Originally Posted by
Razion
We can probably extrapolate bard to also include: minstrels, dancers, and musicians as well.
- The Kodo Beast unit from Warcraft 3 can have its drums played to increase the damage and speed of attacks done by allies, and is probably the oldest example in Warcraft
- Leatherworkers have been able to craft Drums to echo Bloodlust or Heroism type effects for many expansions
- Priests historically have used Hymn abilities to heal groups, restore mana, and otherwise bolster their allies
- Blade Dance is a Demon Hunter ability that damages nearby targets in a flourish, while increasing dodge temporarily
- Dancing Steel is a melee-oriented weapon enchant added in Mists that sometimes increase Strength or Agility when dealing melee damage
- Dancing Mists was a Mistweaver Artifact trait that immediately allowed friendly healing effects to transfer to additional targets
- Blade Dancer was an Outlaw Artifact trait that increased energy regeneration while Blade Flurry was active
- Hearthsinger Forresten is an elite mob found in Stratholme that drops a piccolo that famously causes those nearby to dance
- From 'Dance of the Dead', Drust would leave small tokens to summon dancing spectres that would entrance those who watched - making them vulnerable and easy prey
- Alizabal, this shivarra was the third boss in Baradin Hold and would use a deadly Blade Dance that would also deflect incoming attacks for the duration
- Other bosses like Mordesh Fire Eye (Razorfen Downs) and Lady Waycrest are other examples of encounters that feature music or song as a combat element
- Written music has precedent with Vrykul like Helgus composing the three Sagas of Twins, Winter Curse, and Val'kyr respectively
- The most recent addition to creature type that uses magic in song is the Siren
- Older examples of creatures that use song for magical damage include most famously banshees, but sometimes also harpies, owls, and bats among others as well
- If we're using traditional Bardic Inspiration as a basis for the class, Foreman Thazz'ril and the Foreman Blackjack could be interpreted as the earliest example a player may run into in WoW
- Auction House Dance Party is a regular micro-world event holiday that takes place during the New Year
Some examples of other performers in WoW:
Blade-Dancers: Blade-Dancer Aeryx (Arakkoa), Blade-Dancer Zorlak (Mantid), Blade Dancer Illianna (Shivarra), Kargath Bladefist (drops Blade Dancer's Claws in Highmaul)
Harpists: Aimele, Irius, and Rosaine.
Minstrel: Camerick Jongleur (Menethil Harbor, Wetlands)
Organist: Sebastian (Karazhan)
Drums: Grohl Grohl, Torv Dubstomp, and various tribal drummers (such as Darkspear, Revantusk, and Sen'jin Drummers)
Bands: Elite Tauren Chieftain, Blight Boar, The Medivas, Hardrogg's Drogbar (incl. Boprul, Tinkrul, Clomprul)