D&D 5E Low Charisma Lore Bard?

[CTurbo]

Is a 4th level Lore Bard with 12 Charisma completely useless? I'm thinking so. The flavor is there, he is a Goblin that thinks he's handsome and wants to be popular, but I just think he's gonna be a hindrance to the team.

 

[Demetrios1453]

12 isn't really "low"; there's still a bonus. It's not ideal, but it can be pulled up over time with stat increases. Now, if it were under 10 and there were penalties, that's a different story...

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[Bradley Hindman]

Is a 4th level Lore Bard with 12 Charisma completely useless? I'm thinking so. The flavor is there, he is a Goblin that thinks he's handsome and wants to be popular, but I just think he's gonna be a hindrance to the team.

Sounds like a fun character. Personally, I think many people overvalue the benefit of high stats. Sure, your spell save DC and your spell attack bonus will be a might lower than it could be be. But, if you had a 16 CHA, your chance of success when casting a spell (or using a CHA based skill) will only be 10% lower. One out of every 10 attempts will fail because of your low CHA. Big deal. Most fights don't last past 3 rounds any way.

 

[jgsugden]

It is fine. Don't focus on spells with attack bonuses or saves too much as you'll be at a kind of disadvantage for a while, but it is much more playable than a melee character with a 12 prime attribute.

 

[CTurbo]

But Charisma effects how many spells and inspiration dice he has too. It just seems like he wont have much to "do"

BTW, this was my first post from mobile so I hope this is in the right forum. It's supposed to be in 5e. I can't even tell where it is lol.

 

[OB1]

Charisma won't affect the number of spells or inspiration dice (unless your table is using a house rule), so you are fine there.

I have a Gnome Sorcerer that started with 12 Cha and don't have a problem contributing. Put my higher stats int Dex for AC and Con for HP and better concentration saves. He's 12th level now and just got to 16 Cha.

Where are you putting your higher stats with this character? Have you thought about a Valor bard with good Dex and Con who is a fighter who also buffs?

 

[Seramus]

Low Charisma = Buffer/Healer/Support.
Still incredibly useful and beneficial.

Heck, I saw a 10 Int Necromancer do amazing things once.

 

[mellored]

Just avoid spells that have DCs, use things like cloud of daggers, invisibility, and cure wounds.

And consider valor bard instead. Your not getting much from cutting words, so you might as well get the armor instead.

 

[CTurbo]

I checked the phb and I was wrong about your Charisma mod determining how many spells you get but I was right about it determining how many inspiration dice you can use per rest.

 

[Satyrn]

Charisma won't affect the number of spells or inspiration dice (unless your table is using a house rule), so you are fine there.

Correcting the correction.
It does affect number of times he can inspire.