Treantmonklvl20
Explorer
If that's the way it came out, then I overstated. I'm saying a Valor Bard is not a significantly worse caster than a Lore Bard, but has superior defense and use of inspiration, making them the better choice overall.Definitely counterintuitive to think of the valor bard as coming out on top on a caster-to-caster comparison.
Yes.animate objects gives you way more of it per turn than two measly arrow shots.
If you're going to spend a magical secrets pick on self-protection (which I'm not sure seems like a good move), it feels to me like mirror image is a better choice than shield as a lore bard. Yes, it's a higher level slot, but unless you're taking a lot of attacks in a round (which, as a lore bard, probably means you or your party have done something wrong, no?), it's likely to give you stronger protection, from more attacks, without competing for your reaction (so you can stack cutting words on top of it if needed). Would you agree?
Here's the situation. As a (single classed) Lore Bard, you have (likely) studded leather armor. No shield. Dex 16 if you're lucky. That's an AC of 15. No spells that improve defense other than improved invisibility (which isn't a very good option as it uses your concentration, which all your good offense spells use as well). Your HP are d8. You are easily identified as the primary caster in combat and will certainly be targeted by attacks.
This is not a good combination. At level 6, when magical secrets comes around, you are probably going to want to do something about it. There are a few options:
Mirror Image: Good against up to 3 attacks. Does not use concentration. Uses your action to set up. If you know battle is about to start, you can potentially get it up beforehand.
Shield: Good against all attacks in one round. Does not use concentration. Uses your reaction to set up.
Honestly, neither is a perfect defense, but I would certainly take one of them, or maybe even both of them. Remember, if you lose initiative, that mirror image isn't going to help you.
One thing I have lots of experience in is playing the caster who hangs back in combat. I also have lots of experience talking to other players who play this type of character. I've also read many adventures where the enemy tactics are provided for the DM.On the other hand, if you're staying out of the fray like you should be doing as a lore bard, maybe you hope that you need that spell less than once per combat encounter on average, in which case you'd rather use the spell slot reactively than have to use it prospectively.
I will tell you this. Many combats you can avoid attacks entirely. Many combats you get targeted. The "average" is meaningless. It's a pendulum. You get attacked lots, or not at all.
Those combats where you get attacked not at all aren't the problem. A Wizard who gets attacked lots has lots of defenses. Shield, Mirror Image, Misty Step, Blur, Mage Armor, Counterspell, and the list goes on.
Lore bards have studded leather armor. They can use cutting words against one hit on them per round, and maybe, maybe turn it to a miss. It's not enough.
I can say this without question. I've seen more Lore Bard deaths in 5e than any other archetype. AC is bad, HP are so-so, and the defenses aren't there. In battles where the primary caster gets targeted, they just don't have anything to fall back on.
Often, this is before magical secrets is even available.
On the other hand, if the distribution of important borderline attack rolls is concentrated on a particular character, rather than in a particular round, it seems like cutting words makes it more likely than you can allocate your inspirations optimally (instead of handing out one to each character).
Keep in mind, other classes have defenses of their own as well. They wear heavy armor, or can cut enemy damage in half, or have a ton of HP, or spells that get them out of danger, or several of those things.
Not saying you won't be using cutting words to help other party members, and that being able to target one being picked on more than once isn't an advantage, just keep in mind that other party members are usually better at defending themselves.
Here's where I find it gets used.that using combat inspiration to bump damage in place of on an attack roll is going to get used that often
Player: Does 15 hit?
DM: Yes
Player: 12 damage
DM: (laughs), You hit him hard, he's wavering, but still up!
Player: I use the inspiration die! Add 5 damage
DM: That does it.