D&D 5E Questions regarding a Noble Bard

[The Grassy Gnoll]

Yeah, performance can be a vocal thing. Maybe he's a singer so when he sings his music is turned into spells/inspiration and then you don't need an instrument. Singing sits well - eerily beautiful elven warsongs...I kind of like that idea.
I'd say leather working would be a commoners skill (tanning and curing leather involves working with large quantities of urine), so...no on that one.
Arcana I'd say if you're looking for a last skill, or you could have a proficiency in thieves tools (those long long elven winters need something to keep you occupied while you sing to yourself in your staterooms, finding your way with singing the weave of magic into being...he always was an odd boy, no surprise when he decided to go adventuring).

 

[Inoeex]

In fact it could make for some fun roll-play. The weakling noble - others expect they have to protect him, but who is surprisingly talented with rapier & bow...

Given the elf bonus to Dex, you could swap Con & Dex and get yourself a few more HP.
S 5, D 12+2, C 15, I 12+1, W 16, Ch 18

yeah I like the idea of being a prince who is good at everything but not physical features, makes more sense to an elf prince )

I have the same assumption about my ability scores!

 

[Inoeex]

I'd say leather working would be a commoners skill (tanning and curing leather involves working with large quantities of urine), so...no on that one.
Arcana I'd say if you're looking for a last skill, or you could have a proficiency in thieves tools ).

I am a bit confused, are u suggesting me to pick leatherworking since its the most common one to mend many types of armors ?

I am thinking about Arcana as well, but not Theives Tools since we have two Rogues xD

I have History, Persuasion and Perception from my race/background

I am gonna get Deception, Insight and Investigation ( even tho I am a bit concerned that Investigation may have overlap with my other skills in total )

And I am doubtful on Performance, Intimidation and Arcana. Not to mention I am thinking about mending our armors or making potions via Artisan Kits.

 

[The Grassy Gnoll]

Hi, no, what I meant is that working with leather is a background more suitable for a "lower class" character than a noble, due to the pungent odours involved! So I'm suggesting you don't take it.

Insight is more "I sense you're not telling me the whole story", whereas Investigation is more "I poke around and discover that there is a special thing that does X". So they're two different things, insight more for interpersonal hunches and investigate for practical poking around with.

iMO you can't be a Bard without Performance. Your whole schtick is that you manipulate the Weave of Magic through channeling musical notes or spoken words (hell, even dance if you want a really hard roleplaying job), so being able to play an instrument or sing or chant or rap or freestyle poetry is basically how you do your magic thing - so I'd have it but as mentioned before you don't need an instrument beyond your voice.

Also, your character doesn't need to be a guy that fixes things or fits a practical hole. He can be a weakling, spoiled, naive, upper class noble who doesn't really understand that things don't just magically appear or get fixed (although, with Prestidigitation, they kind of can). Let him be a bit demanding and a bit reluctant to get his ever so pale and delicate hands dirty - it'll suit the character.

As for healing spells, your paladin doesn't sound very paladin-y if he only heals himself - sounds a bit selfish if you ask me. So you could choose healing spells and undercut your otherwise quite selfish/spoiled background with a helpful quality like healing. But you'll also want some offensive magics as your Str is mega low.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

No problem!

Yes, I'd go that route...but that also depends on your idea of fun. If you enjoy excelling at cerebral skill challenges more than combat, then Int would be secondary. But if you really enjoy combat, I'd put Dex as your second-highest (taking the finesse approach) and Int as your tertiary.

Thank u for your time : )

Are u suggesting me to give me second highest roll to Int instead of Con and Dex ? I am getting +1 Int and +2 Dex as a High Elf : )

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

One thing to remember is that at 2nd level, bards get the Jack of All Trades ability, which allows them to add half their proficiency modifier to untrained skills and ability checks. So from levels 2-4 you are only 1 point behind a trained person, and 5 through 12 only 2 points behind.

You already have musical instruments, and with an 18 charisma, and jack of all trades, you will perform really well anyways, so I might skip that skill. I would pick acrobatics over it. With that 5 strength, you are likely to get grabbed by monsters, and acrobatics at least helps you squirt free.

in terms of stats, both Wisdom and INtelligence have their uses. Wisdom ties to insight, which would be good for courtly intrigue, and is also the more important (and common) saving throw category. Now as an elf, you do get advantage vs charm spells, so that helps some, but a good wisdom saving throw is quite nice. Intelligence plays more to your skills from the sounds of things. However remember, at level 3 you get Expertise, which lets you pick 2 skills to add double proficiency in (so +4 vs +2 at level 3). Even if you dont put your best stat in alignment with your favorite skill, Expertise can make up for it.

 

[Inoeex]

One thing to remember is that at 2nd level, bards get the Jack of All Trades ability, which allows them to add half their proficiency modifier to untrained skills and ability checks.


However remember, at level 3 you get Expertise, which lets you pick 2 skills to add double proficiency in (so +4 vs +2 at level 3). Even if you dont put your best stat in alignment with your favorite skill, Expertise can make up for it.

PHB descibes Jack of All Trades this way :
Starting at 2nd level you can add half your proficiency bonus to any ability check you make that does not already include your proficiency bonus.

it does not mention anything about untrained skills.

I did not know we could add proficiency bonus t our skills ... Could you possibly tell me how much bonus/points do we have in the skills that we choose, by default ? Lets say I get Persuasion and History through my Noble background, how much points or proficiency bonuses do I have there now at level 1 ?

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

PHB descibes Jack of All Trades this way :
Starting at 2nd level you can add half your proficiency bonus to any ability check you make that does not already include your proficiency bonus.

it does not mention anything about untrained skills.

I did not know we could add proficiency bonus t our skills ... Could you possibly tell me how much bonus/points do we have in the skills that we choose, by default ? Lets say I get Persuasion and History through my Noble background, how much points or proficiency bonuses do I have there now at level 1 ?

Skills are a type of ability check, so the Jack of all Trades thing applies. You also get it for initiative (which is a dexterity check). It doesnt apply to saving throws however.

Your proficiency bonus applies to all checks you are trained in - so if you have proficiency in a skill or tool, you add that modifier when making checks. You also add it to saving throws, attacks, and saving throw DC's (representing your magic getting more potent). Your proficiency bonus is tied to your character level (or total level if you are multiclassed). From levels 1-4 it is +2, from 5 - 8 its +3, from 9 - 12 its +4, from 13 - 16 its +5 and from 17 - 20 it's +6. Jack of all Trades allows you to apply half (round down) when you wouldn't otherwise. At first level you add +2 to trained skills, attacks, saves, tool checks, etc. At 2nd level, you add +2 to skills you are trained in, and +1 to those you aren't.

Also, welcome to the boards! Have some exp

 

[Inoeex]

Skills are a type of ability check, so the Jack of all Trades thing applies. You also get it for initiative (which is a dexterity check). It doesnt apply to saving throws however.

It am completely lost now xD
Why did you mention Initiative? Are not all the PCs trained in Initiative ? So I will get +2 at level 1, it has nothing to do with Jack of All Trades, or am I missing something ? xD

Lets say I am level 1 and I have Persuasion skill but not Acrobatics, I also have 18 Charisma and 14 Dexterity.
My Proficiency will be "18+2" for Persuasion and 0 for Acrobatics.
When I reach level 2, I will have another "+2" on my Charisma but +1 on Acrobatics.
Which means the will be like 22 and 1 ?

But I can only use my +1 Acrobatics if I wanna perform or do some movements but when we are about to pass some steps that got frozen and we need to roll Dexterity Saving Throw, I dont have that +1.

Is it like that ? xD

 

[pukunui]

Is it like that ? xD

No, unfortunately it isn't like that at all. I strongly recommend that you read chapter 1 of the Player's Handbook, if you haven't already done so. It contains step-by-step instructions for making a 1st level character, including what numbers to add where.

EDIT: If you haven't got access to a PHB, you can also find the step-by-step instructions on pages 6-9 of the free D&D 5e Basic Rules.