New Class Proposal — Bard (Tonal Magic Support Specialist)

PunkAben · February 21

## Overview

The Elder Scrolls Online has introduced several excellent classes over the years, each representing iconic aspects of Elder Scrolls lore — dragons, nature magic, daedric summoning, and necromancy. One archetype that remains largely unexplored as a playable class, however, is the **Bard**.

Rather than being a purely musical or cosmetic concept, this proposal focuses on a Bard who uses **Tonal Magic** — manipulating reality through resonance, rhythm, and sound. This approach connects directly to existing Elder Scrolls lore such as Dwemer tonal architecture, Yokudan war chants, and divine hymns tied to the Aedra.

The goal is not simply another healer or DPS class, but a **true support specialist built around empowering allies and disrupting enemies**.

---

## Class Identity

**Primary Role:** Group Support / Buff–Debuff Specialist
**Secondary Roles:** Healer or Magicka/Stamina DPS

### Strengths

* Powerful conditional group buffs
* Strong sustain tools for allies
* Unique synergy mechanics

### Weaknesses

* Lower personal burst damage
* Requires positioning awareness
* Less efficient solo compared to pure DPS classes

---

## Skill Line Concepts

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### Battle Hymns (Group Support)

Focused on empowering allies through rhythmic magic.

Examples:

* **Resonant Chorus** — Area buff granting Minor Courage and resource recovery bonuses.
* **War Tempo** — Impro ves group attack rhythm, increasing light attack damage and attack speed.
* **Anthem of Recovery** — Restores Magicka and Stamina over time.

Ultimate Ability:

**Symphony of War**

Creates a powerful aura granting Major Courage, Major Resolve, and periodic healing pulses for nearby allies.

---

### Dissonance (Debuff and Control)

Weaponized sound used to destabilize enemies.

Examples:

* **Shatter Note** — Direct damage applying Major Brech.
* **Discord Pulse** — Area damage over time with Minor Vulnerability application.
* **Mind Fracture** — Applies Minor Maim and reduces enemy offensive power.

Ultimate Ability:

**Cacophony**

A large disruptive field dealing damage over time while interrupting enemies and reducing outgoing damage.

---

### Tonal Resonance (Defense and Utility)

Reality manipulation through harmonic vibration.

Examples:

* **Harmonic Shield** — Damage shield scaling from Max Magicka.
* **Echo Step** — Short-range teleport leaving behind an echo that detonates after a delay.
* **Resonance Link** — Links two allies to share a portion of healing and sustain.

Ultimate Ability:

**Perfect Frequency**

Provides damage reduction, cleansing effects, and resource restoration over time.

---

## Passives

* **Master Performer** — Using multiple Bard abilities generates Minor Heroism.
* **Tonal Awareness** — Nearby allies gain increased resource recovery.
* **Stage Presence** — Buff durations increase on healthy allies.
* **Perfect Pitch** — Increased status effect application chance.

---

## Lore Integration

Tonal magic is already deeply rooted in Elder Scrolls lore:

* Dwemer Tonal Architecture manipulated reality through sound.
* The Thu’um demonstrates that voice and vibration can alter the physical world.
* Yokudan Sword-Singers combined spirit and resonance in combat traditions.

A Bard class could represent a scholarly or martial evolution of these concepts within Tamriel.

---

## Gameplay Goals

This class would introduce a new identity to ESO group play:

* Encourages teamwork and positioning.
* Strengthens coordinated groups rather than individual burst damage.
* Offers a new support option alongside existing healers and tanks.

---

## Closing Thoughts

A Bard or Tonal Mage class could provide ESO with something genuinely new — not just another damage archetype, but a class focused on enhancing the experience of group combat through cooperation and synergy while remaining faithful to Elder Scrolls lore.

Thank you for reading.

tomofhyrule · February 21

Hi, I'm here. Anytime "Dwemer Artificer" is mentioned, I'll pop in.

So, I definitely think that Tonal Magic would work as a single line in an Artificer class, since divorcing Dwemer tech from summons just feels wrong.
And yes, Jessica, we and others have been able to summon and use Dwemer technology in the mainline games, so don't give me that "it breaks the loooooooooore!!!1!11!!" argument.

Here's my post from before:

tomofhyrule wrote: »

There is nothing I want more than an Artificer Class.

It’d fit so perfectly in with this game, and there’s already so much lore around that they could run with. After all, we’ve had Dwemer researchers since TES3, and even a summon Sphere spell there, so it’s not even like that would be lore-breaking in any way. Besides, I know (and agree!) that we shouldn’t solve the mystery of the Dwemer… but that doesn’t mean you can’t start to play with it. I definitely think an Artificer, being closely related to TES lore, would sell really well.

If I were to make a Dwemer Artificer, I’d actually set it up more like one of the basegame classes where the three lines are themed with each other rather than making a strict tank/heal/DPS line.
Secrets of Dwemer Animunculi - a pet line with temporary (jumping spiders) and permanent (spiders and spheres) pets. Also with a sentry for shields and a vamidium armor skill

Kagrenac’s Armory - a gadgetry line, mostly with things like grenades and settable traps and turrets

Tonal Architecture - your standard D&D Bard stuff, with buffs and heals

I feel like that could be extra fun to have something unique too. While pets are nothing new thanks to Sorc and Necro, we don’t really have any triggerable traps in any line. Sure, Sorc has their mines (which morph to either heals or a placeable AoE), Necro and NB have a placeable fear trap, and the MG and FG lines have a placeable trap, all of those trigger when someone walks over it. I think it’s be fun to place a trap on a chokepoint in PvP or something and then trigger it only on a button press, so a scout could walk over it no problem, but then you hit it when the whole group comes by.

Also, it totally does fit into the lore. Heck, we already even have NPCs who are basically Artificers already - Neramo, the Vanos twins, Tharayya…

On a broader note, I love the new character level process, but I realize I’m in the minority there. But now with Subclassing, you don’t need to start from scratch. I have a feeling that a lot of players would love to take e.g. just the Tonal Magic line to finally get their Bards. It would also be fun to get a Class after Subclassing, since this would then be balanced already knowing Subclassing is a thing.

Please ZOS, give us a Dwemer Artificer Class!

I'd always favored an Artificer as more of a basegame Class rather than the DLC each-role-has-a-line Class, and now with the refreshes that's how it would go. Plus, it'd be great to see a Post-Subclassing and post-refresh Class as well. And, for extra bonus points, players would be able to use those lines even if they already have max characters because of Subclassing.

ESO has given us a Class on average every three years (3 from release to Warden, 2 from Warden to Necro, and 4 from Necro to Arcanist), so we're due. But with the Class Refresh (aka "fixing what Subclassing broke"), I don't foresee a new Class until this refresh is done, so 2028 at the earliest... which is 5 years since Arcanist. That's a long time, especially since - if every other Class-based RPG ever is any indication - new Classes will really drive interest. Heck, I need two new Classes ASAP to fit some of my extra backstories I have lying around.

Here's hoping for Dwemer Artificer 2028!

Malyore · February 21

I like that you include more than just the dwemer lore in this too, such as sword singing and thu'um.

As I always say, I think classes have to be very carefully and considerately made. Especially now with multiclassing. I didn't read all of your post since I'm personally not interested in this tonal/bard class that has been asked for a lot, but I did want to just chime in and say I'm glad that yours wasn't just some lute playing DnD guy, or entirely focused on some steampunk dwemer idea.

Aliyavana · February 21

https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Thaumavocalism

Is what I think you are looking for

TX12001rwb17_ESO · February 21

A bard is a singer who sings at taverns.

Aliyavana · February 21

“Bards are loremasters and storytellers. They crave adventure for the wisdom and insight to be gained, and must depend on sword, shield, spell and enchantment to preserve them from the perils of their educational experiences.”

I’m a fan of the TES 3: Morrowind description.

LunaFlora · February 21

a Thaumavocalist class or skill line would be awesome.

Nemesis7884 · February 21

I just hope the next class is dwemer technology related / focused as this is something very elder scrolls unique that other ip's dont have... I always wanted to have something like the GW2 engineer but dwemer themed as its my favorite mmorpg class

NotaDaedraWorshipper · February 22

A bard in Elder Scrolls is either a musician/storyteller, or a class term used for a thief subtype that uses mainly speechcraft, blade, illusion and such skills, while often also being the first. Not using tonal magic, nor using music in combat.

Tonal magic is rare and much related to it is unknown, which I think it should stay as.

Imagine the massive blunder it would create if they keep adding so much strange and unheard of things, making them common place, but then nothing about it lived on in the years to come after ESO. Not even the slighest note (huh unintentonal pun)

Erickson9610 · February 23

NotaDaedraWorshipper wrote: »

Imagine the massive blunder it would create if they keep adding so much strange and unheard of things, making them common place, but then nothing about it lived on in the years to come after ESO. Not even the slighest note (huh unintentonal pun)

If TES IV: Oblivion Remastered is any indication, the changes and additions introduced by The Elder Scrolls Online do affect the timeline and are canon. We'll see mention of things that ESO started in TES VI, as well as any remakes to the other TES games.

Vaqual · February 23

Nemesis7884 wrote: »

I just hope the next class is dwemer technology related / focused as this is something very elder scrolls unique that other ip's dont have... I always wanted to have something like the GW2 engineer but dwemer themed as its my favorite mmorpg class

And I can only hope that it won't be, because I cringe at the thought of a character casually assembling 85 kgs worth of machinery within a single GCD....

There is without a doubt a way to pull this off in a satisfying, mysterious and tasteful manner, but it is clear from the comments here and in similar threads that not everyone has the same vision for this idea.
"Smug, top-hat wearing Steampunk Bards with monocle' just sounds like the most disappointing way to demystify the Dwemer. I don't want tonal magic to feel like Redditor-Energy.
The Dwemer built vast underground facilities to work effectively with this potentially cataclysmic power. You don't just swing your wrench twice to rebuild auto-targeting rocket launchers between a wolf encounter and a group of bandits. That just isn't it. It's not only not immersive, it takes away from the setting.

This should at best be used in a very naive and basic way, maybe through a related guild skill line with heavy combat penalties, like extremely long cast times.

NotaDaedraWorshipper · February 23

Erickson9610 wrote: »

NotaDaedraWorshipper wrote: »

Imagine the massive blunder it would create if they keep adding so much strange and unheard of things, making them common place, but then nothing about it lived on in the years to come after ESO. Not even the slighest note (huh unintentonal pun)

If TES IV: Oblivion Remastered is any indication, the changes and additions introduced by The Elder Scrolls Online do affect the timeline and are canon. We'll see mention of things that ESO started in TES VI, as well as any remakes to the other TES games.

Yes, ESO is canon, this is why adding a lot of unheard thing is an issue, because it's a prequel and we will have several games that takes place after it where there will be no trace of any of this. Which, even if The Interregnum has some mystery around it later on, would still have some trace of it, at least if we are going down the paths such as using tonal magic in music was common amongst adventurers.

AScarlato · February 23

I am partial to bards in fantasy games so wouldn't mind seeing one here as well. It seems to be one of the more popular fantasy roles that is missing.

The questline for the magical singer was already posted above so that exists here.

I'd also like instruments included - which could be written off as using some of the more unique relic instruments that are gathered by the Bard's college or maybe some offshoot of scribing or the Mage's guild.

Cloudtrader · February 24

+1 vote for a Thaumavocalist / Bard class from me!

Jestir · February 24

I would rather see the tonal stuff mixed into a line for an articifer/dwemed tech class tbh

Maybe when greymoor becomes base game they can make the Bards college a full guild with a dedicated quest line and skill line

Asdara · February 24

Respectfully, NO

LunaFlora · February 24

Jestir wrote: »

I would rather see the tonal stuff mixed into a line for an articifer/dwemed tech class tbh

Maybe when greymoor becomes base game they can make the Bards college a full guild with a dedicated quest line and skill line

more with the Bards College would be awesome yes

cuddles_with_wroble · February 24

NotaDaedraWorshipper wrote: »

Erickson9610 wrote: »

NotaDaedraWorshipper wrote: »

Imagine the massive blunder it would create if they keep adding so much strange and unheard of things, making them common place, but then nothing about it lived on in the years to come after ESO. Not even the slighest note (huh unintentonal pun)

If TES IV: Oblivion Remastered is any indication, the changes and additions introduced by The Elder Scrolls Online do affect the timeline and are canon. We'll see mention of things that ESO started in TES VI, as well as any remakes to the other TES games.

Yes, ESO is canon, this is why adding a lot of unheard thing is an issue, because it's a prequel and we will have several games that takes place after it where there will be no trace of any of this. Which, even if The Interregnum has some mystery around it later on, would still have some trace of it, at least if we are going down the paths such as using tonal magic in music was common amongst adventurers.

It’s more “Cannon” than actually cannon tbh, most evens are explained through dragon breaks or just not explained at all and there’s so much of the game that clashes with established lore and timelines. It’s clear whoever wrote the game was doing research as the went and were not an elder scrolls lore junkie beforehand