How are Bards in the DPS department?

[Slave]

I understand your interest but bards are more of a utility-melee class. They melee to deal free extra damage and sometimes for useful procs. Their high dexterity means they are often the best class to land certain procs, and I know it's not your question but they can easily hold aggro (too easily for comfort) and substitute for a real group tank for most of the game.

Bards will fall behind any other class in the game in melee dps except for pure casters (and often those as well). Their melee ability is very useful against pure casters in pvp, however.