The nature of a Bard is to learn many different skills. He is a Jack-of-all-trades but master of none. The Bard fights as any other rogue class character, and may use any weapon. He or she may also wear any armor up to and including chain mail, but may not use a shield.

    All bards are proficient singers, chanters or vocalists and can play musical instruments. On their journeys, Bards tend to pick up magics, thus they may learn the art as any other art they may find.  But this doesn't mean that Bards are mages, (unless they are a Bard/Mage) rather, a bard is a dabbler in the art of magic, much more as a toy or an intrust.

    The Bard on his travels also picks up many of there rogue cousin the thief's abilities. Some Bards perform to distract an audience so they or their follows may pick pockets in a room without much worry of being noticed.

    Bards who care to only entertain, are egotistical about their work, this has lead to the down fall of many Bards in the past. It said an excellent bard may also charm an audience with his/her, poetry, or music.

If music be the food of love, play on; give me excess of it, that, surfeiting, The appetite may sicken, and so die. That strain again! It had a dying fall; O, it came o'er my ear like sweet sound that breathes upon a bank of violets, Stealing and giving odor! Enough, no more! 'Tis not sweet now as it was before. O spirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou, That notwithstanding thy capacity Receiveth as the sea, naught enters there, Of what validity and pitch soe'er, But falls into abatement and low price Even in a minute! So full of shapes is fancy That it alone is high fantastical.

Orsino, The Tweflth Night, Act 1, Scene 1.
William Shakespeare