D&D 5E stats for a Lore Bard w/ possible Cleric splash

[GlassJaw]

Just started a new campaign with my group and I get to hand over the DM reins and play! I've always been a fan of bard and I really like the 5E version but haven't had a chance to play one yet. I'm definitely going Lore bard and will play him as sort of secret agent man/explorer (he's going to be a Harper new recruit in training) instead of the classic wandering minstrel.

I really like the idea of splashing cleric (Life) for the benefits but it also makes sense for the character. His role is to seek out and find evil and help people affected by it. He's very selfless and not afraid to put himself at risk, sometimes to a fault (he hasn't learned to look at the "big picture" yet).

However, I don't want to map out my character's entire progression, especially since I haven't played a bard in 5E yet. I'm definitely staying single-class until level 6 but I'd like to keep the option to multiclass into cleric down the road, which requires Wis 13. Unfortunately that makes him very MAD (Multiple Ability score Dependent). I will be a half-elf using 27 point-buy. Here are the 3 arrays I'm deciding between:

	Score	Cost	Mod	Total
S	8	0	0	8
D	15	9	1	16
C	13	5	1	14
I	9	1	0	9
W	13	5	0	13
Ch	14	7	2	16

	Score	Cost	Mod	Total
S	8	0	0	8
D	14	7	0	14
C	13	5	1	14
I	9	1	1	10
W	14	7	0	14
Ch	14	7	2	16

	Score	Cost	Mod	Total
S	8	0	0	8
D	15	9	1	16
C	12	4	0	12
I	10	2	0	10
W	13	5	1	14
Ch	14	7	2	16

Basically is it worth keeping Dex and Con at 16/14 respectively or dropping one of them to get Wis to 14? Int is going to have to be my dump stat but it would be nice to get it to 10 to remove the penalty. I'm hesitant to drop Con because of survivability and Concentration checks. Same with Dex, although I would get medium armor from cleric if I splashed. I know I'm splitting hairs with this type of build, there's a lot to consider.

tl;dr I'm leaning towards the first stat array. Thumbs up/down?

 

[iamntbatman]

I'd go with the second. No -1 on Int checks, another +1 on Wis checks and saves. You don't really need Dex for attacks or damage since you likely will be using Vicious Mockery to impose disadvantage more than you'll be attacking with weapons for a little bit more damage, and with a cleric splash you'd only benefit from +2 AC from Dex at most anyway. Jack of All Trades will add to your initiative even with lower dex. Hell, if you don't care about being particularly stealthy, you could lower dex even more and just wear heavy armor if you dip Life Domain, though that'd be a long way off. For the Harper angle though, I think Knowledge cleric for even more skills makes a bit more sense, and that way you could stick with 14 Dex and medium armor and be sneakier.

I definitely think dipping after Bard 6 would be best so you'd get those additional magical secrets.

 

[Kobold Stew]

The first array has two dump stats. That would rule it out for me.

Of the remaining two, you are choosing between 16 dex/12 con, and 14/14. Of those two, YOull be a bit more viable with the 16.12, in my opinion. I would choose the third, but you'd be fine with the second as well.