So my friends making a bard fighter multiclass in a new campaign we are playing (our first one actually) and we are starting at 3rd level (they are specifically 2 levels fighter 1 level bard) and they asked me to find out what would be the best way to play this and I couldn't figure it out so was wondering if someone here could help please 

Thank you :)

If you are new to the game I would advise stick to a single class. It is often complex how the different features interact and it is east to fall into a trap that creates a mechanically very weak character.

If your friend wants to play a Bard with some martial skills I would recommends they play either a valor bard or a swords bard. Valor is better defensively and Swords is better with weapon attacks.

Quote from Jegpeg >>

If you are new to the game I would advise stick to a single class. It is often complex how the different features interact and it is east to fall into a trap that creates a mechanically very weak character.

If your friend wants to play a Bard with some martial skills I would recommends they play either a valor bard or a swords bard. Valor is better defensively and Swords is better with weapon attacks.

While this is generally good advice, two levels of fighter before transitioning into your other class is the easiest possible way to do a multiclass. You get fairly simple extra features in Second Wind and Action Surge (which, at least until they potentially change it in 1D&D, can be veeeeery handy for a spellcaster) and CON save proficiency which, again, is nice to have from the jump for a caster without having to use a feat on Resilient CON or War Caster to boost your concentration checks. I say this as someone who is currently playing a fighter 2/sorcerer X -- it made sense for my character because we were starting the campaign at level 5, so I could still get 2nd-level spells, and I was going to lean to some extent into being a melee fighter with shadow blade and armor of agathys anyway

It's probably best to find out why they want the two levels in fighter. Chances are whatever reason they have for doing it can be handled with their background and backstory, and the question they need to ask themselves is whether those benefits from the fighter dip are really worth delaying their subclass selection and casting progression

What recommendations are you asking exactly? Bard subclass? Race? Fighting style?

By starting with 2 levels in fighter, you get fighting style (you choose one), action surge, and 2nd wind, and with 1 level in fighter, you get better armor and weapons proficiencies, different saving throw proficiencies -- I like having proficiency in CON saves for a spellcaster. But, keep in mind that even with action surge, you can only cast one leveled spell a turn (a leveled spell and a cantrip are ok) per turn. Also, if you're going for heavy armor, consider what your minimum strength needs to be to keep your speed (unless you're a dwarf, which are slower to start with).

Quote from Foodgeek >>

What recommendations are you asking exactly? Bard subclass? Race? Fighting style?

By starting with 2 levels in fighter, you get fighting style (you choose one), action surge, and 2nd wind, and with 1 level in fighter, you get better armor and weapons proficiencies, different saving throw proficiencies -- I like having proficiency in CON saves for a spellcaster. But, keep in mind that even with action surge, you can only cast one leveled spell a turn (a leveled spell and a cantrip are ok) per turn. Also, if you're going for heavy armor, consider what your minimum strength needs to be to keep your speed (unless you're a dwarf, which are slower to start with).

 This is incorrect the rule Foodgeek has misinterpretted (or has heard someone who misinterpreted it) say the following

A spell cast with a bonus action is especially swift. You must use a bonus action on your turn to cast the spell, provided that you haven’t already taken a bonus action this turn. You can’t cast another spell during the same turn, except for a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action.

This is not the same as not being able to cast two levels spells on a turn as it only applies if you cast a spell (included a cantrip) using your bonus action. Two levelled spells with a casting time of one action using action is fine, as it casting a levelled spell as an action and a reaction (for example If a bard casts hidious laughter using their action but the enemy makes the save the bard can use their reaction to cast silvery barbs to make them roll the save again).

I was in a one shot the other day where a multiclass character used action surge to try and cast two leveled spells, and the DM stopped him. I looked it up and the DM was incorrect. Got it. 

Quote from Foodgeek >>

I was in a one shot the other day where a multiclass character used action surge to try and cast two leveled spells, and the DM stopped him. I looked it up and the DM was incorrect. Got it. 

Note that the current playtest version of Fighter doesn't allow you to use Action Surge on a Magic action

Quote from AntonSirius >>

Quote from Foodgeek >>

I was in a one shot the other day where a multiclass character used action surge to try and cast two leveled spells, and the DM stopped him. I looked it up and the DM was incorrect. Got it. 

 

Note that the current playtest version of Fighter doesn't allow you to use Action Surge on a Magic action

 You can not cast 2 spells in a round has always been a common misconception of the rules.

The OP is a new player so I would not recommend they use the play test rules, not only because they are just that, play test, they change every month or so as new UA is released. When the final version of the new release comes out they can choose whether to play it or not.

Quote from StarCreator101 >>

 (they are specifically 2 levels fighter 1 level bard) and they asked me to find out what would be the best way to play this

 This is going about it all backwards. You don't pick your levels first and then figure out how to play them, you state a concept and then figure out what levels you need to take to achieve it.

This sounds very much like a character concept that could be played effectively as one class. If you want a martial bard, you go bard and take the Valor or Swords subclasses. If you want an inspiring fighter, you go fighter and take the Cavalier or Purple Dragon Knight/Banneret subclasses.

You don't make a character like bard/fighter unless you have a specific combination of bard and fighter features in mind (and honestly, I can't think of one - these classes are very much at odds with respect to ability scores and role in combat). Don't think that you have to take a level in the fighter class to roleplay like a fighter or that you have to take a level in bard to act charismatic. Roleplay does not require class levels.

I think a lot of "where do I go?" is depending on how far the character will end up going.  They already have the 2 + 1 levels in classes, so now, are they a fighting class who has a couple magical tricks (the cantrips and spells a level in Bard offers) or a handy swordsman who has an abundance of magical tricks to spice up the melee?

I think if you go full Bard from here, you should do ok.  You'll be behind on everything (second attack and spell level progression) but a lot of Bard magic stays relevant for a reasonable amount of time.  Utility and skill functions with Jack of all Trades and Expertise, supplement the use of this build even further, "hiding" the slower spell and attack progression.  Going full Fighter from here will get you a second attack faster and more ASI's.  Depending on group makeup, you could take Fighter to 5 for the second attack, then switch to Bard to start adding magical help or filling gaps (Identify to immediately know what the fancy new shiny is, if that rule is used at your table)

Lots of options, all depending on ow long the campaign will run and what you want the character to be, more grunt, in your face fighting, or a little more stylish and flamboyant with magical tricks galore.

If you are just starting the character, and are going for a front-line fighter/caster, this is how I would build it:

Custom Lineage with Dex increase and Piercier Feat (choosing dex as well)

Point buy stat spread 8/15/14/10/10/14

Take Defensive fighting style from Fighter.

Wear light armor, shield, and a rapier. You'll have 19AC at level 3 with 18(+4) Dex if you can get into studded leather armor.

At level 5 (2/3) pick College of Swords and take the Dueling fighting style.

At level 6 (2/4), you can take another Dex increase to max you out at 20 (+5). At this point you will have 20AC, and your rapier will be hitting for 1d8+7.

After that, I would probably stick with Fighter 2/Bard X to maximize your spellcasting (also extra attack at Bard 6).

Quote from scatterbraind >>

Quote from StarCreator101 >>

 (they are specifically 2 levels fighter 1 level bard) and they asked me to find out what would be the best way to play this

 This is going about it all backwards. You don't pick your levels first and then figure out how to play them, you state a concept and then figure out what levels you need to take to achieve it.

This sounds very much like a character concept that could be played effectively as one class. If you want a martial bard, you go bard and take the Valor or Swords subclasses. If you want an inspiring fighter, you go fighter and take the Cavalier or Purple Dragon Knight/Banneret subclasses.

You don't make a character like bard/fighter unless you have a specific combination of bard and fighter features in mind (and honestly, I can't think of one - these classes are very much at odds with respect to ability scores and role in combat). Don't think that you have to take a level in the fighter class to roleplay like a fighter or that you have to take a level in bard to act charismatic. Roleplay does not require class levels.

 I was coming into this thread to recommend more or less the same thing. I feel like when a new player comes in and decides they want to multiclass fighter/bard without fully understanding how those two classes work, my assumption is that they basically want to play a Bard based on stories and memes about bards, but they also want to be able to swing a sword and do cool combat stuff. That's why I definitely agree with scatterbraind that they could probably just take Valor or Swords bard and accomplish that same thing.