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General Tabletop Discussion
Character Builds & Optimization
How to survive/flee from melee as a low-lvl bard/bardlock (except relying on party)
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<blockquote data-quote="Tomice" data-source="post: 7035433" data-attributes="member: 6873674"><p>Disclaimer: I'm a total noob, just learning the basics.</p><p></p><p>I'm interested in playing a lore bard with a social/deception focus and good scouting skills, which will obviously lack in direct combat ability early on. </p><p>I'm thinking about a warlock dip to improve damage and further buff the social trickery potential (mask of many faces! + minor illusion, friends, actor feat, invisibility, stealth and social skill expertise,...).</p><p></p><p><u>There's just one tiny little problem:</u></p><p>Using all these cool tricks, I will be alone from time to time. How can I avoid being dead the instant my cover blows? How can I survive being alone in a room with 1-3 strong melee ruffians? If I can't disable them, how can I get the hell out and reach my party again?</p><p>On a related note, what to do when the party is outnumbered and melee brutes reach me?</p><p></p><p><u>What I thought of:</u></p><p>1) Dash? If my initiative is better than theirs (and as a dex/cha- focused bard, it will often be), I will be able to run off with a speed of 60 before being hit. If that's true, they can never catch me AND make an melee attack, right? Ranged attacks would be a problem, though.</p><p>2) Invisibility? If it's my turn, only a counterspell could keep me from casting it? Assuming they have no caster, I will be able to disappear, even if I need to open doors/locks on my way out?</p><p>3) Booming blade cantrip? Hitting one of them, then running off would force him to take the damage to pursue me? Guess I would have to suffer opportunity attack each round if I'm trying to both run away and fight my pursuer? (assuming both have the same base speed).</p><p>4) Sleep or similar disabling spells? Any good advice oon them?</p><p>5) Friends? If it's only one enemy, can I convince him that I'm just preparing a practical joke and that he needs to be bound and gagged for it to work? Might only have a chance to work if I'm still disguised as one of his friends.</p><p></p><p>6) On a related note, if one has eldritch blast and agonizing blast, is it usually better to just cast EB with disadvantage in melee or to switch to another option (like booming blade)? Is it worth the opportunity cost of investing in another cantrip? Assuming I'm a lore bardlock with leather armor who usually avoids melee.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Tomice, post: 7035433, member: 6873674"] Disclaimer: I'm a total noob, just learning the basics. I'm interested in playing a lore bard with a social/deception focus and good scouting skills, which will obviously lack in direct combat ability early on. I'm thinking about a warlock dip to improve damage and further buff the social trickery potential (mask of many faces! + minor illusion, friends, actor feat, invisibility, stealth and social skill expertise,...). [U]There's just one tiny little problem:[/U] Using all these cool tricks, I will be alone from time to time. How can I avoid being dead the instant my cover blows? How can I survive being alone in a room with 1-3 strong melee ruffians? If I can't disable them, how can I get the hell out and reach my party again? On a related note, what to do when the party is outnumbered and melee brutes reach me? [U]What I thought of:[/U] 1) Dash? If my initiative is better than theirs (and as a dex/cha- focused bard, it will often be), I will be able to run off with a speed of 60 before being hit. If that's true, they can never catch me AND make an melee attack, right? Ranged attacks would be a problem, though. 2) Invisibility? If it's my turn, only a counterspell could keep me from casting it? Assuming they have no caster, I will be able to disappear, even if I need to open doors/locks on my way out? 3) Booming blade cantrip? Hitting one of them, then running off would force him to take the damage to pursue me? Guess I would have to suffer opportunity attack each round if I'm trying to both run away and fight my pursuer? (assuming both have the same base speed). 4) Sleep or similar disabling spells? Any good advice oon them? 5) Friends? If it's only one enemy, can I convince him that I'm just preparing a practical joke and that he needs to be bound and gagged for it to work? Might only have a chance to work if I'm still disguised as one of his friends. 6) On a related note, if one has eldritch blast and agonizing blast, is it usually better to just cast EB with disadvantage in melee or to switch to another option (like booming blade)? Is it worth the opportunity cost of investing in another cantrip? Assuming I'm a lore bardlock with leather armor who usually avoids melee. [/QUOTE]
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