Originally Posted by
TheCrossbow
Actually, "bards" are musicians and story tellers. Their use of song and speech allows them to bolster their friends... and raise their spirits. In terms of gaming mechanics, that often translates into healing. But, even still, bards never really fit the definition of "healer" the way a traditional "cleric" would.
And, unlike their cleric counter-parts, bards have always had considerable skills for combat (not that clerics couldn't/wouldn't fight). Let's not forget that a bard's songs and stories often come from their own adventures... and adventures they hear about. Bards are well-known for their powerful voices which can be leveraged to devastating effect on the battlefield both to support their allies and demoralize their foes.