Hey man - thanks for the answers and your videos.
So I see you are from the "don't fight with your valor bard, cast with him" camp
Interesting how different the suggestions are that I read from different sources.
Others have recommended something like taking Sharpshooter first, then raising +2 CHA to 18(since the bard is a significant caster as you said), then raising DEX to 18, then Warcaster or Charisma to 20. Also, many recommended a 1 lvl fighter dip for the archery fighting style to offset sharpshooter's -5 attack and so on.
3. I get it about the damage, but having sword and shield equipped will really mess with my casting (need a free hand for Material component, even after warcaster helps with the Somatic) and also leaves me more open to being hit as this is melee. With a bow I can keep my distance, hide behind stuff, and let one hand go to cast whenever. Having a rapier/shield at the ready, I can sometimes take em out and do some fighting in safer battles or for flavor.
4. A few things I didn't understand that you said about skills - why
all the tools? (I get a tool from background and 3 instruments from class, though the DM is letting me mix and match instruments and tools if I want); what initiative bonus?
I understand you are leaning toward recommending more of a spellcaster, but I wanted to ask - what would be good progression choices (Starting options, ASIs, Feats, Spells, MC dip etc.) for each of the 2 types of Valor Bard that we're discussing:
- Valor Bard Archer that leans more toward spell power
- Valor Bard Archer that want to get decent with bow+attacks