After launching in 2013, Perfect World and Cryptic Studios' Dungeons & Dragons MMORPG, Neverwinter is still growing and going strong. Neverwinter's forthcoming Jewel of the North Expansion, set to hit the game on July 27, is adding the beloved Bard core class to the game. As D&D veterans would expect, bards bring a unique blend of swordplay and music to the game's action combat, as well as a host of customization options allowing players to tailor their perfect singing swashbuckler.
Game Rant spoke with Cryptic Studios' Lead Producer of Neverwinter, Matt Powers, and Randy Mosiondz, the game's Lead Designer and "Loremaster" to discuss their take on the iconic class. As an RPG that fosters genuine, narrative role-play between players, Cryptic is aiming to create bards that are flavorful, mechanically distinctive, and balanced. Both Powers and Mosiondz are dedicated, lifelong D&D fans, and they take their responsibility to adapt the tabletop archetype extremely seriously. The duo shared Cryptic's design principles and philosophy to detail their aspirations for the notoriously rakish song-slingers and blade-swingers.
Virtual Virtuosos
Mechanically distinct systems were priority-one for Cryptic. Mosiondz and Powers repeatedly emphasized their desire to do D&D's core classes justice, rather than rushing them to release for the sake of having a full set. As one would hope, bards' defining traits are musical. Mosiondz explained:
"We wanted to give players a unique experience that set it apart from the other classes. Every class has its signature ability, and for bard, that is essentially performance mode where you play songs. So as you learn songs, when you hit performance mode, a bar comes up, and you use the number keys in sequence to play a song."
Players who complete the songs successfully will gain new "At Will" or "Encounter" powers — classifications of the game's various abilities that can be used at any time, or a limited number of times per skirmish, respectively. A rhythm action component is a natural fit for bards, whose songs bolster allies with buffs, and frustrate or damage enemies directly. The mechanic is also a perfect example of the sort of gameplay that would be impossible (or extremely challenging and cumbersome) to achieve in a tabletop setting.
Cryptic does not want to simply replicate the tabletop experience digitally, as there are numerous existing platforms catering to that endeavor. Rather, their aim is to provide players with the thrilling action combat that only videogames can provide.
Expressing Yourself
Neverwinter is not just an RPG where mechanics are concerned, but a genuine forum for classic D&D roleplay. As a result, making characters a vehicle for player expression is Cryptic's chief priority. Powers stated:
"The thing I like about the bard is, it’s highly expressive. You can enter free performance mode in a tavern and play music. We’ve given people a lot of options with how they can outfit their bards… It just feels right for people to express their own vision of this class."
Mosiondz chimed in, explaining that the free performance mode is an ability that allows bards to play music in non-combat settings. Powers and Mosiondz mentioned that in the first few days of closed testing for the class, player feedback was limited where battle mechanics were concerned, because most bards were fiddling with performance mode. That said, they went on to note that the feedback that has come in so far has been very positive.
It is clear Cryptic has their priorities in the right place, as all role-playing stems from the junction between self-expression and creative, improvisational escapism. D&D fans are passionate about their chosen classes, and a wide range of customization options are crucial for expressing their visions of the character. Whether players are aiming to recreate their favorite adventurers from tabletop sessions, or coming up with entirely new heroes bespoke for Neverwinter, they will find options to suit their style.
A Tale of Two Paragon Classes
The bard class can be built into one of two core paragon classes that capture bards: the more musical, support-focused "minstrel," and the swashbuckling "song blade," with a focus on Errol Flynn-esque blade work. To those new to playing bards in general, or in Neverwinter specifically, Mosiondz recommends that players experiment aggressively when starting out to see which of these styles they prefer, so they are prepared to build into the appropriate paragon class.
Mosiondz also noted that both paragon classes are more fragile than most frontline fighters, but they possess superior battlefield mobility to compensate. Players can skirt around enemy forces, acting as opportunists who exploit the openings created by tanks, while bolstering the party's overall offensive abilities. In the D&D community, bards are often regarded as the wild card in adventuring parties thanks to their poetic focus and jack-of-all-trades kits. And a highly mobile swordsman capable of rocking out mid-combat seems spot on.
Neverwinter is free to play now on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The Jewel of the North expansion releases on July 27, 2021.