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Hex sword bard - where to go next
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<blockquote data-quote="Benjamin Olson" data-source="post: 8194135" data-attributes="member: 6988941"><p>The module purports to go up to tenth level. Given that there are only so many levels left I'd avoid Rogue since you are already multiclassed, unless you really want to focus on melee. The main thing you seem to want out of Rogue is easy disengage. But you can pick up the Mobile feat with your next ASI and make do with mobile flourishes until then. Unless you intend to play such that you are going straight to the sneak attacking through every round of the fight I think it is better to focus on upping your spellcasting game, especially since there seems to be several dedicated melee people in your group already. That said, another ASI might not be in the cards depending on what you want. </p><p></p><p>Personally when I had a Sword Bard I could never bear to actually put my spell progression on hold to take the Swashbuckler levels I had planned for. Sword Bards are great for versatility's sake, but you are never going to be the melee mvp of a team like yours, whereas with more Bard levels you can be the battlefield control mvp who also then lends a hand in melee while maintaining concentration on the Hypnotic Pattern and throwing Healing Words at whomever needs them. If you went Swashbuckler Rogue you'd be better at the melee part but still not a particular star on a team that already has a Paladin, a Barbarian, and a dedicated Rogue, and you'd be weaker in everything else Bards do (expertise in two more skills notwithstanding).</p><p></p><p>Going at least another couple levels in Bard gets you much better inspiration, 3rd level spells, and a second attack (which is sometimes going to be better than only getting one shot with a booming blade). Bard 5 should definitely be your next level. Whether Bard 6 for extra attack is worth it ironically depends on whether you intend to take Rogue levels since if you do need to land a sneak attack die it becomes more important to get multiple shots at the sneak attack apple.</p><p></p><p>Bard 7 gets you Greater Invisibility, which is basically the highest of the major melee buff spells, so it would be a possible logical place to end a melee oriented Bard career, but then again there is an ASI at Bard 8, Some awesome Level 5 spells at level 9, and, should you get to level 10, Magical Secrets. It's hard to get off that Bard train.</p><p></p><p>Warlock 2 for invocations may make sense depending on how deeply you desire invocations. I think unless you are eldritch blasting and/or want to make one of the various at will spell invocations central to your play it's probably not worth it except on the road to Warlock 3. But going up to Warlock 3 does make a lot of sense. I don't think there is really all that much for you in Pact of the Blade unless you are going to Warlock 5, but Pact of the Chain (or possibly Tome) would give you a familiar, which means making a lot more attacks with advantage. Also you would get access to some great 2nd level spells for the melee inclined like Mirror Image, Misty Step, and Shadowblade.</p><p></p><p>All and all I'd recommend either sticking Bard, or building towards Bard X/Warlock 3.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Benjamin Olson, post: 8194135, member: 6988941"] The module purports to go up to tenth level. Given that there are only so many levels left I'd avoid Rogue since you are already multiclassed, unless you really want to focus on melee. The main thing you seem to want out of Rogue is easy disengage. But you can pick up the Mobile feat with your next ASI and make do with mobile flourishes until then. Unless you intend to play such that you are going straight to the sneak attacking through every round of the fight I think it is better to focus on upping your spellcasting game, especially since there seems to be several dedicated melee people in your group already. That said, another ASI might not be in the cards depending on what you want. Personally when I had a Sword Bard I could never bear to actually put my spell progression on hold to take the Swashbuckler levels I had planned for. Sword Bards are great for versatility's sake, but you are never going to be the melee mvp of a team like yours, whereas with more Bard levels you can be the battlefield control mvp who also then lends a hand in melee while maintaining concentration on the Hypnotic Pattern and throwing Healing Words at whomever needs them. If you went Swashbuckler Rogue you'd be better at the melee part but still not a particular star on a team that already has a Paladin, a Barbarian, and a dedicated Rogue, and you'd be weaker in everything else Bards do (expertise in two more skills notwithstanding). Going at least another couple levels in Bard gets you much better inspiration, 3rd level spells, and a second attack (which is sometimes going to be better than only getting one shot with a booming blade). Bard 5 should definitely be your next level. Whether Bard 6 for extra attack is worth it ironically depends on whether you intend to take Rogue levels since if you do need to land a sneak attack die it becomes more important to get multiple shots at the sneak attack apple. Bard 7 gets you Greater Invisibility, which is basically the highest of the major melee buff spells, so it would be a possible logical place to end a melee oriented Bard career, but then again there is an ASI at Bard 8, Some awesome Level 5 spells at level 9, and, should you get to level 10, Magical Secrets. It's hard to get off that Bard train. Warlock 2 for invocations may make sense depending on how deeply you desire invocations. I think unless you are eldritch blasting and/or want to make one of the various at will spell invocations central to your play it's probably not worth it except on the road to Warlock 3. But going up to Warlock 3 does make a lot of sense. I don't think there is really all that much for you in Pact of the Blade unless you are going to Warlock 5, but Pact of the Chain (or possibly Tome) would give you a familiar, which means making a lot more attacks with advantage. Also you would get access to some great 2nd level spells for the melee inclined like Mirror Image, Misty Step, and Shadowblade. All and all I'd recommend either sticking Bard, or building towards Bard X/Warlock 3. [/QUOTE]
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