I am currently playing a Half-Elf College of Swords Bard in Rime of the Frostmaiden.
We are currently level 3. Our DM gave us a free feat at level 1, and I picked up War Caster. I also use the two weapon fighting style.
I am sort of squishy, but I plan to alleviate that by taking a Hexblade dip (via a story arc from the module) at level 4. My progression will look like this:
Levels 1-3: Bard
Level 4: Hexblade Warlock - With this, I get access to Charisma as an attacking stat, the Shield spell, Eldritch Blast, and either Hex or Hellish Rebuke (your choice).
Level 5 - 12: Bard
The module ends around level 12.
This sets you back one level for extra attack and Magical Secrets, but it makes you infinitely more tanky, gives you noticeable power spikes at levels 4, 7, and 11, and allows you to pretty much focus exclusively on Charisma and Constitution.
If you're going all the way to 20, I'd look at grabbing two more levels of warlock at some point for your Invocations, and then staying Bard, perhaps with a fighter dip for Action Surge or a Paladin dip for smites.
A lot of people hate Hexblade dips, but I feel like a College of Swords bard is made immeasurably better by taking just that one level of Warlock.
First, no Multi-classing, its a trap and a crutch for the uncreative, it slows down your acquisition of spell slots, Inspiration Dice and class features. Second, take Variant Human with a Quarterstaff that is used one handed. Third, take Magic Initiate (Druid) to get Shillelagh (and two other spells) which lets you use Charisma for To-Hit and Damage. When you reach 10th lvl, have some fun and pick up Armor of Agathys, which you can cast at higher levels and more often than Warlocks and Hellish Rebuke (something to use your reaction for and your spell slots if you a focused on melee).
If you run out of stats to pump up (or just want to get crazy) your can pick up the Polearm Master feat to add another attack to the mix.
(Edit....or not, lol, while the spell says to use your casting stat the feat defines that as Wisdom)
I'm sorry, but this is terrible advice.
First of, saying multiclassing is uninspired and then suggesting variant human for the bonus feat is bizarre as that is probably the most uninspired choice in the whole 5e system.
Second, picking two 1st warlock spells with 10th level feature which could just as well pick a 5 level spell is really a waste. Picking lower tier spells perfectly fine, but a cantrip (that doesn't work) and two 1st level spells isn't very good use of an amazing feature.
If you multiclass instead to hexblade (yes, it's been done to death, but it gives you what you are trying to get anyway it seems) you would end up being quite SAD.
Using Cha for spells and melee. Getting booming blade if you like. Being able to pick up both Armor of Agathys and hellish rebuke or the shield spell, which is probably a vastly superior spell to use for your reaction as avoiding a hit is definitely preferable. And you could pick eldritch blast as well. A good ranged option.
And shield proficiency. Possible the Hex spell. And you get the Hex curse. And on and on.
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Besides all those problems, I just personally want to play a Swords Bard, not a Sticks Bard. At least ... not yet.
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 am currently playing a Half-Elf College of Swords Bard in Rime of the Frostmaiden.
We are currently level 3. Our DM gave us a free feat at level 1, and I picked up War Caster. I also use the two weapon fighting style.
I am sort of squishy, but I plan to alleviate that by taking a Hexblade dip (via a story arc from the module) at level 4. My progression will look like this:
Levels 1-3: Bard
Level 4: Hexblade Warlock - With this, I get access to Charisma as an attacking stat, the Shield spell, Eldritch Blast, and either Hex or Hellish Rebuke (your choice).
Level 5 - 12: Bard
The module ends around level 12.
This sets you back one level for extra attack and Magical Secrets, but it makes you infinitely more tanky, gives you noticeable power spikes at levels 4, 7, and 11, and allows you to pretty much focus exclusively on Charisma and Constitution.
If you're going all the way to 20, I'd look at grabbing two more levels of warlock at some point for your Invocations, and then staying Bard, perhaps with a fighter dip for Action Surge or a Paladin dip for smites.
A lot of people hate Hexblade dips, but I feel like a College of Swords bard is made immeasurably better by taking just that one level of Warlock.
I'm sorry, but this is terrible advice.
First of, saying multiclassing is uninspired and then suggesting variant human for the bonus feat is bizarre as that is probably the most uninspired choice in the whole 5e system.
Second, picking two 1st warlock spells with 10th level feature which could just as well pick a 5 level spell is really a waste. Picking lower tier spells perfectly fine, but a cantrip (that doesn't work) and two 1st level spells isn't very good use of an amazing feature.
If you multiclass instead to hexblade (yes, it's been done to death, but it gives you what you are trying to get anyway it seems) you would end up being quite SAD.
Using Cha for spells and melee. Getting booming blade if you like. Being able to pick up both Armor of Agathys and hellish rebuke or the shield spell, which is probably a vastly superior spell to use for your reaction as avoiding a hit is definitely preferable. And you could pick eldritch blast as well. A good ranged option.
And shield proficiency. Possible the Hex spell. And you get the Hex curse. And on and on.