11. The weak swordsman clings to his instrument. It is better you have a sword, but death must lie under your fingernails, if need be. Learn death with your elbows, death with your knees, and death with your thumbs and fingertips. It is said death with the tongue is useful, but I find words too soft an instrument to smash a man’s skull.
Under what conditions? Is it a full bard build? Most damage divided on many creatures? Most damage on first turn? Most damage at a single target? Do we have time to prep? Most damage on first turn? Do we have help from a party? Damage from spells or weapon attack damage?
The wizards casts their spell, and the enemies fly through the wall, all at once.
Then the wizard releases it and the enemies fly through the wall again.
Voila, bbeg barbeque for everyone.
Just get 2 levels of fighter, use magical secrets to get reverse gravity and prismatic wall. Cast prismatic wall above the bbeg, action surge, reverse gravity then drop concentration.
But yeah, anytime you ask about how the bard achieved big damage, there's usually a multiclass involved.
Here's a fun challenge for you: How can you make a Bard deal the most damage possible? Have fun!
Is the goal to deal the most damage in a single round or consistently? The title Battle Bard suggests the latter to me, but so far the suggestion of using prismatic wall is about doing the most damage in a single round (or over 10 minutes, as you can potentially use it more than once if an enemy can't get away from its area of effect in time).
I would say though that it's debatable whether prismatic wall would work as intended, as the wording states that the layers are triggered "when a creature attempts to pass or reach through" so it's up to your DM whether a creature is actively "attempting" to pass through the layers when it's being forced to do-so, as they could just rule that the creature rolls off the edge of the first layer, and only needs to test for being blinded for being within 20 feet. They also get saves against every layer, which will bring the damage and danger down a bit, though it may burn through their legendary resistances. But yeah, the intention of wall spells is to prevent enemies from passing through, and the implication with prismastic wall is that it's the act of forcing your way through that is dangerous.
Also if we're in the realm of 9th-level spells then you could just use true polymorph to turn into an ancient brass dragon(or if your DM allows, an adult gold dragon with the shadow dragon template for potentially even greater durability and a seriously nasty breath attack), wait for an hour so the transformation becomes permanent (until dispelled) and for as long as it lasts you've gained massive durability for a Bard putting out ~60+ damage a round (or far more if you can get enough targets in the breath weapon's area of effect), and between battles you can short or long rest as normal to heal, so this effectively gives you a big, near permanent boost to durability and zero cost damage (no spell slots or limited use features required to keep that damage up). In the event that enemies do manage to chew through all that HP, you just go right back to being your normal Bard self, maybe with a few HP lost from overspill, and all your remaining spell slots still ready to use.
But this doesn't really feel like building a "Battle Bard", as any caster who can take either of these spells can do these exact same things.
Here's a fun challenge for you: How can you make a Bard deal the most damage possible? Have fun!
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"Made by spiders, for spiders, of spiders."
My pronouns are she/her.
Web Weaver of Everlasting Narative! (title bestowed by Drummer)
First have a wizard ready with Reverse Gravity.
Then have the bard cast prismatic wall midair.
The wizards casts their spell, and the enemies fly through the wall, all at once.
Then the wizard releases it and the enemies fly through the wall again.
Voila, bbeg barbeque for everyone.
Extended Sig (Now updated!)
11. The weak swordsman clings to his instrument. It is better you have a sword, but death must lie under your fingernails, if need be. Learn death with your elbows, death with your knees, and death with your thumbs and fingertips. It is said death with the tongue is useful, but I find words too soft an instrument to smash a man’s skull.
Fun challenge indeed!
Under what conditions? Is it a full bard build? Most damage divided on many creatures? Most damage on first turn? Most damage at a single target? Do we have time to prep? Most damage on first turn? Do we have help from a party? Damage from spells or weapon attack damage?
Just get 2 levels of fighter, use magical secrets to get reverse gravity and prismatic wall. Cast prismatic wall above the bbeg, action surge, reverse gravity then drop concentration.
But yeah, anytime you ask about how the bard achieved big damage, there's usually a multiclass involved.
Is the goal to deal the most damage in a single round or consistently? The title Battle Bard suggests the latter to me, but so far the suggestion of using prismatic wall is about doing the most damage in a single round (or over 10 minutes, as you can potentially use it more than once if an enemy can't get away from its area of effect in time).
I would say though that it's debatable whether prismatic wall would work as intended, as the wording states that the layers are triggered "when a creature attempts to pass or reach through" so it's up to your DM whether a creature is actively "attempting" to pass through the layers when it's being forced to do-so, as they could just rule that the creature rolls off the edge of the first layer, and only needs to test for being blinded for being within 20 feet. They also get saves against every layer, which will bring the damage and danger down a bit, though it may burn through their legendary resistances. But yeah, the intention of wall spells is to prevent enemies from passing through, and the implication with prismastic wall is that it's the act of forcing your way through that is dangerous.
Also if we're in the realm of 9th-level spells then you could just use true polymorph to turn into an ancient brass dragon(or if your DM allows, an adult gold dragon with the shadow dragon template for potentially even greater durability and a seriously nasty breath attack), wait for an hour so the transformation becomes permanent (until dispelled) and for as long as it lasts you've gained massive durability for a Bard putting out ~60+ damage a round (or far more if you can get enough targets in the breath weapon's area of effect), and between battles you can short or long rest as normal to heal, so this effectively gives you a big, near permanent boost to durability and zero cost damage (no spell slots or limited use features required to keep that damage up). In the event that enemies do manage to chew through all that HP, you just go right back to being your normal Bard self, maybe with a few HP lost from overspill, and all your remaining spell slots still ready to use.
But this doesn't really feel like building a "Battle Bard", as any caster who can take either of these spells can do these exact same things.
Characters: Bullette, Chortle, Dracarys Noir, Edward Merryspell, Habard Ashery, Legion, Peregrine
My Homebrew: Feats | Items | Monsters | Spells | Subclasses | Races
Guides: Creating Sub-Races Using Trait Options
WIP (feedback needed): Blood Mage, Chromatic Sorcerers, Summoner, Trickster Domain, Unlucky, Way of the Daoist (Drunken Master), Weapon Smith
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