Sorry this is long. Currently playing a campaign and would like some feedback on a build going forward.

Current:

Autumn Eladrin Elf.

3 Lore Bard/1 Hexblade Warlock

10 Str, 14 Dex, 14 Con, 10 Int, 10 Wis, 17 Cha

Cantrips: Eldritch Blast, Mage Hand, Mind Sliver, Minor Illusion

Spells: Comprehend Language, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Shield, Sleep, Hideous Laughter, Invisibility, Lesser Restoration.

Party comp: Alchemist Artificer, Eldritch Knight Fighter, Oath Breaker Paladin, Spores Druid, Life Cleric, Fiend Warlock, HexLoreBard (me)

Started this character with the intent of playing a really utility focused Bard while taking a dip of Hexblade for the Medium Armor and the ability to not completely suck at melee if enemies get up close. Been using eldritch blast from afar unless using mind sliver for creatures with super low intelligence like undead and beasts for an almost guaranteed hit. It’s been working well combined with my party member’s saving throw style spells (spores druid spore damage saves, web, entangle, catapult, etc).

However I have recently decided I want to be a gish. Our party is about to finish Lost Mines and we are going to move into Dungeon of the Mad Mage, which is a 5-20 campaign. Knowing I could be playing the same character for a year or two, I wanted something I thought would be super fun. Hence, I want to build a Greatsword wielding HexBard that can cast spells but also deal damage up close. I don’t really care too much about not receiving 9th level spells. Below is what I have planned. It seems really unconventional, but after looking at all of the options I would be losing when not playing a full bard, I just couldn’t pass up being able to take the extra levels in Hexblade. Getting to 5 Hex will give me the extra attack. Only flaw I can see is I am pushing Magical Secrets and my higher level spell slots to way later levels, but I figured with such a diverse and large party, I may be ok. Pushing 4th level spells all the way to level 12th seems kinda bad, but idk.

I have never played above 5th level so I do not know what to expect at each level. I want so badly to make this work because the idea of casting something like Shadow of Moil or Darkness or something and fey stepping around the battlefield, playing guitar and busting heads with a greatsword while engulfed in magical flame or darkness sounds amazingly fun. I just don’t know if I’m planning ahead well in order of what I need to to make an effective character. Pretty set on 15 levels of Lorebard and 5 of HexLock.

Level Planning

5th level:

Bard Level 4 Feat choice – Elvish Accuracy (gives a +1 to Charisma to take me to 18) + the super advantage for hitting stuff.

6th level:

Bard level 5 Font of inspiration - +3 proficiency bonus – 3rd level spells (Hypnotic Pattern, Tiny Hut for utility for now).

7th level:

Warlock level 2 – Devils sight and Eldritch mind or agonizing blast and eldritch mind

8th level:

Warlock level 3 – Pact of the Blade -can use GreatSword,  swap an invocation for improved pact weapon +1,  +4 Proficiency Bonus Warlock level 2 spells… Darkness)

9th level:

Warlock level 4 – ASI Charisma to 20

10th level:

Warlock level 5 – Warlock 3rd level spells (Counterspell and Spirit Shroud), Thirsting Blade invocation for Extra Attack

11th level:

Bard level 6 – Magical Secrets Fireball and Spirit Guardians

12th level:

Bard level 7 – 4th level spells

13th level:

Bard level 8 – ASI Great Weapon Master +5 Proficiency Bonus

14th level:

Bard level 9 – 5th level spells

15th level:

Bard level 10 – Magical Secrets Wall of Force and Shadow of Moil– Expertise Slight of Hand and Deception

16th level:

Bard level 11 – 6th level spells

17th level:

Bard level 12 – Feat Lucky +6 Proficiency bonus

18th level:

Bard level 13 – 7th level spells

19th level:

Bard level 14 Magical Secrets – Simulacrum and Tenser’s Transformation

20th level

Bard level 15 – 8th level spells

It doesn't look bad, but if you're investing the extra levels into Warlock to get more of a Gish, I feel like it might be better to hit those Warlock levels first to get extra attack sooner. That said.. you've got a pretty stacked party when it comes to frontline fighters... I think your Fiend Warlock is the only person in your party who doesn't at least get Medium armor. I can see the challenge you're faced with, though... Font of Inspiration is huge, especially since your CHA score is still below max...

I think your plan makes as much or more sense than focusing on Warlock first. I think you just need to ready yourself for a pretty long wait before you'll be able to hit your dream of a greatsword-swinging bardlock.

Thanks for the reply. I feel what you’re saying. Putting the warlock levels first is what I’m wrestling with so much. That inspiration is just so good, it’s hard to wait for. I think I set it up this way mostly just because I’d feel like I was letting the party down if I put it off too far. Pretty much doubles or triples the inspiration uses…. But I want my greatsword so bad….

As long as I don’t die, you’re right, I’ll probably wait a long time. I’m hoping it’s worth it!

I think you should compromise... take those first two levels of Warlock to get to level 3 for Pact of the Blade so you can use a Greatsword as your Pact Weapon, then go back to bard to get Font of Inspiration, then go back to Warlock for Thirsting Blade. I think it's worth going Warlock 2 first for now if only to get your level 2 Invocations. That will give you Agonizing Blast right at level 5, right when you'll be making two attacks with Eldritch Blast, so even though you still won't be a reliable Gish yet, Beefing up your Eldritch Blast right then and there will do a lot to help you keep up with your allies in damage output without too significantly slowing down your spell progression.

I think you’re probably right! That’s what I’ll end up doing then. Thanks for the advice

You're focusing much too much on hitting hard in melee (your build is radically better with Pact of the Chain and a longsword!) and not enough on the things your build is actually good at - plus, you don't have Booming Blade, which is normally the core of how you make a Gish like this credible.  Is your DM willing to let you change any of this build, e.g. dropping Eldritch Blast for something else?  You've functionally decided you don't want to build around it anymore, so it sucks being saddled with a cantrip you don't want to cast.

If you're going to level up Warlock, I recommend in the strongest possible terms focusing on Pact of the Chain + Gift of the Ever-living ones (you have a Life Cleric in the party!).  Your Lore Bard inspiration dice let you force enemies to miss, so leaning into your natural tanking powers is the way to go.

Hmmm… I’m starting to think I want to be a Hexblade more than a bard at this point. Maybe I’ll just take 16 more levels of warlock instead of going back and forth.

The bard levels I took still provide lots of benefit. By 20 I will have 5 cutting words per long rest and 4 possible casts of shield per long rest for defense due to the bard spell slots, 2 casts of invisibility or something per long rest. Song of rest to support my allies and expertise for social encounters. I’ll be a couple levels behind in spell casting, but I’ll get all of my melee stuff and have access to 9th level spellcasting through the mystic arcanum. A Hexblade with a bunch of shield casts sounds pretty fun. If I get into a pickle I can always fey step away and eldritch blast.

Honestly, that's what I would probably do in your situation as well, but I didn't want to give advice like, "Actually, you should do something completely different from your plan", because I feel like that advice isn't always helpful. But yeah... a Warlock that has access to even a few "junk" low-level slots from another class can be really effective... a Hexblade who can cast Shield more than twice a day can be huge

I’m really hoping so! Thanks for the advice