This is a question partly for the rpg players and partly for Vic or Mike. I noticed in the bard deck description it calls Lem the Magic researcher and the other named bard an information broker. Does this mean that the other bards won't have Both arcane and divine or possilibly neither? Do the bards in the rpg all do the jack of all trades thing like Lem? I have an order down for all the class decks except The bard, I don't think I would ever play Lem but if the others are mechanically different enough from him I might give in and get the deck.( I also don't want to take the chance that there are really good cards not seen in the other decks that I could snag for my other characters since I plan on using the deck mostly outside of the OP program ; } ).
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Well for the RPG players I can answer a little. The Bards Spell list has a mix of both arcane and divine (even though it is all considered Arcane.) Not all bards are really jacks of all trades some do different things. Plus in the RPG there are Archetypes that change the classes in different ways. Such as the Arcane Duelist focuses on fighting.
My opinion is that wait an see the character cards. Because I know what you are saying Lem was my least favorite character.
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They're not all jack-of-all-trades, and play pretty differently. But every bard does have both Arcane and Divine skills because that's how their spell lists are built in the RPG. A bard that can't cast Cure would be … well, he'd be a Sorcerer, I guess.
Ok great, Thanks Brad and Mike. I think what I like about the other characters is that you have choices as to what to do with them ( Example: I'm starting Harsk and plan to focus on giving him spells and giving him recharge of animal allies rather then ranged weapons).
Lem seems like he's kind of stuck with spells for his majority, he doesn't have the ability to focus on much else, but if the other bards are different I might give them a shot, even just out of curiosity ; ).
Ok great, Thanks Brad and Mike. I think what I like about the other characters is that you have choices as to what to do with them ( Example: I'm starting Harsk and plan to focus on giving him spells and giving him recharge of animal allies rather then ranged weapons).
Lem seems like he's kind of stuck with spells for his majority, he doesn't have the ability to focus on much else, but if the other bards are different I might give them a shot, even just out of curiosity ; ).
Do not underestimate lem. played right, he is immortal.
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I would agree that Lem is not the most favorite bard character I can imagine, but there's so much potential in the class. Bards can become so much in the d20 universe and are, by far, my favorite class - even if Lem isn't my favorite bard.
When I played Neverwinter Nights, I loved having a bard that became a Shadowdancer, and dual-wielded rapiers for some devastating sneak-attacks. Bards can become thieves, spellcasters, warrior-mages, whatever. They're awesome. I'm really looking forward to this deck, because I can imagine some awesome bardic cards coming out to enhance Knowledge checks, to make good use of a high Charisma skill, and maybe even some magical, musical instruments for bards to play. It could be really awesome.
Lem seems like he's kind of stuck with spells for his majority, he doesn't have the ability to focus on much else, but if the other bards are different I might give them a shot, even just out of curiosity ; ).
You can build Lem to focus on ranged weapons. He won't be as good as Merisel or Harsk at it at first, but he's got a couple of things in his favor. Starting off with only one weapon card and having a favored card type of "Any" means you can guarantee you've got your one weapon in your starting hand. And of course, if you chose Virtuoso Lem and grab the power to "inspire" yourself, you're adding a d4 + 2 or 3 to your own combat checks whenever you can recharge a card. I've mostly picked utility-type spells instead of attack spells with Lem. Of course, Swipe is both. :)
and maybe even some magical, musical instruments for bards to play.
Finding out that there was a magical lute or something in the Bard class deck would make my day.
I don't think I would ever play Lem but if the others are mechanically different enough from him I might give in and get the deck.
I would give lem a chance before making that assessment. He does a great job both solo and in a group, and he's a lot of fun to play.
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I have just finished the final adventure with Lem, the Charlatan.
I have loved him, and he has only failed me once, in the penultimate scenario, where he was forced to banish his Snakeskin Tunic.
Not certain whether I should retire him or not for Skull & Shackles, but he has served me well through the entire "Rise of the Runelords" campaign.
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I have just finished the final adventure with Lem, the Charlatan.
I have loved him, and he has only failed me once, in the penultimate scenario, where he was forced to banish his Snakeskin Tunic.Not certain whether I should retire him or not for Skull & Shackles, but he has served me well through the entire "Rise of the Runelords" campaign.
There will be a new version of Lem for S&S. The Bard, Fighter, Rogue and Druid (with add-on) will be carried over to S&S but changed a bit.
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They're not all jack-of-all-trades, and play pretty differently. But every bard does have both Arcane and Divine skills because that's how their spell lists are built in the RPG. A bard that can't cast Cure would be … well, he'd be a Sorcerer, I guess.I wonder if all character class has some unique feature which appears on every character for that class.
for example, can every sorcerer auto-recharge spells? Every rouge is able to evade encounters? Or maybe there won't be any class defining powers.
I guess we have to wait for the class decks to know.
I hope not. Powers are few enough as it is, I don't want to find out that all 4 characters are using one for the same thing.
There will be a new version of Lem for S&S. The Bard, Fighter, Rogue and Druid (with add-on) will be carried over to S&S but changed a bit.I have just finished the final adventure with Lem, the Charlatan.
I have loved him, and he has only failed me once, in the penultimate scenario, where he was forced to banish his Snakeskin Tunic.Not certain whether I should retire him or not for Skull & Shackles, but he has served me well through the entire "Rise of the Runelords" campaign.
I kind of felt that Lem was a boss in ROTR. He was pure buff and made other people very effective at what they were doing. I can think of a few easy pairings to do some major damage. Oh the fun memories.
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I kind of felt that Lem was a boss in ROTR. He was pure buff and made other people very effective at what they were doing. I can think of a few easy pairings to do some major damage. Oh the fun memories.There will be a new version of Lem for S&S. The Bard, Fighter, Rogue and Druid (with add-on) will be carried over to S&S but changed a bit.I have just finished the final adventure with Lem, the Charlatan.
I have loved him, and he has only failed me once, in the penultimate scenario, where he was forced to banish his Snakeskin Tunic.Not certain whether I should retire him or not for Skull & Shackles, but he has served me well through the entire "Rise of the Runelords" campaign.
Maybe it was the fact that our Lem player didn't know how to play the character and spent 90% of his healing on himself (he explored way too often in monster heavy places with nothing to fight with...), but I really wasn't impressed with that character. Even looking at how he could be played, I just don't see him as much of a benefit to the party.
the lem i am currently using mostly acts as a scout getting locations set up with augury and only healing others when they get themselves in trouble. im only on A2S2, but its worked out so far.
and he is one of the two characters who ever died at our gaming table.
Just out of curiosity, who is the second char?
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My wife and I have run through RotRL with the unlikely duo of Ezren and Lem and at first I did think Lem was a pretty inept character. It took me the first two adventure decks to figure out how to play him rather successfully - and I've actually really enjoyed playing him as a support and doing as the other players suggest (scouting with augury, buffing with recharge, maxing dex and using bows). About to wrap up adventure deck 3 and about to specialize. With that said, I am excited to see what kind of variations the bard deck will offer.
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My wife and I have run through RotRL with the unlikely duo of Ezren and Lem and at first I did think Lem was a pretty inept character. It took me the first two adventure decks to figure out how to play him rather successfully - and I've actually really enjoyed playing him as a support and doing as the other players suggest (scouting with augury, buffing with recharge, maxing dex and using bows). About to wrap up adventure deck 3 and about to specialize. With that said, I am excited to see what kind of variations the bard deck will offer.
If you download the Class Deck character sheets, you'll be able to see not only the differences between RotR Lem and CD Lem but also the different roles for him in the Class Deck. And then you can look at the three other bards!
If you're just hitting AP3 you're in for a big surprise with Lem. That's when he really hits his stride. Max his +d4, let him do it on himself, and give him a giant hand size, you'll be astonished. It makes him one of the better characters in the game.
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I am a known bard hater, and only ordered the bard class deck out of being a completionist. But then I saw Meliski's character sheet and was like hmmmmmm....
I played him in my last session at GC and liked him a LOT. Beside his gambling ability, he's got Arcane, Divine, and Diplomacy all based on his Charisma d10.
So, in conclusion: OP, buy the Bard deck!