Bard (Final Fantasy III)



The Bard (吟遊詩人) is a Job class in Final Fantasy III. It is gained from the Water Crystal. Bards use their Sing ability to buff their allies or, in the DS and iOS versions, deal damage to their enemy.

NES version
Each use the Bard's 'Scare' command reduces all enemies' levels: Enemy level = Enemy level - 3
 * Special Ability - Scare

Multiple uses of 'Scare' can eventually lead to enemies running away instead of attacking in battle. An enemy will only run away if: (Lowest character level) - (Enemy level) > 15

If the above condition is met, then the chance that a monster will choose to Run will be: %Chance to Run = 100 - Monster Hit%

Also note that as an enemy level is decreased there is also the potential of reducing its Magic Attack Multiplier. Bosses are immune to 'Scare' and will also never attempt to Run.

The Bard's 'Cheer' command gives an additive bonus to physical Base Damage for each party member. Base Damage = Base Damage + (10 * # of Cheers) (for physical attacks only).
 * Special Ability - Cheer

DS & iOS versions
Selecting Sing will cause the Bard to sing a song; which song he sings depends on which harp he has equipped. The song will always be performed as the first action of the turn.
 * Special Ability - Sing

Trivia

 * Final Fantasy III marks the first appearance of Bards within the series, as well as their Sing ability and the use of instruments as a weapon type.
 * Whenever Bards use their Sing ability in the Nintendo DS/iOS remake they chant the first 5 notes from the theme "Final Fantasy".

Bardo (Final Fantasy III)