The Reason A Party Survives
The fighter draws his massive sword, eyeing the beast warily.
The cleric utters a prayer to his god, hefting his mace with grim determination.
The sorceror backs off slightly, his hands waving through the air as he readies his spell.
The bard starts to sing.
I make it no secret that I play the bard class almost exclusively in D&D. I've had experience playing every class in the Player's Handbook from 1st level until at least the mid twenties, and looking back on all of it, it was mostly a waste of time.
Sure, the other classes have their respective strengths and weaknesses, as does the bard (to a much lesser extent in my opinion). They're just so versitile and have the most potential to be useful in any situation:
"We can't fight all of them," the sorceror says.
"That'd be suicide," the monk agrees.
"Any bright ideas?" the rogue asked.
"Maybe if we try to parley with them," the bard says. "They don't appear to be readily hostile."
"Try it," the cleric answers.
"If you really want this gold, why don't you just take it from us?" the sorceror asks.
"Me can't do that," the kobold says. "Sorceress tells me not to hurt you so we can get man-gold."
"If she comes back we're all dead," the fighter says. "I say we try and take them."
"Kobolds aren't very strong," the rogue agrees.
"But there's tons of them!" the sorceror says. "We'll be slaughtered!"
"I have an idea," the bard says.
"Why do you have to listen to the sorceress?" the bard asks the barbarian kobold. "Why can she order you around?"
"She mate," the kobold answers.
"Great, he's pussy-whipped," the rogue says.
"This may be a blessing in disguise," the bard says with a grin.
"You don't have to listen to her," the bard says to the kobold. "She's cheating on you!"
The kobold looks at the gnome with mixed fear and suspicion. A moment later he charges off into the woods. After a few seconds you hear the sound of screams and something being sliced.
Sure, I leave most of the fighting to the others. That's what crossbows were made for. Anyways...
"The rogue and monk are down!" the sorceror cried.
"I'm out of healing spells," the cleric warned.
"You'd better do something quick," the fighter says.
"Oh, fine," the bard grumbles. "Cure Light Wounds...twice. You're lucky bards have healing spells."