I am currently making a character for a campaign I'm in that is a Dragonborn specializing in being a War Bard.
I am currently stuck at choosing spells. We're currently 3rd level so I can have 2 cantrips, 6 spells learned (4 - 1st level, 2 - 2nd level) but I haven't really chosen spells in a long time. I've currently chosen Message and Vicious Mockery as my Cantrips, Comprehend Languages and Healing Word as my first two 1st level spells but after that I'm lost.
I may be overthinking it but I'm looking at this on three angles: What a Bard would have, what a Dragonborn would have learned among his kin, and ways to make himself an effective fighter/soldier. Any advice?
Aye, think about defense and offense and if you want this to manifest in magic itself or by strength of arms added by magic.
Bane (1st lvl) makes your enemies cursed to be worse at hitting you and saving versus your spells.
Thunder Wave and Dissonant Whispers are the only 1st lvl spells that do damage. Definitely take on or both. Thunder Wave does burst damage outwards (hitting groups but possibly allies in range as well) while Dissonant Whispers targets one creature and does a lot of concentrated psychic damage. They also run too, if they fail the save.
Charm Person and Tasha's Hideous Laughter are 1st lvl spells that fall under the offensive magic category. The former makes someone consider your a friend, though it is difficult to pull off if you are in a fight with them. The other causes someone to laugh so hard they can't do anything else, including defend themselves in a fight.
Second lvl gets even better.
For straight damage: Cloud of Daggers, Crown of Madness, Phantasmal Force, & Shatter are all amazing.
For utility: Invisibility, Detect Thoughts, Hold Person, Knock, Lesser Restoration, Silence, and Zone of Truth are all great.
Aye, think about defense and offense and if you want this to manifest in magic itself or by strength of arms added by magic.
Bane (1st lvl) makes your enemies cursed to be worse at hitting you and saving versus your spells.
Thunder Wave and Dissonant Whispers are the only 1st lvl spells that do damage. Definitely take on or both. Thunder Wave does burst damage outwards (hitting groups but possibly allies in range as well) while Dissonant Whispers targets one creature and does a lot of concentrated psychic damage. They also run too, if they fail the save.
Charm Person and Tasha's Hideous Laughter are 1st lvl spells that fall under the offensive magic category. The former makes someone consider your a friend, though it is difficult to pull off if you are in a fight with them. The other causes someone to laugh so hard they can't do anything else, including defend themselves in a fight.
Yeah, the ones I were debating on were Bane, Charm Person, Detect Magic, Heroism, Identify, Illusory Script and Silent Image. I will definitely look at the spell description page and look at the ones you suggested. Many thanks!! :)
Mirror image is ALWAYS a good choice. It gives you a greatly lessened chance to get hit, and it's not even concentration, so if you do get hit, it wont cancel out, and it can't be affected by AoE, so you can get plastered by a fireball and the mirror images will still be there to block attack rolls!
Mirror image is ALWAYS a good choice. It gives you a greatly lessened chance to get hit, and it's not even concentration, so if you do get hit, it wont cancel out, and it can't be affected by AoE, so you can get plastered by a fireball and the mirror images will still be there to block attack rolls!
That's definitely a good idea. I just submitted my sheet to my DM, here's what I chose as a 3rd level Bard:
-Cantrips: Message, Vicious Mockery
-1st Level: Comprehend Languages, Dissonant Whispers, Healing Word, Heroism
Thunder Wave has been very handy for my adventuring party so far. However, it is very useful only when fighting multiple weaker monsters. If not, then Dissonant Whispers is the obvious choice. I agree that Sleep is also extremely useful. As for comprehend languages, it is generally handy to have around. However, it is not the best choice for a War Bard.
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"Well met, adventurer. You seem like a curious sort who enjoys the finer things. Permit me to thrust upon you my latest masterwork, years in the making." Volothamp Geddarm
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Greetings fellow adventurers,
I am currently making a character for a campaign I'm in that is a Dragonborn specializing in being a War Bard.
I am currently stuck at choosing spells. We're currently 3rd level so I can have 2 cantrips, 6 spells learned (4 - 1st level, 2 - 2nd level) but I haven't really chosen spells in a long time. I've currently chosen Message and Vicious Mockery as my Cantrips, Comprehend Languages and Healing Word as my first two 1st level spells but after that I'm lost.
I may be overthinking it but I'm looking at this on three angles: What a Bard would have, what a Dragonborn would have learned among his kin, and ways to make himself an effective fighter/soldier. Any advice?
Greetings!
Aye, think about defense and offense and if you want this to manifest in magic itself or by strength of arms added by magic.
Bane (1st lvl) makes your enemies cursed to be worse at hitting you and saving versus your spells.
Thunder Wave and Dissonant Whispers are the only 1st lvl spells that do damage. Definitely take on or both. Thunder Wave does burst damage outwards (hitting groups but possibly allies in range as well) while Dissonant Whispers targets one creature and does a lot of concentrated psychic damage. They also run too, if they fail the save.
Charm Person and Tasha's Hideous Laughter are 1st lvl spells that fall under the offensive magic category. The former makes someone consider your a friend, though it is difficult to pull off if you are in a fight with them. The other causes someone to laugh so hard they can't do anything else, including defend themselves in a fight.
Second lvl gets even better.
For straight damage: Cloud of Daggers, Crown of Madness, Phantasmal Force, & Shatter are all amazing.
For utility: Invisibility, Detect Thoughts, Hold Person, Knock, Lesser Restoration, Silence, and Zone of Truth are all great.
Have fun!
Twitter @berlingsbeard
blog berlingsbeard.com
Mirror image is ALWAYS a good choice. It gives you a greatly lessened chance to get hit, and it's not even concentration, so if you do get hit, it wont cancel out, and it can't be affected by AoE, so you can get plastered by a fireball and the mirror images will still be there to block attack rolls!
Cloud of daggers and expertise athletics is not the worst idea to hold them in place.
In the beginning, sleep is golden. You take them out and deal double damage with your next attack.
Thunder Wave has been very handy for my adventuring party so far. However, it is very useful only when fighting multiple weaker monsters. If not, then Dissonant Whispers is the obvious choice. I agree that Sleep is also extremely useful. As for comprehend languages, it is generally handy to have around. However, it is not the best choice for a War Bard.
"Well met, adventurer. You seem like a curious sort who enjoys the finer things. Permit me to thrust upon you my latest masterwork, years in the making." Volothamp Geddarm