[Loadsamoney]

Obviously they're not going to have the DPS output of a Monk or a well-geared Ranger, but, assuming the Bard is good at twisting and is using both the right weapons and the right songs (let's say 1. self haste/str/ac, 2. target slow, 3. target dot, 4. maybe Hymn to slow HP loss), can a Bard handle 1v1s acceptably at the later levels without having to retreat?

Or are they really bad at melee combat no matter what songs they're playing?