D&D 5E (2014) Optimizing a bladesinger "tank"

[Vulf]

Just watch out for those Raging Barbarian/Bard Wrestlers. They will laugh at your puny attempts to escape.

 

[kalani]

Remember, your blade song ends if the enemies grab you and force you to don a shield.

You sure you want to dump strength?

Um... nobody can force you to don a shield outside of domination, suggestion or similar magic as it requires an action from YOU. While you can assist someone to don armor, there is nothing in the rules that states you can force someone to don a shield.

In fact, based on the way the rules are written overall - as a general rule, a creatures equipment cannot be targeted by spells/abilities/effects unless explicitly stated by another rule. This is due to the fact that most spells/abilities specifically exclude equipment.

Even things like disarming are difficult in 5e, as it either requires 3 levels of Battlemaster and a specific maneuver (disarming strike), or requires the use of an optional rule from the DMG which only applies if the DM uses such a rule. If disarming a target is that difficult, why do you think it would be easiier to force a creature to equip something? That would be several orders of magnitude more difficult than disarming them.

Then there is the fact that a literal reading of the rules states that the blademasters ability ends when they Use a shield. This requires deliberate intent. Even if we say that by some unknown method you can force them to equip the shield, you cannot make them use it. This may have the result of forcing them to spend their action to doff the shield, but that is about it.

 

[Vulf]

Are you telling me you never assassinated a monk by equipping him with Hide armor in his sleep? All you have to do is use the disarm rules in reverse.

 

[Jake Leabeater]

Blade song Requires you to have one hand free? How can you optomize by using two wepon fighting when you cant use your Bladesong?

 

[FrogReaver]

Um... nobody can force you to don a shield outside of domination, suggestion or similar magic as it requires an action from YOU. While you can assist someone to don armor, there is nothing in the rules that states you can force someone to don a shield.

In fact, based on the way the rules are written overall - as a general rule, a creatures equipment cannot be targeted by spells/abilities/effects unless explicitly stated by another rule. This is due to the fact that most spells/abilities specifically exclude equipment.

Even things like disarming are difficult in 5e, as it either requires 3 levels of Battlemaster and a specific maneuver (disarming strike), or requires the use of an optional rule from the DMG which only applies if the DM uses such a rule. If disarming a target is that difficult, why do you think it would be easiier to force a creature to equip something? That would be several orders of magnitude more difficult than disarming them.

Then there is the fact that a literal reading of the rules states that the blademasters ability ends when they Use a shield. This requires deliberate intent. Even if we say that by some unknown method you can force them to equip the shield, you cannot make them use it. This may have the result of forcing them to spend their action to doff the shield, but that is about it.

This post makes me sad

 

[RogueJK]

Blade song Requires you to have one hand free? How can you optomize by using two wepon fighting when you cant use your Bladesong?

It does not require you to have one hand free. You just can't use Bladesong while using a two-handed weapon, wearing medium or heavy armor, or using a shield.

You can use two one-handed weapons while Bladesong is active.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Ask your DM to let you take the Armor of Agythis spell as a wizard spell.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

You can just ignore most comments. Your stats are fine. If you want to dump str, raise con to 15. That allows you to take resilient con at level 8 or 12. Usually a saved dexterity spell only reduces damage. It might drop the damage to 20 or less which means you need a lower con save to keep concentration. However if you have absorb elements as a spell you can in most cases drop it to 20 rgardless of your save. In my opinion it is usually better to aim at resisting DC 10 con saves on a 1. Which 15 starting con + resilient con achieves at level 17. Add some magic resistance items and you are more than fine. With standard array 13 con is also ok. If you do plan to level 20 that is int and dex 20 and 16 con with resilient con at level 19.