Hey all, been looking at the bard and loving the idea of magical secrets and full spellcasting mixed with Valor bards. Then I realized that bards, while been good at buffing, control and debuffing, damage isn't their forte.
This led me to wondering how a GWM Valor Bard or SS Valor bard would fare to make up for damage. I came with two ideas as a result without multiclassing: 1. Valor Bard using a heavy weapon in Med armor and picking up GWM at 4, using my own inspiration and Faerie Fire early to hit and later on upgrading to Greater Invisibility and picking up Heavily Armored at 8.
2. Valor Bard picking up SS at 4, using the same tactics while picking up swift quiver at 10.
Playing it like a Bladelock or Bladesinger of sorts, how practical is this? I haven't seen much for STR building using bards and don't have much experience playing a melee spellcaster. What would people improve or what progression would you take? Assuming point buy, and no multiclassing but allowing feats.
There is nothing that prevents you from using this feats. Haste or swift quiver let you make a lot of attacks. Combine it with a buff that does not cost you concentration. As long as you wait for haste and swift quiver and a better proficiency bonus, you can just use fairy fire to help you hit. For the gwm sleep may also be a good initiator. Or just coulour spray.
The wording and duration of true strike suggest that the blinded status is still in effect on your next turn's attacks... otherwise true strike would do nothing at all...
For extra power as an archer, be a wood elf. You get mobility and stealth.
For the gwm you could be a human for great stat increases. Half elf woul also be great. And if you can live with slightly lower charisma, mountain dwarf is the best. You start with great armor and ok weapons. The advantage over variant human is lost at level 3 though. You still retain other dwarf bonuses.
Interesting choices also include half orc and goliath. Although you might be less charismatic and have to live with slightly lower cha and AC, you have racial features that help you survive.
If you like it more exotic, dragonborn will be a useful pick for the GWM and even halflings can make great sneaky archers. Practically never rolling 1s is worth about +0.5 to hit.
Fighter 1 is indeed a good option. The disadvatage is being late for your next spell level. I think a great weapon masrer benefits more from 1 level of fighter. Although archery fighting style greatly helps for hitting. As an archer you don't need heavy armor though or con saves as much. It is better than dexterity saving throw though...
I tend to think taking a lvl in Fighter isn't worth it for Valor Bards. It delays the 2 biggest abilities that you want as a Valor Bard, Extra Attack and Magical Secrets. Waiting until lvl 7 for Extra Attack hurts as a martial character, especially since everyone else gets it at 5. With Magical Secrets your martial Bard build comes online, it's what makes you as good or better than other martials. Getting those Paladin/Ranger spells are why you are great as a fighter.
If you are starting at lvl 11, then the multiclass doesn't matter. Starting at 1-3 and starting Fighter before going Bard hurts.
I do like barbarian though. Fighter may indeed be only worth it for str based valor bards. And only if you may happen to expect more than simple armor proficiencies. Con saves and a weapon style helps. Paladin is usually better. At second level you get a spell level and a fighting stxle and the smite ability. Coupled with bard spell progression you may find the trade ok.
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Hey all, been looking at the bard and loving the idea of magical secrets and full spellcasting mixed with Valor bards. Then I realized that bards, while been good at buffing, control and debuffing, damage isn't their forte.
This led me to wondering how a GWM Valor Bard or SS Valor bard would fare to make up for damage. I came with two ideas as a result without multiclassing:
1. Valor Bard using a heavy weapon in Med armor and picking up GWM at 4, using my own inspiration and Faerie Fire early to hit and later on upgrading to Greater Invisibility and picking up Heavily Armored at 8.
2. Valor Bard picking up SS at 4, using the same tactics while picking up swift quiver at 10.
Playing it like a Bladelock or Bladesinger of sorts, how practical is this? I haven't seen much for STR building using bards and don't have much experience playing a melee spellcaster. What would people improve or what progression would you take? Assuming point buy, and no multiclassing but allowing feats.
There is nothing that prevents you from using this feats. Haste or swift quiver let you make a lot of attacks. Combine it with a buff that does not cost you concentration. As long as you wait for haste and swift quiver and a better proficiency bonus, you can just use fairy fire to help you hit. For the gwm sleep may also be a good initiator. Or just coulour spray.
The wording and duration of true strike suggest that the blinded status is still in effect on your next turn's attacks... otherwise true strike would do nothing at all...
For extra power as an archer, be a wood elf. You get mobility and stealth.
For the gwm you could be a human for great stat increases. Half elf woul also be great. And if you can live with slightly lower charisma, mountain dwarf is the best. You start with great armor and ok weapons. The advantage over variant human is lost at level 3 though. You still retain other dwarf bonuses.
Interesting choices also include half orc and goliath. Although you might be less charismatic and have to live with slightly lower cha and AC, you have racial features that help you survive.
If you like it more exotic, dragonborn will be a useful pick for the GWM and even halflings can make great sneaky archers. Practically never rolling 1s is worth about +0.5 to hit.
Edit: you can't use your own inspiration though.
Utilizing multiclassing makes this pretty viable.
What you want to do is fighter 1/Bard x
Starting out fighter gives you three huge things to help a melee spellcaster
1. A fighting style to increase your damage or defense
2. Proficiency in CON saves means its easier for you to maintain concentration on spells when you take damage in melee
3.Heavy Armour meaning you don't have to worry about Dex, making you less MAD.
Plus, you'll have a weapon from the start that allows Great Weapon Master to work.
I made this character using V. Human and point buy and it is super fun to play.
Fighter 1 is indeed a good option. The disadvatage is being late for your next spell level. I think a great weapon masrer benefits more from 1 level of fighter. Although archery fighting style greatly helps for hitting. As an archer you don't need heavy armor though or con saves as much. It is better than dexterity saving throw though...
I tend to think taking a lvl in Fighter isn't worth it for Valor Bards. It delays the 2 biggest abilities that you want as a Valor Bard, Extra Attack and Magical Secrets. Waiting until lvl 7 for Extra Attack hurts as a martial character, especially since everyone else gets it at 5. With Magical Secrets your martial Bard build comes online, it's what makes you as good or better than other martials. Getting those Paladin/Ranger spells are why you are great as a fighter.
If you are starting at lvl 11, then the multiclass doesn't matter. Starting at 1-3 and starting Fighter before going Bard hurts.
I do like barbarian though. Fighter may indeed be only worth it for str based valor bards. And only if you may happen to expect more than simple armor proficiencies. Con saves and a weapon style helps. Paladin is usually better. At second level you get a spell level and a fighting stxle and the smite ability. Coupled with bard spell progression you may find the trade ok.