I haven't played in so long I might as well be new but, I am diving in. As I have played a few MMO's over the past 20 years ... in Everquest I enjoyed Bard the most. Also the blended Ranger Bard from FFXIV ... was quite fun. I am looking into the mulitclass and I really like the idea of the Bard/Rogue. I am leaning towards College of Lore and Soulknife/Scout/ArcaneTrickster. Upon some reading into this, I see many people suggesting rogue +3 first. However I was thinking to go Bard +3 first and maybe try to hit a more group support role first. Then back to rogue +3, and after onto Bard +17.
I feel like the soulknife gives me a little more offensive ability. Whereas the Scout-survivability, and more utility with Arcane. That being said, I also feel like there are some novel possibilities with mage hands being used in a means for all of the above. Would like some feedback or thoughts. After writing, I am starting to lean more into Arcane. I realize that starting Bard, then going Rogue, then returning to focus bard will underpower me a bit compared to single class party members, but that would be the case regardless no?
I have a party member who tried this. The 3rd level subclass cost is really, really rough. You will be severely underpowered at 4-9 levels. At 8th level you will be 3/5 and just getting 3rd level spells. You just don't have enough spell slots to make it through an adventuring day, and you sneak attack isn't big enough to be impactful. If you go Arcane you add intelligence to your spread of abilities. So if you slot it at 13 then you can't take any spells that require saves or you slot resources into intelligence and lower your dex or cha.
Maybe someone who has been more successful with this build can give you some advice, but its pretty tough.
Honestly, because the swashbuckler is the rogue that gains the most bonuses to Charisma, it might be a better option that soul knife...
on the other hand, soul knife DOES get the option to always have a free hand at the end of your turn of casting a reaction spell that requires a osmotic component is required. Also, the blades also have a 60 foot range, which is huge for a throwing weapon
Soulknife/Whispers Bard is a combination that I am thinking about playing in our upcoming Out of the Abyss campaign. I'm not sold because of the damage output, psychic blades from whispers helps keep close to the sneak attack, but not quite there. I would be the skill monkey and a back line ranged combatant. We have plenty of tankiness to stay in front, so it could work out.
Arcane Trickster is a bit awkward with a Bard multiclass due to the spells of an Arcane Trickster being Intelligence-based; and Bard spells being Charisma-based.
This spreads your stats in two difficult directions to pull off in a single character.
Soulknife Rogue is interesting; though I must confess I have little experience with it, as it is still fairly new.
Scout Rogue has a surprising amount to offer a Bard multiclass, however…the subclass gets automatic Expertise in Survival & Nature skills: add this to the skills the Rogue already gets…AND all the skill boosts Bards get…and that’s a LOT different skills your character is going to be good at.
The Scout Rogue’s ability to use their reaction to escape an enemy’s melee range without provoking opportunity attacks is also quite useful…both Bards and Rogues tend to not want to stay in melee range; so a multiclass between the two would be very hard to chase down with this subclass feature.
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I haven't played in so long I might as well be new but, I am diving in. As I have played a few MMO's over the past 20 years ... in Everquest I enjoyed Bard the most. Also the blended Ranger Bard from FFXIV ... was quite fun. I am looking into the mulitclass and I really like the idea of the Bard/Rogue. I am leaning towards College of Lore and Soulknife/Scout/ArcaneTrickster. Upon some reading into this, I see many people suggesting rogue +3 first. However I was thinking to go Bard +3 first and maybe try to hit a more group support role first. Then back to rogue +3, and after onto Bard +17.
I feel like the soulknife gives me a little more offensive ability. Whereas the Scout-survivability, and more utility with Arcane. That being said, I also feel like there are some novel possibilities with mage hands being used in a means for all of the above. Would like some feedback or thoughts. After writing, I am starting to lean more into Arcane. I realize that starting Bard, then going Rogue, then returning to focus bard will underpower me a bit compared to single class party members, but that would be the case regardless no?
I have a party member who tried this. The 3rd level subclass cost is really, really rough. You will be severely underpowered at 4-9 levels. At 8th level you will be 3/5 and just getting 3rd level spells. You just don't have enough spell slots to make it through an adventuring day, and you sneak attack isn't big enough to be impactful. If you go Arcane you add intelligence to your spread of abilities. So if you slot it at 13 then you can't take any spells that require saves or you slot resources into intelligence and lower your dex or cha.
Maybe someone who has been more successful with this build can give you some advice, but its pretty tough.
Honestly, because the swashbuckler is the rogue that gains the most bonuses to Charisma, it might be a better option that soul knife...
on the other hand, soul knife DOES get the option to always have a free hand at the end of your turn of casting a reaction spell that requires a osmotic component is required. Also, the blades also have a 60 foot range, which is huge for a throwing weapon
Soulknife/Whispers Bard is a combination that I am thinking about playing in our upcoming Out of the Abyss campaign. I'm not sold because of the damage output, psychic blades from whispers helps keep close to the sneak attack, but not quite there. I would be the skill monkey and a back line ranged combatant. We have plenty of tankiness to stay in front, so it could work out.
Arcane Trickster is a bit awkward with a Bard multiclass due to the spells of an Arcane Trickster being Intelligence-based; and Bard spells being Charisma-based.
This spreads your stats in two difficult directions to pull off in a single character.
Soulknife Rogue is interesting; though I must confess I have little experience with it, as it is still fairly new.
Scout Rogue has a surprising amount to offer a Bard multiclass, however…the subclass gets automatic Expertise in Survival & Nature skills: add this to the skills the Rogue already gets…AND all the skill boosts Bards get…and that’s a LOT different skills your character is going to be good at.
The Scout Rogue’s ability to use their reaction to escape an enemy’s melee range without provoking opportunity attacks is also quite useful…both Bards and Rogues tend to not want to stay in melee range; so a multiclass between the two would be very hard to chase down with this subclass feature.