Shattered Kingdoms

The way that Dulrik has created bards they should not get it. It does not fit with the concept behind them. I think something more along the lines of e-parry would be better from a concept perspective.

Honestly, shield block doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Bards aren't meant to stand there and knock stuff away with a big sheet of metal. Instead, they're meant to turn aside blows. That's why e-parry makes more sense, and would allow them to use their other common weapon (whip) to it's full potential.

Bards don't need e-parry. They aren't suppose to be zomg uber front line tanks.

Eparry won't make you a super tank, neither would shield block.

Unless you consider rogues to be super tanks, considering they get parry and shield block.

Though I think the average merc or barb can 2 or 3 round a rogue.

As Syn said, e-parry won't make them super uber front line tanks. It just isn't going to happen. What e-parry WILL do, is give them some survivability and allow them to use their limited weapon options to their full potential.

As a player of bards, I think that bards really do not need what people keep referring to as "front-row" survivability. Similar to rogues, we're the consummate survivors, versatile in a little bit of everything. That versatility allows us to determine exactly how long we want to be in the front row, and change to another row if we need to.

Breaking it down? I've found my bard to be absolutely awesome when it comes to soloing, staying a alive with fighting skills, and supporting myself with proper use of songs.

Groupings? Depending on the context of the group, I can be pretty much anything. Back-ranks healer lite. Front ranks damage support. Duet-based heavy support. Mid-ranks support. And on. Tumble gives us a great ability to switch from one role to another if we think that the fight demands it. A sense of tactics gives the bard an ability to maximize their role in group combat.

So as far as giving them -more- survivability? I don't see why we need it. We're not normal fighters. Compared to every other fighter, including rogues, we're -supposed- to be the bottom of the totem pole.

Wow, someone actually uses tumble?

If you're not, you're missing out on an important part of the bard's skillset.

Unless you can use tumble while prone, I doubt I'll ever put the skill to use.

I've seen Cannibal's/Mitches/Ruud's/Tragonis's rogues outtank merks with just spirit aura.

Shield block would make a super tank, imagine shield block/parry and songs of sleep? too much.