Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Esker" data-source="post: 7624351" data-attributes="member: 6966824">I had a bard that I was really enjoying playing in a campaign that unfortunately fizzled out, so I'm putting a new bard together for a campaign that's just getting started. The old bard was a pretty standard half-elf valor bard. I'm thinking the new one will be a changeling that met my other bard and is now going around with his face and persona.The twist is that we used a very generous rolling method for starting stats (4d6, reroll 1s infinitely often, then drop the lowest), and I got some crazy numbers, so I'm thinking about some unconventional play styles that wouldn't be viable with point buy.Here's my array (pre-racial): 18(!), 15, 15, 14, 13, 12. As a changeling, I would start with 20 CHA, 16 DEX, and 15 CON.Starting at level 3. The rest of the party is a swashbuckler rogue, open hand monk, and transmutation wizard, so no real front line, but lots of hit and run capability. I want to be mainly a support caster, but I'm thinking that booming blade would be a nice form of at-will support to make myself useful while concentrating (making it hurt for enemies to chase down the monk and rogue), but if I'm attacking from 5' I don't have a way to get away without taking AoOs.One option is to just be a half-high-elf valor bard, emphasize STR instead of DEX so I'm not locked into finesse weapons, take booming blade as a racial cantrip, and use my level 4 feat for Mobile (hop in, booming blade, hop out). But I'm thinking about this character as a consummate con man, which changeling supports beautifully (my old bard had a hat of disguise and planned to get Actor, which changeling basically gets for free). So instead I'm thinking Hexblade 1 / Lore Bard X. I'd take booming blade and either toll the dead or eldritch blast as warlock cantrips. Initially I'd use a hand crossbow as my hex weapon, but then switch to a melee weapon at level 5 once I can get Mobile, which is also when Booming Blade scales. Advantages are Hex Warrior, Shield Spell, and since I don't need to be valor for armor, getting earlier Magical Secrets (thinking Pass Without Trace and either Aura of Vitality or Spirit Guardians). The main disadvantage obviously is delaying spell progression, and having a lot of competition for my reaction, plus I will need War Caster if I want to be able to use a weapon, a shield, and have the Shield spell available.What do folks think? Is this build trying to do too many things even with the crazy stats? I could just stick to being a back line valor bard, either with a crossbow or a shield and open hand, maybe taking magic initiate (warlock) at some point for some damage cantrips, and support the melee-ers defensively with combat inspiration. Or I could stick with the Hexblade level but forget about booming blade, and take crossbow expert at level 5.Decisions, decisions...</blockquote>

Verification