What is the Bard? - Class Archtypes?

[Caedwyr]

What archtypes do people typically follow when playing a "Bard". Do you play the traveling minstrel, the skald, the chronicler, an Indiana Jonesesque treasure hunter, the jack-of-many-trades, the political mover and shaker, the leader and inspirer, the suave special agent with a gadget or trick for every problem? Or have you played the Bard as another distinct archtype? What is the Bard to you?

[Sean FitzSimon]

The bard, to me, was always the leader. She was the one investing in the social skills, rocking a high charisma, and had spells and tunes to make anyone like her. Beyond that, the bard is the class that uses her personality to get the job done. Take from that what you will.

The last bard I played was a bard in the Scarred Lands setting, and was a devotee of the lawful good paladin god, Corean. Basically, he was an evangelist.