has the Bard base class, of which mainly is a versatile jack of all trades, often played as a support class. In most editions, the bard was not often seen as good as other options because of [[MasterOfNone their tendency to be decent at multiple roles at once instead of good at one]]. However, 3.5 edition's Bard splatbook support really helped it grow in power into a [[JackOfAllStats jack of all trades]], master of a few, being able to take up a few roles to extremely high power (adding huge bonuses like 10d6 damage per hit to become a very strong support, or dual wielding rapiers and then going Snowflake Wardance to be a melee monster, or a good caster with powerful battlefield control and debuff spells). Plus, at the end of the day, Bards were still spellcasters in the edition that codified LinearWarriorsQuadraticWizards, so while they'd never rival an equally well played wizard, even with only the core rulebook, they can still prove far more potent than more mundane classes, it just takes a lot more effort and understanding of the game to achieve it.

'''Calliope:''' maybe! it's a quirky class. somewhat like a wildcard role for a hero. very Unpredictable.

'''Calliope:''' maybe! it's a qUirky class. somewhat like a wildcard role for a hero. very Unpredictable.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'' plays this straight with the two bards [[VideoGame/FireEmblemElibe Elphin and Nils]], neither of whom can attack. However, they can give other units another turn. Completely averted with [[VideoGame/FireEmblemJugdral Lewyn and Homer]]; their Bard class is essentially a mage class. They also happen to be [[GameBreaker Game Breakers]] once they promote.

** His spiritual predecessor, Lucia in ''VideoGame/ShadowHeartsCovenant'' is the same, substituting songs for aromatherapy. However she also has a tarot card system as she's a fortune teller.