Sword Bard

[Satori]

Hello,

I am hoping this will lead to giving me a bit better knowledge about game mechanics. So i have some better understanding what to do once ill play. Hoping this will enhance my bg3 experience.

I will make a summary at the bottom. So u will have the option to just get the general idea's, if u dont wanna read this all.

Background/why sword bard:
I don't know much about DnD. All i know is from reading the first 9 drizzt books, playing ea and from what i learned last 2 weeks from bg3 you tube video's.
My character will have a similar background as Drizzt, with some twists. It will make things more interesting for me. So i wont be playing the "classic chaotic bard" stereotype. Pref dual wield, but not a must.

So after many considerations i am heavily leaning towards playing a sword bard. I always like utility. My first instinct was a land druid. From a lore/aesthetic perspective it calls out too me. From a gameplay+dialogue perspective bard would just be more fitting and better for me i think. Just quality of life in dialogues, more options for melee and buffs. Dual wielding probably. I dont care for the music part much though. I also still have in mind that i may go lord bard. cutting words+earlier extra spells is great. But the melee options/flourishes seems more interesting too me. And usually i just prefer melee combat. Fits Drizzt background as well.

How i would like to play:
Utility ftw! More options equals more interesting gameplay imo. I like options over dmg.
I would like: good control, some buffing/healing, decent dmg, melee dual wield, some offensive spell options. The sword flourishes seem rly fun too me. More options for control/movement. And being able to cast while dual wielding seems like a must for me.
I am a bit worried i may try too many things, so overall it will feel lackluster.
I wont play on tactician, so think it will be fine? As long if the rest of my party is good.

General build:
I will just put some general things here. Hopefully we can discuss it more in depth.
So either drow or half drow. After changes in full game i think this wont matter much?
Sword bard at 3. Warmaster seems like a must? Two handed feat seems like a big plus for me, dont know if its decent. In most guides i see its just better to get stats. Feels bad and uninteresting too me...

About multiclass:
I saw a lot about paladin or lock. For myself, i don't think divine smite or eldrich blast is something i would like much. Leaning more towards full bard, rogue or fighter.

Full bard 6. extra attack. This seems the way to go? or...
1 Rogue for extra proficiency/expertise/sneak attack seems worth it? lvl 2 maybe?
2 fighter for medium armor, martial wep,action surge, 2 skills. All seems fantastic? Also, like i said before: i would like dual wield, but may come across a nice weapon so martial wep will give me even more options.
The 2 fighter seems like the best option too me, but i am probably missing something. Not sure if things will overlap with full sword bard so it wont be worth it.
I dont know much about what comes after 6. 10 gives me extra spells so that seems like a must. There is just so much thil 6 that i will just try to learn about that atm.


Party setup:
Me, Shadowheart(tank/utility), Leaz'el(just dmg).
One more. A ranged caster. Probably mainly for dmg. I dunno yet. I may swap around.
Not sure about healing. Seems not that important in this game? maybe at higher levels. Think off-healing a bit with shadowheart and me seems good enough. Also, there are some items with healing boons.

Sum up, pressing questions:
To much of a jack of all trades will feel lackluster? Should i just focus more on a few things?
Feats to pick? Generally ppl say just picking stats is just better? Guess charisma 16 to 18.
I dont rly want to, seems uninteresting.. Picking war-master/2h seems way more fun.
Multi-class 2 fighter, 1 rogue, full bard?
Things i need to keep in mind? What did i miss?!


I tried to convey my thoughts as best as i could. There are so much intricacies, its kinda hard.
Hoping I and other people can get something out of this topic. Thank you.

[bears beets battlestar galactica]

Sorry can't help you here because I'm a total noob and didn't play EA to no spoil myself. Commenting just because you had the very same idea than I did. A dual wielding bard full of utility
Didn't thing about multiclassing since that sounds way too complicated to me. Also thought about picking feat instead of stats because I believe you get to pick a dual wielding feat? Finally I was under the impression half drow would be better here, didn't even think about drow.

Hopefully a knowledgeble player can see this post as share some next level advice about dual wield sword bard.

[DeportedFetus]

Play bg1 and 2 as a Blade kit subclass of the Bard. Best bard type in any setting. Too bad it doesn't exist in this

[MeldinX2]

Sword bard will get Medium armor by default. So you don't need fighter for that. Otherwise fighter is still good for multiclassing. Mainly because of Action Surge. Also keep in mind that dual wielding will use your bonus action to attack with your off-hand. Meaning you won't be able to use bardic inspiration to buff or use bonus action spells on the same turn.

[bears beets battlestar galactica]

Originally posted by MeldinX2:

Sword bard will get Medium armor by default. So you don't need fighter for that. Otherwise fighter is still good for multiclassing. Mainly because of Action Surge. Also keep in mind that dual wielding will use your bonus action to attack with your off-hand. Meaning you won't be able to use bardic inspiration to buff or use bonus action spells on the same turn.

Meaning I either attack with my two weapons or one attack and one spell?

[MeldinX2]

Originally posted by bears beets battlestar galactica:

Originally posted by MeldinX2:

Sword bard will get Medium armor by default. So you don't need fighter for that. Otherwise fighter is still good for multiclassing. Mainly because of Action Surge. Also keep in mind that dual wielding will use your bonus action to attack with your off-hand. Meaning you won't be able to use bardic inspiration to buff or use bonus action spells on the same turn.

Meaning I either attack with my two weapons or one attack and one spell?

Yes, Either you attack with both weapons which will use both your action and your bonus action. Or you attack once with your action and have your bonus action for certain spells or to use your bardic inspiration to buff a companion(If you don't use a blade flourish).

[Lazydrones]

I don't think swords are musical instruments but I mean you could likely make some rhythmic music by hitting it against other objects.

You could also maybe rub two swords together?

I don't really think it would be the most effective or pleasing musical instrument though so I'd brace yourself for disappointment.

[ThorClock🧙]

Two weapon fighting is best when you're playing a class that doesn't have a lot of use for their bonus action. Bard is a class that has a lot of great uses for its bonus action, specifically inspiration and healing word, so it's not the best if you want to be tearing stuff up with two weapons.
If you want utility with two weapon fighting you might be better off with paladin or ranger.

[Marcos_DS]

Originally posted by bears beets battlestar galactica:

Originally posted by MeldinX2:

Sword bard will get Medium armor by default. So you don't need fighter for that. Otherwise fighter is still good for multiclassing. Mainly because of Action Surge. Also keep in mind that dual wielding will use your bonus action to attack with your off-hand. Meaning you won't be able to use bardic inspiration to buff or use bonus action spells on the same turn.

Meaning I either attack with my two weapons or one attack and one spell?

Well, you CAN use spells that use a bonus action - which are not that many (but some of them are quite important, esp healing word to keep companions from dying without wasting your normal action).

However, i think the swords bard is the most likely bard candidate to really benefit from the offhand attack: The staple bard minor action - inspiration for companions - will likely be used far less for that bard subclass and instead to power your attacks (which doesn't use your minor action).

Regarding dip classes, 2 fighter is certainly a very solid option. However its solely focused on improving combat prowess (mainly via action surge, which is great). You don't get extra skills: multiclassing into another class doesn't yield the full set of skills (or proficienies for that matter) of that class. Since you already get medium armor from bard, the other main attractions of fighter multiclass (proficiencies) isn't as good here.

Another alternative 2 level class dip that might be worth considering: Ranger.
* It's fitting thematically (Drizzt is very ranger-like)
* you get 2 extra spells from the ranger spell selection (but can cast them with bard slots as well). Hunters Mark is great, dealing 1d6 extra damage per hit (so up to 3d6 with 3 attacks, requires a minor action to set up tho). I also like Jump for its great battlefield mobility, both are not on the bard spell list.
* you will get a lvl 6 spell slots since 1/2 ranger class levels are counted for total spell slots and are only 1 level behind full bard (instead of 2 with fighter)
* +3 skills from mulitclass ranger (1 from class list, 1 from favored enemy, 1 natural explorer) instead of none with fighter
* alternatively only +2 skills and resistence to an element, or a familiar (personal favorite but less useful in a group that already has one)
* like fighter, you get an extra fighting style. I would recommend defensive (+1 AC) or archery (+2 to hit with ranged). Also gain the same proficiencies for muliclassing.

So you loose burst damage compared to fighter (action surge), but gain a lot more utility and in bigger fights hunters mark might even outdamage action surge.

[bears beets battlestar galactica]

Originally posted by Marcos_DS:

Originally posted by bears beets battlestar galactica:

Meaning I either attack with my two weapons or one attack and one spell?

Well, you CAN use spells that use a bonus action - which are not that many (but some of them are quite important, esp healing word to keep companions from dying without wasting your normal action).

However, i think the swords bard is the most likely bard candidate to really benefit from the offhand attack: The staple bard minor action - inspiration for companions - will likely be used far less for that bard subclass and instead to power your attacks (which doesn't use your minor action).

Regarding dip classes, 2 fighter is certainly a very solid option. However its solely focused on improving combat prowess (mainly via action surge, which is great). You don't get extra skills: multiclassing into another class doesn't yield the full set of skills (or proficienies for that matter) of that class. Since you already get medium armor from bard, the other main attractions of fighter multiclass (proficiencies) isn't as good here.

Another alternative 2 level class dip that might be worth considering: Ranger.
* It's fitting thematically (Drizzt is very ranger-like)
* you get 2 extra spells from the ranger spell selection (but can cast them with bard slots as well). Hunters Mark is great, dealing 1d6 extra damage per hit (so up to 3d6 with 3 attacks, requires a minor action to set up tho). I also like Jump for its great battlefield mobility, both are not on the bard spell list.
* you will get a lvl 6 spell slots since 1/2 ranger class levels are counted for total spell slots and are only 1 level behind full bard (instead of 2 with fighter)
* +3 skills from mulitclass ranger (1 from class list, 1 from favored enemy, 1 natural explorer) instead of none with fighter
* alternatively only +2 skills and resistence to an element, or a familiar (personal favorite but less useful in a group that already has one)
* like fighter, you get an extra fighting style. I would recommend defensive (+1 AC) or archery (+2 to hit with ranged). Also gain the same proficiencies for muliclassing.

So you loose burst damage compared to fighter (action surge), but gain a lot more utility and in bigger fights hunters mark might even outdamage action surge.

Thanks so much for the info! I don't see myself using the music inspiration often so that seems fine to me. For some reason I got the idea of playing a dual wield DPS/utility charisma and dexterity character, so bard seems the only option.
For context, I am playing a 4-man coop. My friends are playing warrior, priest, and wizard.

If I understood correctly, i go bard 10 and ranger 2 since 12 is the level cap. At what time I pick up the ranger levels?
Do I need to invest in wisdom as well for ranger spells?

I was thinking the following stats:

str 10
dex 16
con 14
int 8
wis 10
cha 16

[Marcos_DS]

Originally posted by bears beets battlestar galactica:

Thanks so much for the info! I don't see myself using the music inspiration often so that seems fine to me. For some reason I got the idea of playing a dual wield DPS/utility charisma and dexterity character, so bard seems the only option.
For context, I am playing a 4-man coop. My friends are playing warrior, priest, and wizard.

Well, you will certainly do good DPS but the warrior will likely outdamage you in melee, same as the wizard with his blast spells. Esp. in the early levels, the bard won't be able to have the same damage output in melee. Also keep in mind, very often casting a good spell might be preferable to going to melee.

If I understood correctly, i go bard 10 and ranger 2 since 12 is the level cap. At what time I pick up the ranger levels?

That is actually a good question. Either bard 6 ranger 2 bard 4, or bard 1 ranger 2 bard 9. Both have pros and cons. Going to bard 6 unlocks 2 attacks and inspirations per short rest, but getting the 2 ranger levels right after the first bard level will increase your utility early - and you likely want to be a good skill monkey early rather than late. My recommendation would be the 2nd option, even if it delays your melee prowess.

But the game has an respec option, so its perfectly valid to switch this up and go bard 1 ranger 2 bard 2 first, then upon hitting level 6 switch to bard 6 to profit from 2nd attack, and from level 7 getting back to ranger 2 followed by bard...

Do I need to invest in wisdom as well for ranger spells?

Not needed, at least not for the spells. Just pick Hunter's Mark and spells that don't have a saving throw so wisdom doesn't matter. That said, good wisdom can still make sense for the saves and associated skills like perception.

I was thinking the following stats:

str 10
dex 16
con 14
int 8
wis 10
cha 16

My last build dumped STR and reduced CON to 12 in favor of WIS 14, but if the cleric does the WIS-related skills thats perfectly fine. And the extra CON point is good both for your concentration spells and for extra hitpoints.

[bears beets battlestar galactica]

Thank you good sir, you definitely cleared a lot of my questions about going bard. Happy to hear I can respec if I mess something up or change my mind.

I think ill try the two lvls of ranger early and see how it goes. Cheers!