D&D 5E Swashbuckling Rogue / College of Swords Bard

[Ancalagon]

Arcane trickster will also give you rogue skills and magic. You still have the basic rogue chassis which by itself is enough to swash buckles: it's 90% attitude, not class features, that makes the swashbuckler what they are

 

[UngeheuerLich]

No matter gow you mix and match, you will do fine. I currently mix college of swords and arcane trickster. It is solid. Collge of swords was not inteded actually. College of lore was but I was driven to the other one by story.
Of corse at level 5 you wish for another die of sneak attack or 3rd level spells. Your twf capability however and the ease of sneak attacking will make you not miss higher levels too much and you get nice synergy between your classes starting at level 6.

Rogue 1 is set.
Your intermediate goal is rogue 3 and college of swords bard at level 6 to get extra mobility and easy sneak attack as well as dex bonus to your offhand attack, more extra mobility and extra damage.
Next goal on my list would be bard level 6. Extra dexterity or charisma depending on your game and extra attack. Then rogue 5. You are now level 11 and have a great character.

 

[fredpag3]

No matter gow you mix and match, you will do fine. I currently mix college of swords and arcane trickster. It is solid. Collge of swords was not inteded actually. College of lore was but I was driven to the other one by story.
Of corse at level 5 you wish for another die of sneak attack or 3rd level spells. Your twf capability however and the ease of sneak attacking will make you not miss higher levels too much and you get nice synergy between your classes starting at level 6.

Rogue 1 is set.
Your intermediate goal is rogue 3 and college of swords bard at level 6 to get extra mobility and easy sneak attack as well as dex bonus to your offhand attack, more extra mobility and extra damage.
Next goal on my list would be bard level 6. Extra dexterity or charisma depending on your game and extra attack. Then rogue 5. You are now level 11 and have a great character.

Awesome. Thanks it is exactly what I was looking for. That's pretty much the build progression I had in my head. I just wanted to see if people with more experience though the same. That you for the clear and detailed response.

 

[fredpag3]

Arcane trickster will also give you rogue skills and magic. You still have the basic rogue chassis which by itself is enough to swash buckles: it's 90% attitude, not class features, that makes the swashbuckler what they are

Ya I was looking at the Trickster too. The only issue I found is that it uses int for spell casting. Since I wanted to do something with high Charisma taking the Bard levels lets me spell cast with that.

But I agree most of the character will come out in RP.

 

[Ancalagon]

Ya I was looking at the Trickster too. The only issue I found is that it uses int for spell casting. Since I wanted to do something with high Charisma taking the Bard levels lets me spell cast with that.

But I agree most of the character will come out in RP.

Your spellcasting stat is important, but it's mostly for the spell DC. If you aren't casting that type of spells, then a high int isn't needed.

Of course, you are free to make the PC you want... but a single class arcane trickster works very well indeed.

 

[fredpag3]

Your spellcasting stat is important, but it's mostly for the spell DC. If you aren't casting that type of spells, then a high int isn't needed.

Of course, you are free to make the PC you want... but a single class arcane trickster works very well indeed.

Makes sense. I'll consider it too. Thanks!

 

[Ancalagon]

Oh! And if the musical aspect of the bard is important to you, consider the entertainer background as a substitute

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I do have an arcane trickster combined with college of swords and it is ok but no great help. The swashbuckler is a lot better at twf which is also supported by the college of sword bard.
You could use booming blade etc, but twf seems steonger because it mixes better with blade flourish than using cantrips.
I chose arcane trickster because of concept and because I did not know at that point that I will be college of sword bard. Swashbuckler is fine. A few more spells and a single level ahead in preparation progression is not worth throwing your concept out of the window.

 

[fredpag3]

Oh! And if the musical aspect of the bard is important to you, consider the entertainer background as a substitute

I took far traveler. So my Eladrin character is proficient with the Pan flute.

 

[fredpag3]

I do have an arcane trickster combined with college of swords and it is ok but no great help. The swashbuckler is a lot better at twf which is also supported by the college of sword bard.
You could use booming blade etc, but twf seems steonger because it mixes better with blade flourish than using cantrips.
I chose arcane trickster because of concept and because I did not know at that point that I will be college of sword bard. Swashbuckler is fine. A few more spells and a single level ahead in preparation progression is not worth throwing your concept out of the window.

I agree. I think taking the two attacks is better than booming blade in the case. Not sure what your trying to say in the last paragraph though.