Cleric/Bard Optimization...

[Fast]

Ive never played this class in D&D even on table top.

And i was thinking it might be incredibly fun with how the game is set out.

But maybe someone can advise.

I will Start Level 1 Cleric and then multiclass into Lore Bard and go to level 12 as bard.

I was thinking Life cleric whilst u lose a single ASI, it allows you at level 6 bard to take 2 cleric spells (it should) instead of at level 10 with other bard subclasses, meaning you can take guardians and whatever else.
But importantly this lets you get guidance, wear heavy armour and shields, and disciple of life, bless etc you can then go into Bard, and benefit from a huge amount of proficiencies as well as all of bards incredible spells and class abilities.

This class will cover the dialogue,support,utility,,skill monkey and control options.

Meaning you can take whatever party members you like and not feel gimped.

If anyone knows some specific picks that are either necessary or should be considered greatly let me know.

[Blackdragon]

Originally posted by Farsha:

Bard is CHA caster, Cleric is WIS caster. That is not a good multiclass.
There are many good CHA classes that are great with Bard.
Cleric is not a good choise.

Casting stat only plays a role for offensive spells (attack roll/saving throw difficulty class). If you use one of the classes as pure defense/support (healing and protection spells), then it's not necessary to max their casting stat.

The good thing about multiclassing a cleric with another caster is that cleric's basic support spells are level 1 and can simply be upscaled using higher spell slots, so it will heal like a higher level cleric despite having only one level in the class.

My main gripe with this idea is that I'd rather multi a Cleric with a Sorcerer for much more spell power than the Bard can offer.

[Indure]

If you're going to pick cleric at level 1, I would consider light or nature over life. Bonus healing is inconsequential and life doesn't get any non cleric domain spells.

Nature gets a druid cantrip, heavy armor and a speak with animals / animal friendship, which knowing Larian will have far more value then those spells should.

Light gets Faerie Fire and although it only has medium armor warding flare is one of the most OP defensive spells in the game.

[Fast]

Originally posted by Indure:

If you're going to pick cleric at level 1, I would consider light or nature over life. Bonus healing is inconsequential and life doesn't get any non cleric domain spells.

Nature gets a druid cantrip, heavy armor and a speak with animals / animal friendship, which knowing Larian will have far more value then those spells should.

Light gets Faerie Fire and although it only has medium armor warding flare is one of the most OP defensive spells in the game.

This is actually a really smart idea. My only concern was on the fly healing, but then i was thinking i can just throw potions at my allies and its the same thing...hehe

[Sonic Titan]

Originally posted by Fast:

Originally posted by Sonic Titan:

I'm just quoting you from your thread about multiclassing scruffing characters.

yeh most of the time its not very good. But there are niche cases where it can work out better.

Maybe people scruffing characters by not going niche multiclass builds can be your next thread.

[2LambBuna]

just go full lore bard and pick up cleric spells with magical secrets and extra magical secrets

[Fast]

Originally posted by 2LambBuna:

just go full lore bard and pick up cleric spells with magical secrets and extra magical secrets

I thought about it, but i think having guidance, thaumaturgy, create water, and importantly bless. are super important, as well as heavy armour and shields. considering we lose a single ASI, for all this and on top we could use magical secrets to grab any of the popular spells which use ability modifiers for charisma i think 1 level of cleric is super strong, but there is no way going more than 1 is worth it.

I suppose the alternative would be to steal volos bless ring. but you still lose stuff.

[Blackdragon]

Originally posted by Fast:

Originally posted by Indure:

If you're going to pick cleric at level 1, I would consider light or nature over life. Bonus healing is inconsequential and life doesn't get any non cleric domain spells.

Nature gets a druid cantrip, heavy armor and a speak with animals / animal friendship, which knowing Larian will have far more value then those spells should.

Light gets Faerie Fire and although it only has medium armor warding flare is one of the most OP defensive spells in the game.

This is actually a really smart idea. My only concern was on the fly healing, but then i was thinking i can just throw potions at my allies and its the same thing...hehe

In general increasing offense is a better strategy than increasing healing. Damage scales better than healing in D&D 5e, and even more so in BG3 with some of Larian's... ahem... innovative mechanics. So having a character entirely focused around healing seems like a waste to me. My personal view on Clerics in BG3 is either take War domain to 12, or split War Cleric 6/6 with Battlemaster Fighter, or take Tempest 2/Draconic (Lightning) Sorcerer 10.

[Blackdragon]

Originally posted by 2LambBuna:

just go full lore bard and pick up cleric spells with magical secrets and extra magical secrets

That's just silly, pardon my French. Magical Secrets are for picking FIREBALL, not some pansy cleric spell.

But if you're going to be casting Fireball, might as well go with the class which is the best at doing it, i.e. Draconic Sorcerer.

[Fast]

Originally posted by Blackdragon:

Originally posted by Fast:

This is actually a really smart idea. My only concern was on the fly healing, but then i was thinking i can just throw potions at my allies and its the same thing...hehe

In general increasing offense is a better strategy than increasing healing. Damage scales better than healing in D&D 5e, and even more so in BG3 with some of Larian's... ahem... innovative mechanics. So having a character entirely focused around healing seems like a waste to me. My personal view on Clerics in BG3 is either take War domain to 12, or split War Cleric 6/6 with Battlemaster Fighter, or take Tempest 2/Draconic (Lightning) Sorcerer 10.

I agree. I want my character to be filling as many roles as possible.

Utility/support/dialogue/control

I will use other party members for combat roles , Martial, Single target ranged, AOE caster.

[Fast]

Originally posted by Blackdragon:

Originally posted by 2LambBuna:

just go full lore bard and pick up cleric spells with magical secrets and extra magical secrets

That's just silly, pardon my French. Magical Secrets are for picking FIREBALL, not some pansy cleric spell.

But if you're going to be casting Fireball, might as well go with the class which is the best at doing it, i.e. Draconic Sorcerer.

Most people pick up counterspell and haste or some such at 6 with lore bard.

[2LambBuna]

Originally posted by Fast:

Originally posted by 2LambBuna:

just go full lore bard and pick up cleric spells with magical secrets and extra magical secrets

I thought about it, but i think having guidance, thaumaturgy, create water, and importantly bless. are super important, as well as heavy armour and shields. considering we lose a single ASI, for all this and on top we could use magical secrets to grab any of the popular spells which use ability modifiers for charisma i think 1 level of cleric is super strong, but there is no way going more than 1 is worth it.

I suppose the alternative would be to steal volos bless ring. but you still lose stuff.

you wont have the STR to support heavy armour as a lore bard. go 16 cha, 14 con, 14 dex and carry a rapier sit back and rely on your spells for damage. you can get a staff early on with create water, i usually give it gale. theres also an amulet early on with guidance, plus shadowheart has it anyway. Heroism is just as good a level 1 buff as bless. you get viscous mockery as a cantrip which is great for defence. you can thaumaturgy for free if you roll a teifling. both Bard and Cleric are really strong classes, they don't need multiclass really.

[2LambBuna]

Originally posted by Blackdragon:

Originally posted by Fast:

This is actually a really smart idea. My only concern was on the fly healing, but then i was thinking i can just throw potions at my allies and its the same thing...hehe

In general increasing offense is a better strategy than increasing healing. Damage scales better than healing in D&D 5e, and even more so in BG3 with some of Larian's... ahem... innovative mechanics. So having a character entirely focused around healing seems like a waste to me. My personal view on Clerics in BG3 is either take War domain to 12, or split War Cleric 6/6 with Battlemaster Fighter, or take Tempest 2/Draconic (Lightning) Sorcerer 10.

or preventing the damage up front like with viscous mockery & hideous laughter. or buffing defence like with heroism. Buffs and Debuffs especially ones that give advantage or disadvantage are king in 5ed at lower levels.

[2LambBuna]

oh and another thing at level 3 when you give out bardic inspiration die, it also does a small heal.

[Taritu]

Which class gets magical secrets and at what level?

[Fast]

Originally posted by Taritu:

Which class gets magical secrets and at what level?

Lore Bard at level 6 10 14 18
Otherwise level 10 14 and 18