EXPERTISE! Creating the most skilled-up character possible!

[chefcook90]

So a while back I started a Jack of All Trades run where you put only 1 level into each class without respecing, and am actually LOVING how gosh darn useful my character is when passing skillchecks. Currently level 1 Bard/Rogue/Druid/Ranger/Cleric Human - I've got proficiency in almost EVERYTHING plus expertise in 4 skills (2 from level 1 rogue, 2 from Knowledge domain Cleric).

Then I got to thinking, wouldn't it be cool if I tried to make the most skilled-up build possible?

So I checked the wiki for sources of Expertise:

- Rogues can upgrade 2 proficient skills to having expertise at level 1 and level 6 each, for 4 total
- Bards can do the same, but at level 3 and level 10
- Knowledge Domain Clerics can choose 2 of the Int-based skills to have expertise in aside from Investigation, even if they're NOT proficient in them (so it's basically expertise on top of free proficiency)
- Rock Gnomes have expertise in History as a racial bonus.
- The Actor feat gives Expertise in Performance and Deception.

Now since the level cap in this game is set to 12, that means you can potentially have 3x2 (bard + rogue) +2 (KD Cleric) + 2 (actor feat) +1 (rock gnome) different skills with expertise.
That's 11 out of 18 of the skills, and since you're PROBABLY not gonna pick expertise in Athletics, Acrobatics, or Animal Handling (since Bards can pick up Speak to Animals at level 1,) it's more like 11 out of 15 :D

So the REAL question is, do you go level 10 Bard / level 1 Rouge / level 1 Cleric...
...or Level 6 Rogue / level 3 Bard / level 1 Cleric?

The latter build gives you max expertise at level 10 instead of level 12 and frees up two multiclass options, but the former means you get to build almost pure Bard and pick up Feats faster.

So which do you guys think is better?

Also are there any difficult History Checks in this game that actually make Rock Gnome worth it? Because from what I've seen so far History mostly just adds lore and flavor text, and doesn't actually give extra rewards or dialogue choices like other skills do.

Cuz if there isn't, you may as well roll a Githyanki and do Astral Knowledge: Wisdom every day to get proficiency in all 5 Wis-based skills, then choose Expertise in basically every skill that isn't tied to Wisdom :B

[BlueGrunt]

👍

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

https://youtu.be/FiUF2QIwGNU?si=eXpjMjIy3O2yg7VF

[nidodson]

Sorry to necro, but I was thinking of doing something similar, and was curious how your run panned out.

I was thinking:
6 Bard - Feat: Acting, Expertise: Persuasion & Perception, Valor: Extra Attack
6 Rogue - Feat: Tough, Expertise: Stealth, SoH, Insight, Intimidation

[chefcook90]

Originally posted by nidodson:

Sorry to necro, but I was thinking of doing something similar, and was curious how your run panned out.

I was thinking:
6 Bard - Feat: Acting, Expertise: Persuasion & Perception, Valor: Extra Attack
6 Rogue - Feat: Tough, Expertise: Stealth, SoH, Insight, Intimidation

Aw I haven't actually played BG3 in ages - I really need to get back to it at some point lol

[Kalon]

I just made a gith and went the lore route on bard.
You can have proficiency in every skill except athletics, acrobatics and stealth, with expertise in persuasion, deception, sleight of hand and performance if you take the acting feat at lvl 4 and use your gith powers to always have wisdom proficiency. I basically pass almost every skill check I attempt and I don't worry about stealth, that's why you have invisibility.
No need to go nuts with multiclass to get every skill.