Is Life Cleric 1 / Lore Bard 11 the best Utility / Face support in the game?

[Clive Hawkins]

I've been trying to think of ways to make my Lore Bard less squishy.

- Swords Bard for Medium Armor or Valor Bard for Medium Armor and Shields?
- Githyanki or Shield Dwarf for Medium Armor?
- Human or Half-Elf for Shields?
- One level dip in Fighter for Heavy Armor, Shields, and CON saves?
- One level dip in Ranger for Heavy Armor, Shields, and a few proficiences?
- One level dip in Paladin for Heavy Armor, Shields, and that strong Ancients Heal?

Then it all clicked together.

Life Cleric. Hmm what does it get?
- Heavy Armor and Shields, that's a great start.
- Guidance. Oh shucks, a classic
- Light, eh can't hurt
- Thaumaturgy cantrip. Wait, permanent advantage on my performance and intimidation checks which can be selected as a bonus just like Guidance while in conversation? Don't mind if I do.

Huh, we also have a couple of Cleric spells we can cast without using our low WIS modifier:

Sanctuary - This is just a broken, bonus action, non-concentration, overpowered spell
Healing Word - Bonus action revive
Bless - Another classic
Create Water - Not bad with certain party configs

Now we get to the final bonus: Disciple of Life

Now I'll admit, combat healing is pretty garbage in DnD unless you are using it to Revive someone (with some exceptions.) However, a Level 6 Lore Bard can take the Warden of Vitality spell ♪

Warden of Vitality
10 Turns
Use a Bonus Action to Heal 2D6 Hp (+5 with Disciple of Life.)
Non-Concentration

Bard has plenty to do with their Action and Reaction. But their Bonus Action is free game. Why not passively heal every single turn? Combine that with all of those items that give you Bless, Blade Ward, and Temp HP each time you heal someone and that's some crazy passive support.

All of this for a one level dip? It seems too synergistic to ever give up.
Now you have 17 CHR and two feats. The first being Actor for 18 CHR and proficiency plus expertise in both Deception and Performance. ASI to get to 20 CHR.

Anything you would change? ♥