RogueJK
It's not "Rouge"... That's makeup.
50/50 won't work all that well. You'll need to focus more on one or the other.
If you're wanting to be a Soulknife with a few Bard levels to add to your skills and character flavor, I'd do no more than 3 level of Lore Bard. That gets you extra Expertise and skill proficiencies, Jack of All Trades, plus a few Cutting Words/Inspiration dice per day, and a smattering of spells. In that case, I'd leave Charisma at something like 12+2 racial, and just stick to utility spells (Invisibility, Detect Magic, Feather Fall, etc.), since utility spells won't rely on attack rolls or save DCs. You'll still have Proficiency/Expertise in the Face skills to make up for your middling CHA modifier. Take all the rest of your levels in Rogue, focusing on DEX and then INT. This will allow you to be the most effective Soul Knife possible, while still dipping Bard for a few more skills and a few spells.
Otherwise, if you're wanting to be a Bard with a little Soulknife flavor, dip 4 levels of Rogue with the rest Bard. Focus on CHA as primary (starting 15+2) and DEX secondary. INT can stay at 12 or 14. You're more like a standard Bard, although you'll be a solid 2 spell levels behind a single class Bard. But you'll have a few nifty psionic tricks like mind swords and either a bit of extra speed or telepathy (since a +5ish HP boost won't make much difference), plus a little Sneak Attack and Cunning Action, as well as an extra skill proficiency and two extra Expertise.
Neither one will be super optimal, since both Bards and Rogues benefit greatly from staying single-classed. But I understand the flavor you're going for. Of the two, the former (Rogue dipping Bard) is the better choice, and also gets you the most Soulknife-ness.
However, understand that you can achieve 99% of the same character by simply making a single-class Soulknife Rogue with a moderate CHA, and taking some specific skill proficiencies (Deception, Performance, etc.) and a background like Entertainer or Charlatan, plus maybe a feat like Skilled or Actor along the way. That would be the most optimal way to do it, and you can still be the bard-like psychic spy/assassin without cramping your Soulknife progression.
That would look something like:
Changeling Soulknife Rogue
STR 8
DEX 15+1
CON 10
INT 14
WIS 12 or 13
CHA 13+2 or 12+2
Racial proficiencies: Deception, Persuasion
Class proficiencies: Stealth, Insight, Perception, Investigation, Thieves Tools
Background: Entertainer - Acrobatics, Performance, 1x musical instrument
Level 1: Expertise - Deception, Persuasion
Level 4: ASI - DEX +2
Level 6: Expertise - Perception, Stealth
Level 8: ASI - DEX +2
Level 10: Feat - Actor +1 CHA (if started with 13 CHA) or Observant +1 WIS (if started with 13 WIS)
Level 12: ASI - INT +2
Level 16: ASI - INT +2
If you're wanting to be a Soulknife with a few Bard levels to add to your skills and character flavor, I'd do no more than 3 level of Lore Bard. That gets you extra Expertise and skill proficiencies, Jack of All Trades, plus a few Cutting Words/Inspiration dice per day, and a smattering of spells. In that case, I'd leave Charisma at something like 12+2 racial, and just stick to utility spells (Invisibility, Detect Magic, Feather Fall, etc.), since utility spells won't rely on attack rolls or save DCs. You'll still have Proficiency/Expertise in the Face skills to make up for your middling CHA modifier. Take all the rest of your levels in Rogue, focusing on DEX and then INT. This will allow you to be the most effective Soul Knife possible, while still dipping Bard for a few more skills and a few spells.
Otherwise, if you're wanting to be a Bard with a little Soulknife flavor, dip 4 levels of Rogue with the rest Bard. Focus on CHA as primary (starting 15+2) and DEX secondary. INT can stay at 12 or 14. You're more like a standard Bard, although you'll be a solid 2 spell levels behind a single class Bard. But you'll have a few nifty psionic tricks like mind swords and either a bit of extra speed or telepathy (since a +5ish HP boost won't make much difference), plus a little Sneak Attack and Cunning Action, as well as an extra skill proficiency and two extra Expertise.
Neither one will be super optimal, since both Bards and Rogues benefit greatly from staying single-classed. But I understand the flavor you're going for. Of the two, the former (Rogue dipping Bard) is the better choice, and also gets you the most Soulknife-ness.
However, understand that you can achieve 99% of the same character by simply making a single-class Soulknife Rogue with a moderate CHA, and taking some specific skill proficiencies (Deception, Performance, etc.) and a background like Entertainer or Charlatan, plus maybe a feat like Skilled or Actor along the way. That would be the most optimal way to do it, and you can still be the bard-like psychic spy/assassin without cramping your Soulknife progression.
That would look something like:
Changeling Soulknife Rogue
STR 8
DEX 15+1
CON 10
INT 14
WIS 12 or 13
CHA 13+2 or 12+2
Racial proficiencies: Deception, Persuasion
Class proficiencies: Stealth, Insight, Perception, Investigation, Thieves Tools
Background: Entertainer - Acrobatics, Performance, 1x musical instrument
Level 1: Expertise - Deception, Persuasion
Level 4: ASI - DEX +2
Level 6: Expertise - Perception, Stealth
Level 8: ASI - DEX +2
Level 10: Feat - Actor +1 CHA (if started with 13 CHA) or Observant +1 WIS (if started with 13 WIS)
Level 12: ASI - INT +2
Level 16: ASI - INT +2
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