Our DM has us playing 3 oneshots, and then starting the actual campaign, so that we can playtest our chars a little and get the hang of the rules/refresh our memories. We already played session 1 at lvl1, and we'll be doing a session 2 at lvl2, session 3 at lvl3 and then starting at lvl3 or 4 for the campaign.

My character a Half-Elf Valor Bard, a kind of inspiring skald, archer/caster. I basically want my hero to be a light warrior/skill monkey that's also casting, and decided to have him ranged to keep him further from harms way and by RPing his personality, which is averse to extreme danger too close.

I have a couple of options for my build that I was hoping you could help me pick and choose from.
A few goals are:

1. I want him to be able to get some decent attack hits in combat and not die.
2. I understand that casting is important for bards, so I want to get that power up.
3. I really like Skills, so I don't want negative modifiers from stats or for him to be "dumb", and Perception, Insight, Survival are important to me (WIS)

(Skills I'm using: Athletics, Deception, Insight, Perception, Persuasion, Stealth, Survival).

Ability Score options:
10 16 12 10 12 16

10 16 14 10 10 16

or

**[10 15 14 10 12 16 unique package w/ start as Fighter1/BardX, Feats/ASIs - Resilient: DEX, Cha, SS, Cha, Dex]

Multiclass options:

• Bard straight through, no MC

• Fighter 1/Bard X - Start with CON proficiency, Archery fighting style or Close Quarters Shooter (modified), second wind, a couple more HPs/Hit Die, all weapon and armor proficiencies right away. Get Bard abilities/spells/skill later. But, I lose the Dex/Cha saves, 2 tools/instruments (DM says tools/inst. ok), and Bard's starting equipment.

• Bard X/Fighter 1 - Start with DEX/CHA proficiencies, 2 more instruments/tools (DM says tools/inst. ok), Entertainer's pack. Get fighting style,second wind, weapon/armor profs later. But I lose CON prof, HPs.

Fighting Style Options(if MC): Archery or Close Quarters Shooter(UA and modified by DM - no ranged disadv. at close range and +1 to attack)

ASI/Feat Options:

• Cha 18, SS, Cha 20, Dex 18, Warcaster or Elven accuracy or Alert or Lucky
• SS, Cha 18, Dex 18, Cha 20, Warcaster or Elven accuracy or Alert or Lucky

**RE: the unique package - Basically start as a fighter for the CON saves and get Dex saves also using feat., also letting me have that 14 CON and 12 WIS to start, but delays ASI progression somewhat and takes a feat slot.

Feel free to suggest other tweaks (just nothing that eats into Bards levels too much and no warlock/paladin stuff, and yes I know many people play bards as a lot more of a caster)...

Straight Bard would eventually give you Superior Inspiration, which would certainly be nice. With your Magical Secrets pick up Ranger spells like Conjure Volley.

That's my two cents.

I'm okay with missing the capstone for bard (superior inspiration) as it's not that impressive, so I'm okay to dip MC fighter. I'm just trying to figure out best options for the build :)

I would take Valor Bard to level 7 so you won't miss spell progression and extra attack.  At level 8 I would take Fighter for the Archery fighting style.  And at level 9 use your Bard ASI for Sharpshooter.  That way you'll have the fighting style ready to offset the penalty of Sharpshooter.

I was thinking starting as fighter for the con saves, fighting style, and second wind, for lvl 1 and then doing bard the rest of the way. 

Like Fighter 1 

Ability scores 10 15 14 10 12 16

Then bard the rest of the way

Get Resilient: DEX as my first feat (so now I have con and dex save profs and 16 dex)

Then for  the rest of my ASIs do: Cha, SS, Cha, Dex (in that order)

Since you're planning on staying as a ranged character, CON saves are not as important.  And the Archery fighting style is really only needed once you pick up Sharpshooter.  So I think it's safe to wait until later for the Fighter level.

Anyway, are you comfortable being a level behind others getting level 3 spells and two levels behind others getting extra attack?  And waiting until level 13 for Sharpshooter?

aaa so you're saying that for a ranged char, I don't need con saves as much as dex (since I'm trying to evade fireball/dragonbreath type stuff or falling objects perhaps) and con is important for concentration if you're up close to enemies who are dealing big damage?

And starting a fighter and then taking resilient dex is a waste of an early ASI/feat?

So like maybe start bard with Ability scores 10 15 14 10 12 16

use short bow and leather armor for now until I get my valor college

then take Elven accuracy at level 4 to get the +1 to dex and get the double rerolls on advantage by using the control spells.

Then up my charisma for spells to 18 at lvl 8, then perhaps sharpshooter and fighter dip for the archery fighting style at around lvl12

I guess in this case another question is how badly am I handicapping my casting power by getting CHA to 20 only at lvl 16 and also how much better is elven accuracy over having both a dex and a con save prof.

To answer your question - I'm okay as besides me the only other caster in our party is an arcane trickster and we have 2 tanks - ranger and fighter so my attacks will catch up - esp as valor bard getting the 2 attacks when he gets his college afaik.

CON saves are important, but less so if you never plan to be in melee range.

I think you'll be fine with CHA at 18 all the way to level 17.

As for Elven Accuracy, how often do you think you'll be able to use it vs. how often do you think CON saves will come up?