Ew, botting. If I were you, I'd save the money and find a good private server. Doesn't take too long. I can recommend a couple, or give you a huge list to choose from.

But yeah, you have to become an archer first in order to become a bard... although I don't see why you'd want to. Their skills suck, espcially if you don't have a large group to work with, which essentially is what they're for. They're all support. All their skills come with heavy penalties (moving very slow, and I think with some attacking cancels too). So basically they're an archer with a guitar. Hunters are much better. Make a falcon hunter (99 luck).

And archers don't rely on others at all if you do it right. Pfff.