D&D 5E Theme for my bard

[Daniel Peterson]

I like the following themes. Pirates, Indiana Jones, vigilantes, the Mariachi from once upon a time in Mexico. I really like the concept of the college of whispers, but I'm not sure how often I will be able to use the abilities other than psychic blades. I also don't know if those abilities are worth giving up the benefits of a Lore bard. I like college of swords, but I also am not sure if its worth giving up other colleges. My race is Tabaxi and my highest stats are dex and charisma. What are some ways to implement these themes that aren't going to make my character sub par? I like fluff, but I'm the type that would rather have something mechanically sound instead of filled with fluff. Let's be honest, doing cool tricks are only cool when you succeed, and if your team struggles while you're doing cool tricks that aren't so helpful you might get the stink eye. the rest of my party is Tiefling warlock pact of tomes, Human paladin, cant remember what oath, Eldarin ranger with horde breaker. Realistically what is low damage, what is medium damage, and what is high damage? The party will start at level 3. Thanks. Oh and the guy who plays the paladin typically hates it when you are chaotic. To keep everyoen happy I will be Lawful something. Probably neutral or evil. I think lawful will help me stay out of trouble even though I'm evil. Or is this a bad idea?

 

[Hawk Diesel]

Personally, I don't let like or use alignment. Most people either play their character too rigidly within their alignment or don't really understand what the alignment means. But I have to wonder, why would you be going evil? Have you had a session 0 with your group to discuss what kind of game it is going to be? Also, a paladin is typically a kind of character that does not work well with characters willing to do or act in evil ways. How is it going to affect party cohesion if you are evil?

As to the kind of bard you want to play, I would make the choice based on what sounds fun. A good DM will create ways for you to use your abilities and give you opportunities to share equally in the spotlight based on what each character is capable of. So once again, it comes down to having a conversation with your group and DM to get a better understanding of the type of game you are going to be playing.

 

[Gardens & Goblins]

Ah ha! A classic case presenting as 'Character Performance Anxiety'.

Friend, as @Hawk Diesel suggests, go with whatever sounds the most fun. Forget the numbers, comparing your character to others and trying to be the best. Simply make something as stylistically awesome as possible and try your best to play it to the hilt.

For me, currently, it's a Triton - re-flavoured as a Fishman/Creature from the Black Lagoon - paladin, following the Oath of Conquest and played as a fishman-moustache twirling Spanish Conquistador, hell bent on ransacking the lands of the dry-feet in the name of the Queen, for the glory of his people's faith which is known as The Only Way.

Style first. Numbers later. You can always remake/rework what you have with a new character - besides, you'll need a fair few characters made & played to really appreciate what you enjoy and the numbers that might contribute to such enjoyment.

Good hunting!

 

[Daniel Peterson]

Thanks for the input. I’m particularly fond of the concept of someone who respects authority, has his own personal code of conduct, and never breaks a promise, but still doesn’t care much for others and looks for loopholes that can be exploited. They type of person that would say “I agree not to kill this innocent person” and then just leave them there to die and justify it as “ I said I wouldn’t kill them, but that doesn’t mean I have to help them”. Unless I’m interpreting it differently then lawful evil and lawful neutral fit that. Also I’m a fan of a fluid alignment that changes as my character makes decisions. Evil characters can still play with paladins under a variety of circumstances such as actively agreeing to not murder in cold blood or in the event of an evil paladin.

 

[Daniel Peterson]

I also just thought of this, but being that a theme that is similar the 4th ed avenger class appeals to me. If my character was a vigilante of sorts it would give room for some nice role playing for the paladin to pursuade me into becoming religious. If the paladin took an oath of vengeance we could have some very common ground as well.

 

[acorn_stasis]

I’m particularly fond of the concept of someone who respects authority, has his own personal code of conduct, and never breaks a promise, but still doesn’t care much for others and looks for loopholes that can be exploited.

This is definitely a Lawful Neutral orientation, nothing even remotely evil about it.

Fluff is misunderstood and misrepresented. Fluff in the hands of a subpar table, including the DM, means "all the stuff that no one even remembers." At a deeply ROLEPLAY engaged table, especially if the DM is switched on, the fluff becomes integrated, powerful and orienting to the whole unfolding story of your adventure. Some of my best and most loved, truly immersive, roleplay experiences have come when we collectively all forgot there were even dice there to roll.

The advice given above regarding "fun" is not only spot on but very deep; deeper than it sounds. The fluff will get you lost in your character and world, then comes fun and lots of it. My advice is roll about in the fluff (yes, rather than the dice). A pirate bard for example sounds like an amazing place to start building a character from, so much flavour there just waiting for you to pluck it (yes, yes as in strings).

 

[Daniel Peterson]

I disagree about it not being remotely evil. Evil people look for things to exploit, and care little to nothing about others. They often trample over others to achieve a goal. They can still follow a code of conduct, set of personal rules, or even local laws. They can still respect authority even if it’s only on the outside. I view someone who is lawful evil as someone who on the surface is a law abiding citizen, or avid follower of a code of conduct, but still exploits loopholes within those systems. They do things like conspire, and manipulate. They do things like push for unjust laws to take affect so that they can benefit.
I agree on the flavor and fluff. I’d rather play a character that is all fluff, and not worry about the numbers, but I have a hard time doing that, sadly. Right now I’m leaning towards a vigilante of some sorts. With a background as an urchin or secret identity for the disguise kit proficiency and a history of being sold from master to master eventually being the slave of a Noble in Neverwinter. That noble had me trained as a sort of contract killer and when I escaped I took on the motive of Wrath, or vengeance, on all evil. I have a tendency to endanger the innocent because of my focus on rooting out all evil. I typically kill, and rarely offer redemption. Right now I’m a level 3 rogue with the swashbuckler archetype and I’ve seriously considered the rest be bard for the magical aspect. I think college of whispers would be a nice fit fluff wise and considered to refluff the steal shadow aspect into stealing souls to mimic Tsang Tsung. Because I’ve always been a trapper and such I really only took swashbuckler for the expertise in trapping, but the nearly always sneak attack, and charisma to initiative fits very well since I think psychic blades stacks with sneak attack essentially making a level 5 rogue / 15 bard capable of dealing the same damage as a 20 rogue as long as it’s not an enemy immune or resistant to psychic and sneak attack.
What are your thoughts?