Here's another character concept from the well of my brain. A Lizardfolk Bard-Barbarian Multiclass. Simply put, I'd like to be a Hammer-and-Drum warrior, who has access to a few handy bard features such as Expertise. I realize that most of you may be utterly appalled at the idea of crossing a Barbarian with any spellcasting class due to the Barbarian's reliance on Rage, but I think it's worth a shot. Frankly, I've never played a Barbarian or a Bard yet, so I'm unsure whether or not it is a workable build. I'm not looking for an optimized build, just a functional one.
How would you build a Bardbarian? Do you grab Expertise in Athletics and become a grappling machine? Would you use any spells? Anything that I'm blatantly missing?
I'm thinking a level balance of X/3 of Barbarian and Bard.
I mean it depends on what you're trying to get out of it. If it's optimization for combat, in my opinion this is terrible. If you're going for flavor for your character concept, pretty much anything goes.
Speaking generally for a full Barbarian, an efficient way to get expertise in athletics (point buy or standard array), start with a 17 in strength. Pick up the Skill Expert feat at level 4, and round out your strength to 18. Pairs nicely with Raging advantage on strength checks for things like grappling or Shield Master shoves.
The Wild Magic Barbarian could be a good choice, it’ll even give you a way to stretch your own spell slots. That only takes 6 levels of Barbarian, leaving 14 for Bard or more Barbarian.
College of Valor is unnecessarily redundant with Barbarian proficiencies and Extra Attack, Swords is slightly better with Manouver-light flourishes and a fighting style. You’d certainly want bard at least 5, to make those Inspiration charges short rest rechargeable rather than long rest. Whispers is an option too, for more raw damage but less side benefits.
I think that Wild Barb 14/Sword or Whisper Bard 6 would be fun. You’d use spells more for utility than combat, but could in a pinch open with some charms or whatever before it comes time to slap the rage button. While raging, you’d still have access to bonus damage, and your limited spell slots would stretch a bit further from the Barbarian slot recharge feature.
I think it's a great mix, personally. I'm a big fan of throwing Barbarian into a multiclass mix, even with spellcasters. You just have to re-think your approach.
I'd suggest starting with Bard at 1st level for the Saving Throws and skills, and then go Barbarian until you hit your second attack. Then tack on a few more levels of Bard. Chicken has it right - think of your spell casting as more of a support/utility option, and enjoy the RP goodness. A military drummer for a bunch of haka performing Lizardfolk warriors is a fantastic character concept in my book...
Envisaging a character at level 20 is like looking at a 98 year old and then trying to work out what they should do for their life to get there. Don't think about the final result, the journey is what matters.
I have a player running a level 8 Wild Magic Barbarian/1 Wild Magic Sorcerer. He has a lot of fun with it. But he is ultimately a barbarian, and does a lot of whacking. The bard stuff will always be quite minor, or else the barbarian stuff will be useless. You can totally play this, but the bard stuff will all need to be out of combat due to Rage.
and I'd say go Swords or Valor for Bard (probably up to level 6 at the most), and any flavor of Barbarian that strikes your fancy. Swords/Valor just feel right for the lizardfolk barbarian (one of my personal favorites), and don't rely on things that you can't do while Raging. Ancestral Guardian, Beast, Totem and Zealot all have a lot to offer, and could mix with this perfectly.
Use the app to try building the idea but look closely at what your giving up in a class to take the other at each level. A quick glance at the progressions shows that bard has a gap in gets at level 7 but barbarian has no gaps at all so you are delaying or losing something with every level of bard. It’s not an optimal build but it probably would be functional and a barbarian skald is At least interesting, especially as a lizard folk.
Bardbarian spends the first couple of rounds using bard features to "prep the battlefield", illuminating targets with fairy fire, baning, inspiring, etc. Then rages.
Here's another character concept from the well of my brain. A Lizardfolk Bard-Barbarian Multiclass. Simply put, I'd like to be a Hammer-and-Drum warrior, who has access to a few handy bard features such as Expertise. I realize that most of you may be utterly appalled at the idea of crossing a Barbarian with any spellcasting class due to the Barbarian's reliance on Rage, but I think it's worth a shot. Frankly, I've never played a Barbarian or a Bard yet, so I'm unsure whether or not it is a workable build. I'm not looking for an optimized build, just a functional one.
How would you build a Bardbarian? Do you grab Expertise in Athletics and become a grappling machine? Would you use any spells? Anything that I'm blatantly missing?
I'm thinking a level balance of X/3 of Barbarian and Bard.
I mean it depends on what you're trying to get out of it. If it's optimization for combat, in my opinion this is terrible. If you're going for flavor for your character concept, pretty much anything goes.
Speaking generally for a full Barbarian, an efficient way to get expertise in athletics (point buy or standard array), start with a 17 in strength. Pick up the Skill Expert feat at level 4, and round out your strength to 18. Pairs nicely with Raging advantage on strength checks for things like grappling or Shield Master shoves.
When looking at multi-class builds, always factor in everything you are giving up. Not just what you're gaining. There is always a trade off.
The Wild Magic Barbarian could be a good choice, it’ll even give you a way to stretch your own spell slots. That only takes 6 levels of Barbarian, leaving 14 for Bard or more Barbarian.
College of Valor is unnecessarily redundant with Barbarian proficiencies and Extra Attack, Swords is slightly better with Manouver-light flourishes and a fighting style. You’d certainly want bard at least 5, to make those Inspiration charges short rest rechargeable rather than long rest. Whispers is an option too, for more raw damage but less side benefits.
I think that Wild Barb 14/Sword or Whisper Bard 6 would be fun. You’d use spells more for utility than combat, but could in a pinch open with some charms or whatever before it comes time to slap the rage button. While raging, you’d still have access to bonus damage, and your limited spell slots would stretch a bit further from the Barbarian slot recharge feature.
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
I think it's a great mix, personally. I'm a big fan of throwing Barbarian into a multiclass mix, even with spellcasters. You just have to re-think your approach.
I'd suggest starting with Bard at 1st level for the Saving Throws and skills, and then go Barbarian until you hit your second attack. Then tack on a few more levels of Bard. Chicken has it right - think of your spell casting as more of a support/utility option, and enjoy the RP goodness. A military drummer for a bunch of haka performing Lizardfolk warriors is a fantastic character concept in my book...
Envisaging a character at level 20 is like looking at a 98 year old and then trying to work out what they should do for their life to get there. Don't think about the final result, the journey is what matters.
I have a player running a level 8 Wild Magic Barbarian/1 Wild Magic Sorcerer. He has a lot of fun with it. But he is ultimately a barbarian, and does a lot of whacking. The bard stuff will always be quite minor, or else the barbarian stuff will be useless. You can totally play this, but the bard stuff will all need to be out of combat due to Rage.
and I'd say go Swords or Valor for Bard (probably up to level 6 at the most), and any flavor of Barbarian that strikes your fancy. Swords/Valor just feel right for the lizardfolk barbarian (one of my personal favorites), and don't rely on things that you can't do while Raging. Ancestral Guardian, Beast, Totem and Zealot all have a lot to offer, and could mix with this perfectly.
Everyone who even thinks of the Bard-Barian needs to consider this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-Op1Mng4oY
In case the link doesn't work: it's the guy playing flaming bagpipes in a kilt!
too perfect for Lizard Folk...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnvI6V-TtLs
Use the app to try building the idea but look closely at what your giving up in a class to take the other at each level. A quick glance at the progressions shows that bard has a gap in gets at level 7 but barbarian has no gaps at all so you are delaying or losing something with every level of bard. It’s not an optimal build but it probably would be functional and a barbarian skald is At least interesting, especially as a lizard folk.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
Bardbarian spends the first couple of rounds using bard features to "prep the battlefield", illuminating targets with fairy fire, baning, inspiring, etc. Then rages.
It's not that exotic a concept/build ... like there's almost a song about it (though from a prior edition).
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.