Originally Posted by
Serenais
Hm. Thinking about it, I see several problems with the bard theory.
1) Adding a single support class would mean that EVERY raid guild/group would require a bard (or several). Of course, this could be alleviated if a few other classes got something similar, most likely in the way of repurposing specs ("shout warrior", probably by repurposing Fury; Discipline priests as buffers, etc.), but this would require a substantial rework of several classes, something which would almost definitelly be rejected by the playerbase.
2) Similar problem, fiveman composition. Fivemans would have to stay fivemans (if nothing else, for older content reason), therefore the bard would most likely have to take a place of one of the DPS. Again, that would make 5mans VERY dependent on a single class, something that isn't viable in current setting.
3) Lack of content. Any (group) content before the expansion in which the bard would be introduced would have no real place for a support character (or a very limited one), simply because it was designed for the "holy trinity". Of course, a support would still somewhat work in there, but it would create problems with the support character having nothing to really base their performance on (nonHC levelling 5mans are usually doable with just a tank, healer and two DPS, thus the bard would not see his/hers impact on the gameplay as easily, especially when failing), or, in turn, it would necessitate altering all previous group content to include mechanics expecting a support class, which isn't viable (it would probably cost more than just a raid tier).
4) Spec of the bard class. Being a support wouldn't be viable for questing, therefore the bard would have to have a DPS spec as well. While I can imagine funny way of the bard damaging his foes (cacophony spec - playing so bad it hurts), realistically there is no real way, unless we involve "sound magic", which would turn it into sort of a mage, and not a bard.
Just my 0.02€.