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Using material components is the same issue as using an arcane focus. You need a free hand temporarily. The exception to this is if you're using something like a quarterstaff both as your weapon and as your arcane focus. As a DM, I would permit a rod to be used as both a focus and as a weapon...

Bladesinger doesn't have the same problem as Eldritch Knight, because of this for Bladesinger, "You gain proficiency with all Melee Martial weapons that don't have the Two-Handed or Heavy property. You can use a melee weapon with which you have proficiency as a spell casting focus for your...

To make your weapon a focus, you want Ruby of the Warmage, which is a common magic item in D&D 2024, so it should be accessible and cheap at low levels. The hassle is that it costs an attunement slot.

One problem with Eldritch Knight, both in D&D 2014 and D&D 2024, is that they have to use a regular arcane focus. Their bonded weapon should be an arcane focus. Otherwise, you get item-in-hand shuffling silliness to use the arcane focus, e.g., holding two-handed weapon in one hand while using...

Agreed. Your Concentrations save will be good with the Intelligence modifier bonus when singing. It appears that the primary motivation for you for multi-classing is to pick up weapon mastery. If that's the case, I suggest to talk to your DM and ask to swap out some other class feature, to get...

Taking character level 1 in Fighter gives Constitution saving throw proficiency vs. Ranger giving Dexterity saving throw proficiency. That's why I would suggest that Fighter is a better choice for a level dip. Two-weapon fighting works well with Bladesinger, which is another reason for that 1st...

This is true, but folks underestimate the loss of spell casting damage progress with the level dip. Comparing a single-classed 10th level Wizard vs. the Fighter 2/Wizard 8 build I just gave, the latter multi-classed build misses out on two 5th level spell slots and one 4th level spell slot...

If I was going to build a mid-level Bladesinger to maximize melee weapon damage output, I would go with say Fighter 2/Wizard 8: For your ability scores, go with something like STR 10, DEX 17, CON 14, INT 16, WIS 8, CHA 8. Fighter at 1st character level for proficiency in Martial Weapons...

Starting at level 1, suffered a few character deaths, then the same character for me from about level 3 onward, we made it to level 27. We started with AD&D, through 3E, to 3.5E D&D using the epic level rules. That was over the course of about 15 years of roleplaying, rough every 2 weeks, but...

Dragonborn could be utilized as Draconians in the Dragonlance setting with minor tweaks. Likewise, as Saurials in the Forgotten Realms. That said, I agree with the critique that with a wide set of species to choose from, they are poorly populated in some worlds, and often lacking a primary city...

To put it differently, I think the use of Reactive Ward is overly narrow and should be relaxed to make it worth taking and useful across more encounters, but trading that off for increased cost to protect multiple targets.

Reactive Ward is a 3rd level combat maneuver. So, the earliest it can be taken is character level 8 per the Fighter maneuver progression. I would suggest comparing it to protective spells up to 3rd level that can be cast as a Reaction: Absorb Elements 1st level spell gives you resistance to the...

Yes. I missed the demon, but it failed its save and was pushed down 10'.

Yes. I attempted to use Whirlwind Kick to attack a demonic foe flying 60' above us last session. That was after discussion at the start of the session with the DM, who kindly permitted wild shape natural weapon attack counted as unarmed strike for purposes of the spell unarmed strike damage +...

This is a good point. I was curious and took a look on https://5e.tools/backgrounds.html to see which pairs of ability scores lacked much choice in Background. On that link, you can filter by ability score bonus to see what is available. The key pairings of most interest are Constitution +...

Perfectly valid and fair approach, but that's not the table at which to have a specialized polearm build, if the chance of generating a magical polearm is 5%. That's where there's a mismatch between player and DM assumptions about what works in the game world. So, best to adjust the player...

I don't agree. It is really campaign and DM dependent. A flexible DM will adjust things a little to make it work for all the players. For example, either switching what magic items are found so that yes, a polearm is found now and then, or providing a magic market where such items can be...

Pathfinder 2E did do a good job with species feats, in my opinion. :)

Regarding culture being meaningless and having no mechanical benefit in D&D 2024, may I suggest A5E Cultures and Heritages as a much improved alternative? The A5E Cultures are well done and have significant mechanical benefit and flavor for your character. Regarding feats, I think D&D 2024 did...

The A5E Ankheg is better in my opinion, doing 2d8+3 (12) claw damage with grapple + restraining the target if medium or smaller (DC 13 to escape). Once it has grappled an opponent, the A5E Ankheg has a vicious bite attack for 3d8+3 (16.5) damage. The 5E and D&D 2024 Ankheg bite damage of...