Here’s the way I handled it in my campaign setting:

Beneshan Bard Order
In Anchor is the birthplace and respected home of the Beneshan Bard troupe and its enormous theatre rumored to harbor stages built for one play only and then never visited again. Ever since Beneshan founded the theatre in the year 490 of the Second Era, it has continually been improved and enlarged.

Beneshan’s philosophy was that good drama only comes out of experience and although the stigma wasn’t so well developed initially, it is now seen as mandatory that bards spend most of their time on the road only to tell about it in plays, song and other forms of entertainment. The greatest directors of the Beneshan Theatre have all learned from traveling an entire life and their experience and sense of diplomacy is valued everywhere.

The Beneshan Order is big; so big, in fact, that they have since established another theatre in Moonrise. Although not as impressive in size and scope, the Moonrise Stage (as it is called) is a welcome evening out for all adventurers in Gorondor.

The Theatre in Anchor only opens its doors when they have a play, storytelling, song or dance to perform. Although many have attempted to penetrate its walls, few have succeeded. What treasures the bards have brought home, and what secrets they have learned, remains in their keep alone. For why would you ever want to spoil a surprise or the ending of the next play?

Note that Bards in Diedra all come from the Beneshan Order. See Adventuring in Diedra on page 39 for more details.

The thing is that I have a hard time picturing where bards fit in. I mean, much of my fantasy “world” comes from what I’ve read/seen and I don’t really see where a bard is depicted. Perhaps a Gleeman from Wheel of Time, but they look more like rogues to me.

I think in 3rd ed. there’s been a focus on balancing out and sort of going towards a D&D feel rather than a Tolkien feel. I mean, where does a 3rd ed. halfling fit in. They certainly aren’t Hobbits any longer. I think magic skills were bestowed upon bards to balance them out … a bad choice if you ask me.

I dunno man. I wanted to keep all the classes in my CS because I knew others would be playing in it and I don’t like Campaign Settings that enforce something on you. But a good class, no.

JFYI: Midnight changes most of the core classes around, removes some of them and puts in some replacements.

It’s very much my impression that core D&D is very much its own by now. For good and for bad ;).