I've been talking with some friends about making some people we know into characters. One of them, being a narcissist, "want to rule the world", talks about himself at third person and yet sexy accent talented person, would have been a perfect offensive bard. So I was wandering, is there such a thing as an attacking bard? if so, is there a build for one?
The two general choices for one would be College of Swords or College of Valor. Both give extra armor/weapon proficiencies and abilities related to weapon combat, such as Extra Attack.
There is a link to guides in my signature. Check out some of the bard guides there.
If you really wanted to optimize it, splash 3 levels of Hexblade Warlock with Pact of the Blade, choose Half-Elf as the race, and get the Elven Accuracy feat. Given the plethora of ways to get advantage listed above, you could easily be attacking with 3 dice instead of 1-2 often.
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So the steed means you can ride because why walk if you can ride?
You cast Armor of agathys in a third slot and stop the next 15 damage, if even one damage is stopped by a melee attack the aggressor take 15 cold damage, Now if your riding your horsey steed then AoA seperately affects the horsey as well, so thats amusing as your enemies kill themselves as you deliberately provoke attacks of opportunity. But to really make it annoying tell your opponents how rubbish they are as you use a blade ward cantrip and half all physical damage you take and make that 15 last a good deal longer - oh that affects horsey as well if your riding them. Finally when hit use your bard inspiration reaction (cutting words) to lower the damage roll so you end up taking next to nothing laugh and watch them freeze. You should be able to take 3 to 5 hits or more per cast at 3rd (on each of you and the horse) A crit or non physical damage is your biggest weakness.
If you really wanted to optimize it, splash 3 levels of Hexblade Warlock with Pact of the Blade, choose Half-Elf as the race, and get the Elven Accuracy feat. Given the plethora of ways to get advantage listed above, you could easily be attacking with 3 dice instead of 1-2 often.
Faerie Fire and Blindness/Deafness should be fine with a two-handed weapon, but the other ones require either somatic components or material components, which would require a free hand. So you would need to let go of the sword with one hand to cast the somatic ones. That's certainly easier with a 2h weapon than with a weapon and shield. The material component spells are a little more tricky, since you need to either get at the component itself or your spellcasting focus (instrument) in order to cast and most instruments require two hands to play.
EDIT: It looks like bards are not required to cast through their instruments, but they would still need a hand free for components or an arcane focus of some type.
Hey,
I've been talking with some friends about making some people we know into characters.
One of them, being a narcissist, "want to rule the world", talks about himself at third person and yet sexy accent talented person, would have been a perfect offensive bard.
So I was wandering, is there such a thing as an attacking bard? if so, is there a build for one?
Thanks in advance!
The two general choices for one would be College of Swords or College of Valor. Both give extra armor/weapon proficiencies and abilities related to weapon combat, such as Extra Attack.
There is a link to guides in my signature. Check out some of the bard guides there.
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May you be blessed with ice-cream and pizza
I'd say my personal preference would be to make a Valor Bard with Great Weapon Master and spells that give advantage on attacks like Faerie Fire, Blindness/Deafness, Greater Invisibility, and Foresight.
If you really wanted to optimize it, splash 3 levels of Hexblade Warlock with Pact of the Blade, choose Half-Elf as the race, and get the Elven Accuracy feat. Given the plethora of ways to get advantage listed above, you could easily be attacking with 3 dice instead of 1-2 often.
Feature Requests || Homebrew FAQ || Pricing FAQ || Hardcovers FAQ || Snippet Codes || Tooltips
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If past 6th you have some bards that have arms and armour. Alternatively as you mention narcissitic and arrogant - at 6th, lorebard,
Spell secret - armor of agathys, (warl 1) find steed (pal 2)
So the steed means you can ride because why walk if you can ride?
You cast Armor of agathys in a third slot and stop the next 15 damage, if even one damage is stopped by a melee attack the aggressor take 15 cold damage, Now if your riding your horsey steed then AoA seperately affects the horsey as well, so thats amusing as your enemies kill themselves as you deliberately provoke attacks of opportunity. But to really make it annoying tell your opponents how rubbish they are as you use a blade ward cantrip and half all physical damage you take and make that 15 last a good deal longer - oh that affects horsey as well if your riding them. Finally when hit use your bard inspiration reaction (cutting words) to lower the damage roll so you end up taking next to nothing laugh and watch them freeze. You should be able to take 3 to 5 hits or more per cast at 3rd (on each of you and the horse) A crit or non physical damage is your biggest weakness.
Faerie Fire and Blindness/Deafness should be fine with a two-handed weapon, but the other ones require either somatic components or material components, which would require a free hand. So you would need to let go of the sword with one hand to cast the somatic ones. That's certainly easier with a 2h weapon than with a weapon and shield. The material component spells are a little more tricky, since you need to either get at the component itself or your spellcasting focus (instrument) in order to cast and most instruments require two hands to play.
EDIT: It looks like bards are not required to cast through their instruments, but they would still need a hand free for components or an arcane focus of some type.
"Not all those who wander are lost"