Bard Multiclass Options?

[Chanczo]

Can anyone more familiar with D&D ruleset recommend some multiclass options viable for Bards wanting to hold their own in a melee fight?

I've seen people recommending 10 Bard / 2 Paladin multiclass, the issue is that paladins are probably the most restrictive class in terms of roleplaying due to their oath, and I'm not looking to play an oathbreaker either.

Is 10 Bard / 2 Fighter the best build for bards looking to deal some melee damage? Any other options?

[E man]

I’m not saying that you CAN’T Multi-class the Bard. But why? The Bard is the most “all-around” class in the game (followed by the Ranger). If ever a class didn’t need to branch-out, it’s the Bard.

[DDThreeSocks]

I am not meta building here, but wanted to make a fun role play, still check character with finesse battle and fun dialog. We will see how it unfolds. Bard lvl. 1 for checks and support and utility, fighter for 2 lvl. For action surge, back to bard for school of swords at 3, api at 4, and extra attack at 6, then not sure, maybe take it to 8 for other API, then last two levels are up in the air as to how it feels and how the story progresses. Use last two levels for companion control, if I want to sub out someone I don't like, or extra support or damage spells, we will see where the journey goes!

[Ephemerant]

Originalmente postado por DDThreeSocks:

I am not meta building here, but wanted to make a fun role play, still check character with finesse battle and fun dialog. We will see how it unfolds. Bard lvl. 1 for checks and support and utility, fighter for 2 lvl. For action surge, back to bard for school of swords at 3, api at 4, and extra attack at 6, then not sure, maybe take it to 8 for other API, then last two levels are up in the air as to how it feels and how the story progresses. Use last two levels for companion control, if I want to sub out someone I don't like, or extra support or damage spells, we will see where the journey goes!

This build wouldn't work. Class level and Character level are different things. If a feature is unlocked at CLASS level 2 or level 3, then you need that many levels in that class, no matter what your Character level is currently.

[Grimmsch]

Cleric Knowledge - Level 2/ Rogue Level 2/ Bard the rest.
Know it all. A real jack of all trades. Pure Expertise.
Just sad there is no school of Eloquency.

[Snake_In_The_Eye]

Bards use Charisma as spellcasting ability, so you might want something that uses the same. Otherwise you can get something that uses Dexterity. What matters is how you want to play it.

I was thinking about how to play astarion for example, and I want him to have dual hand crossbow. I can absolutely see as viable a bard with focus on dexterity and dual hand crossbow, maybe taking a couple of levels into ranger or fighter for the fighting styles.

If you want to focus on spells then sorcerer is probably the only sensible choice as you unlock metamagic.

Tempest sorcerer allows you to use fly as bonus action after you cast a spell without triggering opportunity attacks. It is a very useful option for mobility and battlefield maneuvering.

I would not advice bard/paladin. It can be done, both use charisma, but paladin implies you will have to hit in melee and for me a bard is more a squishy buffer.

Avoid MAD, taking classes that use too different characteristics.

[ddmsky]

Thief 4 for extra bonus action, second feat, and surprise attacks. Been running Lore Bard, and with Cutting Words reaction it has been superior support option. Now I switched to dual wielding Blade bard for some more action and I love it even more - teleporting shot is a free (ok, bonus action and inspiration) swift step.

[cuwepal]

Its really hard to say what would be best to multi class as a bard because of the changes they made to spellcasting slots as long as you multiclass into a full caster you don't lose spell progression granted if you take a different spell modifer class such as a cleric that uses wisdom attack spells will be weaker because you dont normaly boost wisdom on a bard but you will be able to cast the buff spells from both lists. can cheese this even more with one level of wizard will let you learn every arcane spell in the game from scrolls opening up a lot of options. But if your looking to just get armor and some nice side dmg take one level of Tempest cleric to get heavy armor Plus if someone gets attack off on you will shoot a lighting bolt right back at them once a turn, This feature is not a one off its every turn don't have to rest so if your in melee just free dmg for one level dip that gets your armor and weapons