[knottyb0y]

Are you talking about bards straight Melee DPS Output or are you talking about bard max dps including DOT songs etc etc?

If you are talking about straight melee dps then you will find their melee prowess slightly better than a caster. Bards have dual wield and I believe they share the same damage table as hybrids (knights and rangers). Because of Double attack and the ability to use 2handers and a myriad of better ratio weapons knights outshine bards by far. Due to weapon selection and dual wield however bards sit above casters (wis and int) in damage output.

At the most basic level you will see damage melee damage output ranked as such.
1. Monk (double attack, dual wield, better damage table at 60, Incredible range of great ratio weapons including 2hb)
2. Rogue (double attack, dual wield, backstab, limited by lack of high damage piercers for backstab in this era)
3. Warrior (double attack, triple attack at 60, decent range of available weapons, can dual wield or use 2handers giving more flexibility in damage output)
4. Ranger (double attack, dual wield)
5. Shadowknight (double attack)
6. Paladin (double attack)
7. Bard (dual wield)

Keep in mind with the right gear and situations Rogues and Monks will flip flop in dps. But monks have the flexibility to use 2handed weapons or dual wield where rogues only dual wield and do not get any rogue usable piercers with incredibly high damage values to balance backstab. Also a warrior and monk at level 60 may be close if using identical weapons, but I would say that monks in general have more weapons with better ratios than warriors at any level and money status.

If all 7 melee classes were using weapons of the same damage/delay you would see the above ranking prove true, though rogues would likely out damage monks. I think though in addition to inherent class abilities melee damage output is directly affected by the number of weapons a class has available to them and how powerful those weapons are. With that said monks in Kunark get the most variety of insane ratio weapons. Warriors would be second in the line thought rogues get great piercers, I don't think anything goes over 15 damage.

Bards value is NOT in melee damage output. So being the lowest melee dps melee really doesn't mean much.