My group is going to start Descent into Avernus soon, and I want to play a Swords Bard. My issue is this: Swords doesn't get Extra Attack until 6, but I'd really like to take a level of Hexblade early for all the bells & whistles you get from that 1st level (also thematically it fits the module).
When would be the best point to take that 1 level dip? I don't want to be SO far behind on getting Extra Attack that I'm worthless to my group.
I am playing a level 5 sword bard / 1 fighter I am using two weapon fighting so I still feel like I have that extra attack already. I started at fighter 1 and it's definitely frustrating being a level "behind" on casting but I always have to remind myself of the con proficiency and extra 1 ac that are always helping.
I don't melee as well as a paladin but I can do consistent damage and have so much flexibility in and out of combat with my spell list. I plan on doing fighter 2 and 3 after another bard level for even more versatility in combat.
You are always going to be a bit behind everyone else in most things but you will always have enough flexibility to never feel useless.
Take hexblade early and get shield, it will save your life and I wish I had it. I usually burn defensive flourish the first round of each combat for the ac bump and use it again if combat hasn't settled a bit.
In my DM's long running campaign we started out at 3rd level. My Sword's Bard took the 4th level for a Feat (Elven Accuracy), then took 1 level in Hexblade, and the next 4 levels were in Swashbuckler. The level in Hexblade made me feel a little bit behind, but getting to 9th level and taking the ASI in Charisma really tied everything together and I feel back on track. I use Charisma for my rapier attacks, add it to my initiative, and use it for my spell DC's so I am pretty single attribute dependent at the moment. Yes, I don't have Extra Attack, but the Sneak Attack damage makes me feel better about it. I can get some decent damage when I crit fish with Hexblade's Curse and Elven Accuracy.
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Canto alla vita alla sua bellezza ad ogni sua ferita ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
I'd say first level in Bard (for all the good Bard stuff) and then one level of Hexblade, then just play the rest as a College of Swords Bard.
Remember you'll be a Eldritch Blast bot most of the time anyway.
I actually disagree about EB. I do like the versatility of the spell, but with Hexblade's Curse and attacking two (eventually 3) times per turn, plus flourishes, I'll be far outpacing Eldritch Blast in damage. It'll be a nice ranged option, but nothing I'll have to rely on.
In my DM's long running campaign we started out at 3rd level. My Sword's Bard took the 4th level for a Feat (Elven Accuracy), then took 1 level in Hexblade, and the next 4 levels were in Swashbuckler. The level in Hexblade made me feel a little bit behind, but getting to 9th level and taking the ASI in Charisma really tied everything together and I feel back on track. I use Charisma for my rapier attacks, add it to my initiative, and use it for my spell DC's so I am pretty single attribute dependent at the moment. Yes, I don't have Extra Attack, but the Sneak Attack damage makes me feel better about it. I can get some decent damage when I crit fish with Hexblade's Curse and Elven Accuracy.
I like the Swashbuckler idea! There are so many ways to go with this sublcass.
I've personally been contemplating a rogue dip as well for a bit of sneak damage and some of the other goodies. Just unsure if it's worth giving up the spells for and possible an asi.
I've personally been contemplating a rogue dip as well for a bit of sneak damage and some of the other goodies. Just unsure if it's worth giving up the spells for and possible an asi.
The spells weren't a big deal for me. When I started playing it was my first time with 5E and I didn't quite realize what it meant that Bards are full casters. I ended up wanting to play something more like a half caster gish, so I'm going to probably end up Swords 6/Hexblade 3/Swashbuckler 11.
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Canto alla vita alla sua bellezza ad ogni sua ferita ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
I'd say first level in Bard (for all the good Bard stuff) and then one level of Hexblade, then just play the rest as a College of Swords Bard.
Remember you'll be a Eldritch Blast bot most of the time anyway.
I actually disagree about EB. I do like the versatility of the spell, but with Hexblade's Curse and attacking two (eventually 3) times per turn, plus flourishes, I'll be far outpacing Eldritch Blast in damage. It'll be a nice ranged option, but nothing I'll have to rely on.
You'll have D6+5 damage from your shortswords/scimitars for an average of 25.5 with extra and bonus attack. Average on D10 is 5.5 for up to 22 average on 4D10.
Okay, I can see your point. Without Agonizing Blast Eldritch Blast isn't that good. With AB it'd jump to 10.5/42 which is another kettle of fish of course.
I'd say first level in Bard (for all the good Bard stuff) and then one level of Hexblade, then just play the rest as a College of Swords Bard.
Remember you'll be a Eldritch Blast bot most of the time anyway.
I actually disagree about EB. I do like the versatility of the spell, but with Hexblade's Curse and attacking two (eventually 3) times per turn, plus flourishes, I'll be far outpacing Eldritch Blast in damage. It'll be a nice ranged option, but nothing I'll have to rely on.
You'll have D6+5 damage from your shortswords/scimitars for an average of 25.5 with extra and bonus attack. Average on D10 is 5.5 for up to 22 average on 4D10.
Okay, I can see your point. Without Agonizing Blast Eldritch Blast isn't that good. With AB it'd jump to 10.5/42 which is another kettle of fish of course.
Yeah. Not to mention the added benefit of the 19 critical from Hexblade Curse, Flourishes giving extra damage, and add any magical items that you'd inevitably get - melee just pulls ahead without AB, and might even do it WITH AB.
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My group is going to start Descent into Avernus soon, and I want to play a Swords Bard. My issue is this: Swords doesn't get Extra Attack until 6, but I'd really like to take a level of Hexblade early for all the bells & whistles you get from that 1st level (also thematically it fits the module).
When would be the best point to take that 1 level dip? I don't want to be SO far behind on getting Extra Attack that I'm worthless to my group.
I am playing a level 5 sword bard / 1 fighter I am using two weapon fighting so I still feel like I have that extra attack already. I started at fighter 1 and it's definitely frustrating being a level "behind" on casting but I always have to remind myself of the con proficiency and extra 1 ac that are always helping.
I don't melee as well as a paladin but I can do consistent damage and have so much flexibility in and out of combat with my spell list. I plan on doing fighter 2 and 3 after another bard level for even more versatility in combat.
You are always going to be a bit behind everyone else in most things but you will always have enough flexibility to never feel useless.
Take hexblade early and get shield, it will save your life and I wish I had it. I usually burn defensive flourish the first round of each combat for the ac bump and use it again if combat hasn't settled a bit.
I was thinking Bard 1 -> Hexblade 1 then full bard. We get a free feat at level 1, so I’m going to take Lucky.
I played with the idea of fighter, but I think having Shield as you mentioned, plus being able to use CHA to hit, would be more of a worthwhile dip.
I’m really excited to play this character.
In my DM's long running campaign we started out at 3rd level. My Sword's Bard took the 4th level for a Feat (Elven Accuracy), then took 1 level in Hexblade, and the next 4 levels were in Swashbuckler. The level in Hexblade made me feel a little bit behind, but getting to 9th level and taking the ASI in Charisma really tied everything together and I feel back on track. I use Charisma for my rapier attacks, add it to my initiative, and use it for my spell DC's so I am pretty single attribute dependent at the moment. Yes, I don't have Extra Attack, but the Sneak Attack damage makes me feel better about it. I can get some decent damage when I crit fish with Hexblade's Curse and Elven Accuracy.
Canto alla vita
alla sua bellezza
ad ogni sua ferita
ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty
To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me
The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
I'd say first level in Bard (for all the good Bard stuff) and then one level of Hexblade, then just play the rest as a College of Swords Bard.
Remember you'll be a Eldritch Blast bot most of the time anyway.
I actually disagree about EB. I do like the versatility of the spell, but with Hexblade's Curse and attacking two (eventually 3) times per turn, plus flourishes, I'll be far outpacing Eldritch Blast in damage. It'll be a nice ranged option, but nothing I'll have to rely on.
I like the Swashbuckler idea! There are so many ways to go with this sublcass.
I've personally been contemplating a rogue dip as well for a bit of sneak damage and some of the other goodies. Just unsure if it's worth giving up the spells for and possible an asi.
The spells weren't a big deal for me. When I started playing it was my first time with 5E and I didn't quite realize what it meant that Bards are full casters. I ended up wanting to play something more like a half caster gish, so I'm going to probably end up Swords 6/Hexblade 3/Swashbuckler 11.
Canto alla vita
alla sua bellezza
ad ogni sua ferita
ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty
To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me
The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
You'll have D6+5 damage from your shortswords/scimitars for an average of 25.5 with extra and bonus attack. Average on D10 is 5.5 for up to 22 average on 4D10.
Okay, I can see your point. Without Agonizing Blast Eldritch Blast isn't that good. With AB it'd jump to 10.5/42 which is another kettle of fish of course.
Yeah. Not to mention the added benefit of the 19 critical from Hexblade Curse, Flourishes giving extra damage, and add any magical items that you'd inevitably get - melee just pulls ahead without AB, and might even do it WITH AB.