Errata: Taking GFB with High Elf means the bonus damage to the second target uses our Int, which is -1 :). It's so little of our damage that I'm not too worried about it, but you could always take a dip in Warlock or Sorc to grab it.
I know it’s overused but you could go Hex Blade at first level, get armor and shield prof at level 1 and focus on Charism over Dex. Hex Blade Curse doesn’t hurt anything either. Two Alternate options to that are 1: Playing Variant Human and grabbing Magic Initiate (Warlock/Green Flame Blade) 2: Playing Kobold (the MoM version) and grabbing GFB with their racial feature.
I think that if you REALLY want to keep the levels the way they are, you should should switch to kobold. ''Sqeek the barking bard will turn you into food, you loud meals''.
I said this on last week's video, but not until well after it came out (meaning it probably got missed): This needs to turn into a collaboration! You guest with them to give your take on the tier rankings for one of the multiclass videos (Monk?), and then they guest on your channel to each propose a multiclass build using one of the lower-ranked combinations from that same tier-ranking video. I really want to see Monty's reaction to one of your builds...
So just cause I am really into the idea I'm going to bring it up again. Please consider doing builds optimized for specific creature types. Like the dragon's bane or vampire killer. 🙏🙏🙏 And obviously I'm talking about more than just doing a ranger's favored foe. Though maybe it could be part of the mix in some of them!
When you mentioned the size restriction of Giant Killer being the part that makes it not great, I just had a hilarious thought of a spell caster casting enlarge on an enemy so you could get your extra damage😂 It’s a similar idea to casting Haste on an enemy and then immediately dropping concentration so they lose a turn, but instead it’s just to proc Giant Killer
If you need any motivation for your Ranger/Wizard multiclass there is a character from the Forgotten Realms, Dornal Silverhand. He was the father of the Seven Sisters, all Chosen of Mystra, the Goddess of Magic. He believe he was a Ranger/Wizard who used a quarterstaff in melee combat which doubled as his wizard's staff.
Judt found your channel a few weeks ago. Gotta say, i love the content. You do a great job breaking down how all these levels/classes/abilities/spells interact with each other and it gives me so many great ideas on how to implement the stuff you present into my own characters. So thanks for being crestive and crunching the numbers!
Awesome idea! Unfortunately, High Elf specifies that Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for the cantrip so you need to deduct 1 (Int modifier) rather than add 3 (Cha modifier) whenever you do Green-Flame Blade damage to the secondary target. The wording is the same for the Half-Elf variant (Moon Elf or Sun Elf descent) from Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide that you use. It's an awesome racial choice for Booming Blade but less so for anything that relies on your spellcasting modifier. Instead, I would start with a single level in Hexblade Warlock for Charisma-based cantrips and weapon attacks. Pick whatever race you like (probably Custom Lineage with Elven Accuracy to begin with 18 Charisma). Of course, it would delay extra attack to level 7 instead which is unheard of when you're a slave to the spreadsheet 🖤
I forgot that it's been clarified that Custom Lineage can't be elven enough to qualify for Elven Accuracy. Fey Touched is a good alternative since Bards don't usually get Misty Step (or Bless if you prefer it over Faerie Fire).
Yeah and rapier is a martial weapon. No rapier for this bard until you're a fighter at level 7! Oh, and you won't ever keep your concentration with this build.
Hello there, Colby! I was looking at your Street Fighter build and I think I found a mistypo. Your last ASI at the last level bumped your Dex to 18, but I re-watched and didn’t see you bumping Dex no other time, and you started with 14 Dex. Meaning, I should be bumped to 16. You started Str 16, Dex 14, Con 16, Wis 13, (+2 Str and Con). You did Monk 1, Barb 4, Fighter 12, Meaning 5 ASI. Maxing Str and Con to 20, it would have 1 ASI left. Meaning you would only be able to bump Dex to 16, not 18. Besides that, great video! Love your content! Thank you for your attention!
I loved this bard build! It's much better than I anticipated. It gives me even more hope that you'll make an incredible build for a sword dancer of Eilistraee. I asked for it in a video a while ago and I know you must have several other builds on your to-do list, but after this build, I really want to see what you'll come up with for a priestess of Eilistraee, so please don't forget about this idea 😁
That dungeon dudes episode is the reason I started watching your channel! I love that D&D RUclipsrs (at least the ones I watch) work with not against each other.
I tend to find your vidoes when exploring character ideas, this one being a bard who hates minstrels (starting at level 3). I honestly love how you focus on the why you pick spells over the what, as it helps people like me understand how to use them. That said, I do think I'll take a Hexblade dip for Eldritch Blast (being my ranged option), shield prof, invocations to bolster Eldritch Blast, Sight, or Utility, and finally, the character I am thinking of would strive through perseverance over dexterity.
"Landslide" always gives me emotions. Stevie is phenomenal, but I do think that The Chicks get a tiny edge because yeah, the harmonies somehow give it an extra something.
Lovin’ D&D RUclipsr love! Long Live the Dudes! Also throwing a build idea out there: FeyWanderer Ranger/Glamour Bard probably best in Satyr/one of the elven folk/changeling types
At the time of writing this comment, I'm still in the intro segment. Class mechanics and mixing features together is absolutely a ton of fun even if it doesn't look like it makes sense. People I knew were talking about a oneshot so I crafted a Drow Storm Sorcerer/Bard (starting level 5, split 3:2), recently crafted an Orc Inquisitive Rogue/Totem Barbarian (starting level 8 ,split 3:5) for a campaign I got invited to. Originally the Orc was planned to be a Swashbuckler/College of Swords but I heard there were 2 bards already active so I didn't really want to make it 3 bards
I love how you and the dungeon dudes reference each other all the time such good Community work. "Colby might be able to find it but still D tier" lol bard ranger is Robin hood I think
Loved that tribute reference and hope this little text rework help bring a little smile to your day 😊 "Needless to say, The beast was slowed. Whip-crack went his whippy tail, And his turn was done. He asked us, Be you aasimar? And we said nay, We are half-men, Psyke!"
This charecter isn't your usual traveling minstrel, this is the guy sat brooding in the corner listing as a group of novice hunters are discussing their kills. They ominously walk over and throw back thier hood, revealing a grizzled face. "Call that a story, let me tell you how I got this scar." They growl but it soon crack's into a grin and they chortle "But first who want's a drink!" They join the table and enthrall the young hunters with their tall tales of creatures slain and foes bested long into the small hours.
I really like the idea of a half elvish captain awesome type singing around a campfire ranger riding into battle on a griffon for crowd control. I'd definitely go with find greater steed.
I LOVE the swords bard! I think it is my favorit "gish"! support and enchantment spells combined with weapons! LOVE it! I did play a sharpshooter crossbow expert version! cause flourish don't require "melee weapons"! and the proficient weapons is a focus! picking up fey touched to get hex realy helped to!
While it would only make the smallest difference in damage and no difference at all to the hit chance, I feel it should be mentioned that the bonus wizard cantrip gained by the high elf specifically states that it uses intelligence as its casting ability, yet you were adding charisma. That aside, this was a really fun video and a very interesting character concept.
I recently made a tapdancing swashbuckler/swords bard multiclass I call the battlefield dancer which has quite some similarities to this one! You can add sneak attack to the enemy that is lower to try to still finish some targets off and I will try the build out soon! It starts more rogue and will use booming blade instead of green flame blade with the high half elf. I will try to play it as a smug frenchmen who challenges people to duels who gets more humbled later and finds a passion for tapdancing later
So it would be a very high level build, but have you ever considered building around Find Greater Steed? A stipulation with it is that any spell you cast that affects you can also affect your mount, so you could *technically* cast Spirit Guardians on yourself and it would also be cast from your mount to have two overlapping areas of Spirit Guardians. A fun thought experiment for all 10th level bards and higher!
Btw, Green Flame Blade makes for a great support spell: attack the guy you want to focus on, and warm up the guy next to him for your companion to cast Toll the Dead.
You are the best I wait for your videos every week❤️ I’ve thought of a good build, a necromancy wizard with all of the op stuff of that but at level 7 conjure minor elementals chwinga that gives you magical +1 weapons to the skeletons, and a use of conjure animals for raptors with no concentration, so like 8 raptors and 12 skeletons with magical swords I think it’s a lot of damage and you can concentrate on web or something, I won’t play it because I love my friends😅😅
16:40 my favourite song to perform for that is about Jack the Giant Killer. "In the beginning there was Jack, and Jack had a groove. And in that groove was the groove of all grooves....." Edit: it's a classic 80's electro track by Chuck Roberts (sung in a preacher style)
I recently used a swords bard for a build and I am a little curious if I am missing something with a combo I came up with. The idea was done with a 5th level echo knight (ranged although this combo could likely be done better with melee, I just wanted to make a ranged echo kinight) and 3rd level swords bard. You could do this on the first turn of combat or first turn move your echo to a good spot and cast faerie fire or something. The combo goes like this. Attack with a ranged weapon from 40 feet (I prefer longbow for concept reasons also use sharpshooter), use the mobility trait on swords bard to close the 40 feet dealing the bonus damage, bonus action swap with echo, unleash incarnation after first drawing a rapier (or use thrikreen and shortswords which I am doing again for concept), attack again. This combo relies on hitting the first attack which is made easier if you cast faerie fire the first turn but thats not always viable. If you miss just teleport around with the echo until you can pull it off. You can also use the swords bard defense feature if you are in a hard fight and need to focus on surviving that turn.
Speaking to the strength of Barbarian Monk multiclass, I've played a Beast barbarian Four Elements monk with everything spec'd into high jump and grappling to hit the nastiest 40-foot suplexes in TTRPG history
If you want a bonus action extra attack, another option (apart from quickened green flame blade) is to use Unleash Incarnation from the Echo Knight (fighter). You can use it *con modifier* times, so that's more often than quicken spell. Since you have the fighter levels already that should work
The Fey Wanderer/Eloquence Bard would be my go to since being able to add another stat to your charisma skills and the general Ranger defenses. Also you can still get 9th level spells or build to be more martial if you wanted.
Could you take on an Artificer Barbarian multiclass build "challange"? ;) I feel like there is "something there"! Maybe with an Alchemist to use the Elixirs! Maybe some sort of "Jekyl and Hide" build!
Hey so thought for turning this into a tank- sacrifice the dex and bump int, get armourer. You can cleave the mark to like four or five targets that are bunched up. You won’t be overly resilient (sure) but you could get shield instead of green flame with the half elf, because armourer.
I was making an Inquisitive Rogue and looking at the races I noticed that the Pallid Elf was the best one for how the subclass approaches sneak attack.
Great video, as usual. You said that you recently played the control freak in a one shot. Is that adventure posted online? Would be great to see what that build can do.
Love your videos! I've got a weird build I'm working on that might interest you: ranged eldritch knight/peace cleric (twilight might be better, but the bonds are awesome). High elf, 2 levels of fighter, 1 cleric, get to 5 fighter for extra attack, and then cleric all the way for the spells. It feels strong for a party of 3 or 4 but gets weak in larger groups. But I'd love to see the longbow eldritch knight/cleric build you would come up with!
I fixed Countercharm on my campaigns (whenever someone pick a bard) by making it an action that you can take every turn to force nearby enemies that are concentrating to make a concentration save against your spell DC. You can't countercharm and concentrate on a spell at the same time, but you can countercharm as much as you want. Most players liked the change, and I had no problem with them abusing it or anything.
Hi Colby! Would be interesting if you could always give alternative races or feats when possible for players who did roll their ability scores, assuming they won't be so ASI dependent!
Great stuff as usual, but a couple of things. 1. Blade Flourishes can be used multiple times per turn, one just can't use the same one on the same turn but also you only have so many bardic inspirations. Just an FYI since its not really a thing until you get the 14th Swords Bard feature otherwise you're blowing through those inspirations quick like potentially. 2. I don't like the idea of bardic inspirations being reactions because it competes with spells like absorb elements, counterspell, feather fall, slivery barbs, and shield. Yes, I really enjoy Bards as well but I typically pick up at least a level of Sorcerer for some of the spells mentioned above, and some worthwhile attack cantrips. 3. Cool build. Take care.
Last time I did a Sword Bard he was a Yuan-Ti. A circus performer who could pass as a normal (if completely bald) human. Singer, dancer, contortionist, and knife juggler. Mix a dash of Swashbuckler Rogue (+CHA to Init, sneak attack freely as long as you're fighting 1v1, deny opportunity attacks). It was fun, though not as part of his combat build, the one thing he got the most use out of was the racial immunity to all poisons. Since he could pass for a human (all his snake features were internal except his hairlessness, his major snake feature was a prehensile spine) he would challenge people to drinking competitions, ignore the alcohol in his system (haha, poisons...) and get his party members and/or fellow carnies to start betting pools on when he'd pass out. Then keep all the money as he walked home stone-cold-sober.
I've plugged this before, but since this is another build making lots of attacks I'm going to do it again. By Level 14, a Horizon Walker/ Echo Knight with a weaponized bonus action can make 12 attacks in one round - or just 11 if you'd prefer to do it while you're invisible. I'd love to see what you can do with this.
Extra Attack = 2, Distant Strike = 1 more, unleash incarnation = 1 more - double all of that for 8 - 1 more for haste so 9, Bonus Action attack for 10... I'm missing a couple. Or are you assuming that Haste would trigger twice? I think that's debateable, but I'm still short 1...
@@DnDDeepDive I see the disconnect. The extra attack you get from Haste may or may not let you use Distant Strike and Unleash Incarnation. I think it would - it's still the Attack action. So ... 4- Action to Attack (2) with Distant Strike (1), and Unleash Incarnation (1); 4- Action Surge to Attack (2) with Distant Strike (1), and Unleash Incarnation (1); 3- Haste Attack (1) with Distant Strike (1), and Unleash Incarnation (1). Plus one from the Bonus Action if you've built that way, but you're probably better off doing all of this while Invisible. It leaves some interesting room to debate whether the Echo attacks would get Advantage from being invisible, since the exact wording is "YOU make YOUR attacks from the Echo's space," and if YOU are invisible YOUR attacks have advantage, but ... not sure if it makes a whole lot of sense. Does Invisibility make your Echo also Invisible? Can it be made Invisible separately? D&D needs better editing. Active Voice Saves Lives.
@@DnDDeepDive Here's the text from Haste: "That action can be used only to take the Attack (one weapon attack only), Dash, Disengage, Hide, or Use an Object action." Take out the stuff from the middle, and it's "That action can be used only to take the Attack (one weapon attack only) ... action." It's still the attack action. From Echo Knight: "Whenever you take the Attack action, you can make one additional melee attack from the echo’s position." And because we've attacked two creatures, we can use Distant Strike: "If you attack at least two different creatures with the action, you can make one additional attack with it against a third creature." Looks like good math to me.
Have you looked at the Maverick Artificer from Exploring Ebberon? I know its technically homebrew, but its my favorite artificer subclass, and also probably the most versatile! I plan on playing one in my next game, and im eyeing paladin's spell list for smites.
If one of the goals hadn’t been to use Ranger with Bard, I think an interesting way to accomplish the cleaving goal in a way that doesn’t rely on Metamagic Adept that could be fun is to go Bladesinger Wizard/Swords Bard. As long as you go to Wizard 6 that way, you can combine attacking with a cantrip with the Bard’s Flourish. It would free up the species choice, as well. 6 levels is a steep dip, but even with a lower Intelligence, there are a ton of goodies on the Wizard list that don’t require saving throws.
Most fun you've had with a build in a while sounds like a challenge to yourself. I want to see you have the most fun possible with a build. What would that be?
:) When it first appeared on screen, I thought Randal's picture had the character drinking from a flask... I spent a good 5 seconds trying to figure out how Drunken Master Monk would, in ANY way, help this build.
Funny note on Blind fighting, the Blinded condition and invisible creatures. RAR Blind fighting does not remove disadvantage vs invisible creatures. Similarly, RAR, Blind fighting does not remove disadvantage from the blind condition. This is mainly due to the way these conditions are described in the source material. Both the Invisible condition and the Blinded condition are worded similarly : The creature cannot be seen (cannot see). Attacks are made with advantage (disadvantage) and attacks against the creature are made at disadvantage (advantage). Since, the seeing / seen part is not related to the advantage / disadvantage (as per the wordage), Blind fighting would allow you to see an invisible creature, but you would still have disadvantage on your attacks. Faerie Fire, on the other hand, specifically states that the target cannot benefit from the Invisible condition. You would then have advantage vs the no-longer-invisible target! Now the fun begins! If you are fighting an invisible creature hit by faerie fire while blinded, you do not gain advantage from faerie fire (stated by the spell). However, in the same situation if you had Blind fighting, you would retain the advantage from Faerie Fire (since you can see the target), but it would be cancelled out by the Blinded condition giving you disadvantage. All of that to say that RAR is dumb!
Errata: Taking GFB with High Elf means the bonus damage to the second target uses our Int, which is -1 :). It's so little of our damage that I'm not too worried about it, but you could always take a dip in Warlock or Sorc to grab it.
I know it’s overused but you could go Hex Blade at first level, get armor and shield prof at level 1 and focus on Charism over Dex. Hex Blade Curse doesn’t hurt anything either.
Two Alternate options to that are
1: Playing Variant Human and grabbing Magic Initiate (Warlock/Green Flame Blade)
2: Playing Kobold (the MoM version) and grabbing GFB with their racial feature.
@@logancuster8035 I don’t think it’s be worth giving up access to EA, personally, but it’s of course an option!
@@DnDDeepDive There’s always the Hexblade cheese then lol
I think that if you REALLY want to keep the levels the way they are, you should should switch to kobold. ''Sqeek the barking bard will turn you into food, you loud meals''.
As a DM, I just allow High Elves to pick the ability score for their cantrips. It seems like is the way that WotC is going for, and prevents hexblades
Dungeon Dudes Rock!!!! Yes, you should totally take their challenges and show'em what's up.😂
I agree I want more colabs!
Everything going forward will have to be a “B for build” rating since Colby can do anything lol
I agree with you guys. The challenge accepted idea of the last two videos has been great. I can totally be down for more of these.
@@lloydlineske2642 i want another game with them and maybe a 2 character build where they build one he builds one also
@@jakewarman7277 Bro that would be awesome!
And yes more collaboration games, please!
The Swords Bard Cleaver: D&D Build #134
Level 1:(see above) [bard 1 & race]
Level 2:(see above) [bard 2]
Level 3:(@16:55) [bard 3, expertise & subclass]
Level 4:(@23:51) [bard 4 & ASI]
Level 5:(@25:33) [bard 5]
Level 6:(@29:00) [bard 6]
Level 7:(see above) [fighter 1 & fighting-style]
Level 8:(@36:17) [fighter 2]
Level 9:(@36:41) [fighter 3 & subclass]
Level 10:(@39:40) [fighter 4 & ASI]
Level 11:(@40:44) [ranger 1 & deft explorer]
Level 12:(@42:47) [ranger 2 & fighting-style]
Level 13:(@45:29) [ranger 3 & subclass]
Level 14:(see above) [bard 7]
Level 15:(@49:25) [bard 8 & ASI]
Level 16:(@49:42) [bard 9]
Level 17:(@51:46) [bard 10 & magical secrets]
Want another Dungeon Dudes, Treantmonk, Colby live play so much I can almost taste it ❤
Really want to §ee this too ! A clash of the masterminds
Best thing to come home to is a new build video with our gentle minmaxing uncle Colby
I adore any build that has a bard in the mix. I really love bard and I enjoy seeing what others have mixed with it.
I said this on last week's video, but not until well after it came out (meaning it probably got missed):
This needs to turn into a collaboration! You guest with them to give your take on the tier rankings for one of the multiclass videos (Monk?), and then they guest on your channel to each propose a multiclass build using one of the lower-ranked combinations from that same tier-ranking video. I really want to see Monty's reaction to one of your builds...
So just cause I am really into the idea I'm going to bring it up again.
Please consider doing builds optimized for specific creature types. Like the dragon's bane or vampire killer. 🙏🙏🙏
And obviously I'm talking about more than just doing a ranger's favored foe.
Though maybe it could be part of the mix in some of them!
I appreciate the addition of "hang in there" in your closing segment. Thank you, Colby.
When you mentioned the size restriction of Giant Killer being the part that makes it not great, I just had a hilarious thought of a spell caster casting enlarge on an enemy so you could get your extra damage😂 It’s a similar idea to casting Haste on an enemy and then immediately dropping concentration so they lose a turn, but instead it’s just to proc Giant Killer
I commissioned Randall Hampton for two pieces based what I saw here. I love his work. My son and I love what he did for us.
The Necrodancer is the perfect wizard bard multi class.
Honestly thematically I love this one! Great idea!!!
Can u explain more?
…
This is it!
Now we've found it, I'm astounded!
Every town will be surrounded by a throng of marching death!
(Someone please continue)
If you need any motivation for your Ranger/Wizard multiclass there is a character from the Forgotten Realms, Dornal Silverhand. He was the father of the Seven Sisters, all Chosen of Mystra, the Goddess of Magic. He believe he was a Ranger/Wizard who used a quarterstaff in melee combat which doubled as his wizard's staff.
Sounds pretty cool, but I'd almost rather do an Arcana Cleric Ranger instead for that character!
So last time I asked for a Colby versus Dudes playlist and there is another challenge video 😄 you three are so wholesome 💪💪💪
Judt found your channel a few weeks ago. Gotta say, i love the content.
You do a great job breaking down how all these levels/classes/abilities/spells interact with each other and it gives me so many great ideas on how to implement the stuff you present into my own characters.
So thanks for being crestive and crunching the numbers!
At the question of a bard ranger, I personally would have first been drawn to Fey Wanderer and the ability to be an incredible party face.
Fey Wanderor in general, letting keep Charisma low, yet can still Face and persuade
You should do A LOT more bard builds! Great job!
Awesome idea! Unfortunately, High Elf specifies that Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for the cantrip so you need to deduct 1 (Int modifier) rather than add 3 (Cha modifier) whenever you do Green-Flame Blade damage to the secondary target. The wording is the same for the Half-Elf variant (Moon Elf or Sun Elf descent) from Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide that you use. It's an awesome racial choice for Booming Blade but less so for anything that relies on your spellcasting modifier.
Instead, I would start with a single level in Hexblade Warlock for Charisma-based cantrips and weapon attacks. Pick whatever race you like (probably Custom Lineage with Elven Accuracy to begin with 18 Charisma). Of course, it would delay extra attack to level 7 instead which is unheard of when you're a slave to the spreadsheet 🖤
I forgot that it's been clarified that Custom Lineage can't be elven enough to qualify for Elven Accuracy. Fey Touched is a good alternative since Bards don't usually get Misty Step (or Bless if you prefer it over Faerie Fire).
he could also take a kobold instead for GFB with Charisma
Yeah and rapier is a martial weapon. No rapier for this bard until you're a fighter at level 7!
Oh, and you won't ever keep your concentration with this build.
@@Blobby3822 bards do get rapier proficiency
Ah shoot - good point - forgot that GFB actually benefits from spell casting stat when I took it. Will have to pin a comment on that.
Hello there, Colby! I was looking at your Street Fighter build and I think I found a mistypo. Your last ASI at the last level bumped your Dex to 18, but I re-watched and didn’t see you bumping Dex no other time, and you started with 14 Dex. Meaning, I should be bumped to 16. You started Str 16, Dex 14, Con 16, Wis 13, (+2 Str and Con). You did Monk 1, Barb 4, Fighter 12, Meaning 5 ASI. Maxing Str and Con to 20, it would have 1 ASI left. Meaning you would only be able to bump Dex to 16, not 18. Besides that, great video! Love your content! Thank you for your attention!
I was literally thinking about building a sword school bard while i had a break today. You're timing is uncanny as always! Well done!
I loved this bard build! It's much better than I anticipated. It gives me even more hope that you'll make an incredible build for a sword dancer of Eilistraee. I asked for it in a video a while ago and I know you must have several other builds on your to-do list, but after this build, I really want to see what you'll come up with for a priestess of Eilistraee, so please don't forget about this idea 😁
Love a good swords bard build!
Dungeon Dudes: *say a thing*
Colby: “ok but what if no?”
That dungeon dudes episode is the reason I started watching your channel! I love that D&D RUclipsrs (at least the ones I watch) work with not against each other.
Thanks Colby, I look forward to your builds all week. I feel like I can’t even remember a time without you in the optimization community. Cheers!
I tend to find your vidoes when exploring character ideas, this one being a bard who hates minstrels (starting at level 3). I honestly love how you focus on the why you pick spells over the what, as it helps people like me understand how to use them.
That said, I do think I'll take a Hexblade dip for Eldritch Blast (being my ranged option), shield prof, invocations to bolster Eldritch Blast, Sight, or Utility, and finally, the character I am thinking of would strive through perseverance over dexterity.
Awesome build Colby! 👍🏻
Pretty cool and nice Video! Thx for all that cool ideas around an sword Bard 😎
Awesome build! I haven't gotten many chances to play a bard but they're definitely the next character I want to play.
OKAY! Long-time viewer, infrequent commenter, but The Chicks' cover of Landslide is INCREDIBLE. Excellent pick, good sir.
Landslide! Thanks for the sing along❤
I normally see bards going with a bow. This is a nice change of pace XD
Best part of my week is seeing a new episode notification!
The mans even hit us with an acapella Landslide at the end? Absolutely top-tier content
"Landslide" always gives me emotions. Stevie is phenomenal, but I do think that The Chicks get a tiny edge because yeah, the harmonies somehow give it an extra something.
My favorite 'class': gish
Colby: here's another gish
Me: free real estate
38:15 At this point in the video, I had an epiphany. We're going Hunter for Horde Breaker.
Colby seemed to have even more fun than usual making this video. Well done!
You ever know what you wanted but had no idea it could be done? You just made my next character sir. You are a gentleman and a scholar.
The crossovers between these creators is top marvel shenanigans
Lovin’ D&D RUclipsr love! Long Live the Dudes! Also throwing a build idea out there: FeyWanderer Ranger/Glamour Bard probably best in Satyr/one of the elven folk/changeling types
Swords bard might be my favorite gish. Thanks again for another wonderful Deep Dive 🤘
36:40 That "wunderbar" kinda surprised me. I did not expect to hear a German word in this video
Anyway, awsome build as always^^
At the time of writing this comment, I'm still in the intro segment. Class mechanics and mixing features together is absolutely a ton of fun even if it doesn't look like it makes sense. People I knew were talking about a oneshot so I crafted a Drow Storm Sorcerer/Bard (starting level 5, split 3:2), recently crafted an Orc Inquisitive Rogue/Totem Barbarian (starting level 8 ,split 3:5) for a campaign I got invited to. Originally the Orc was planned to be a Swashbuckler/College of Swords but I heard there were 2 bards already active so I didn't really want to make it 3 bards
I love how you and the dungeon dudes reference each other all the time such good Community work. "Colby might be able to find it but still D tier" lol bard ranger is Robin hood I think
Loved that tribute reference and hope this little text rework help bring a little smile to your day 😊
"Needless to say,
The beast was slowed.
Whip-crack went his whippy tail,
And his turn was done.
He asked us,
Be you aasimar?
And we said nay,
We are half-men,
Psyke!"
I am not
the tallest bard in the world
NO
I am just a halfling
couldnt imagineee
the tallest bard in the world
NO
I AM A HALF LING
OoOoOoOoO
Love the channel Colby. Proud to be a supporter. Thanks for all you do
This charecter isn't your usual traveling minstrel, this is the guy sat brooding in the corner listing as a group of novice hunters are discussing their kills. They ominously walk over and throw back thier hood, revealing a grizzled face. "Call that a story, let me tell you how I got this scar." They growl but it soon crack's into a grin and they chortle "But first who want's a drink!" They join the table and enthrall the young hunters with their tall tales of creatures slain and foes bested long into the small hours.
Consider this NPC idea stolen
Amazing build as always!!
I'm very partial to a swords bard paladin. Your swordplay is an art all on its own and you use smites to emphasize those impressive hits and flurries
I remember that shoutout! It was fun. :)
I was literally trying to remember if you'd done something like that, lol.
I really like the idea of a half elvish captain awesome type singing around a campfire ranger riding into battle on a griffon for crowd control. I'd definitely go with find greater steed.
I LOVE the swords bard! I think it is my favorit "gish"! support and enchantment spells combined with weapons! LOVE it!
I did play a sharpshooter crossbow expert version! cause flourish don't require "melee weapons"! and the proficient weapons is a focus! picking up fey touched to get hex realy helped to!
Yesss I had an idea of a bard not exactly this but this is 100% a help!
Small errata; the half half race is not in a source book but in the sword coast adventure guide (on DND beyond).
Love your vids and builds ❤
While it would only make the smallest difference in damage and no difference at all to the hit chance, I feel it should be mentioned that the bonus wizard cantrip gained by the high elf specifically states that it uses intelligence as its casting ability, yet you were adding charisma.
That aside, this was a really fun video and a very interesting character concept.
I recently made a tapdancing swashbuckler/swords bard multiclass I call the battlefield dancer which has quite some similarities to this one! You can add sneak attack to the enemy that is lower to try to still finish some targets off and I will try the build out soon!
It starts more rogue and will use booming blade instead of green flame blade with the high half elf. I will try to play it as a smug frenchmen who challenges people to duels who gets more humbled later and finds a passion for tapdancing later
So it would be a very high level build, but have you ever considered building around Find Greater Steed? A stipulation with it is that any spell you cast that affects you can also affect your mount, so you could *technically* cast Spirit Guardians on yourself and it would also be cast from your mount to have two overlapping areas of Spirit Guardians. A fun thought experiment for all 10th level bards and higher!
It actually works on regular Find Steed too :)
@@DnDDeepDive what do you know, it does!
48:55 YESSS!!! The moment Colby says this I immediately thought of Tribute by Tenacious D!
Btw, Green Flame Blade makes for a great support spell: attack the guy you want to focus on, and warm up the guy next to him for your companion to cast Toll the Dead.
You are the best I wait for your videos every week❤️ I’ve thought of a good build, a necromancy wizard with all of the op stuff of that but at level 7 conjure minor elementals chwinga that gives you magical +1 weapons to the skeletons, and a use of conjure animals for raptors with no concentration, so like 8 raptors and 12 skeletons with magical swords I think it’s a lot of damage and you can concentrate on web or something, I won’t play it because I love my friends😅😅
Man the singing is always appreciated
16:40 my favourite song to perform for that is about Jack the Giant Killer.
"In the beginning there was Jack, and Jack had a groove. And in that groove was the groove of all grooves....."
Edit: it's a classic 80's electro track by Chuck Roberts (sung in a preacher style)
I recently used a swords bard for a build and I am a little curious if I am missing something with a combo I came up with. The idea was done with a 5th level echo knight (ranged although this combo could likely be done better with melee, I just wanted to make a ranged echo kinight) and 3rd level swords bard. You could do this on the first turn of combat or first turn move your echo to a good spot and cast faerie fire or something.
The combo goes like this. Attack with a ranged weapon from 40 feet (I prefer longbow for concept reasons also use sharpshooter), use the mobility trait on swords bard to close the 40 feet dealing the bonus damage, bonus action swap with echo, unleash incarnation after first drawing a rapier (or use thrikreen and shortswords which I am doing again for concept), attack again. This combo relies on hitting the first attack which is made easier if you cast faerie fire the first turn but thats not always viable. If you miss just teleport around with the echo until you can pull it off. You can also use the swords bard defense feature if you are in a hard fight and need to focus on surviving that turn.
Speaking to the strength of Barbarian Monk multiclass, I've played a Beast barbarian Four Elements monk with everything spec'd into high jump and grappling to hit the nastiest 40-foot suplexes in TTRPG history
If you want a bonus action extra attack, another option (apart from quickened green flame blade) is to use Unleash Incarnation from the Echo Knight (fighter). You can use it *con modifier* times, so that's more often than quicken spell. Since you have the fighter levels already that should work
The bell icon is just the toll the dead cantrip
I played a Hexblade (3 level) Swordsbard (5 level) in my last campaign and I had an absolute blast, and not only an eldritch blast.
The Fey Wanderer/Eloquence Bard would be my go to since being able to add another stat to your charisma skills and the general Ranger defenses. Also you can still get 9th level spells or build to be more martial if you wanted.
Could you take on an Artificer Barbarian multiclass build "challange"? ;)
I feel like there is "something there"! Maybe with an Alchemist to use the Elixirs! Maybe some sort of "Jekyl and Hide" build!
I'm sure others have already pointed it out, but Metamagic Adept feat gives you two known metamagic options, not just one.
I'm pretty sure that Colby would simply say PYF for the second one, since you only get enough sorcery points to do Quicken Spell once per day, anyway.
Hey so thought for turning this into a tank- sacrifice the dex and bump int, get armourer. You can cleave the mark to like four or five targets that are bunched up. You won’t be overly resilient (sure) but you could get shield instead of green flame with the half elf, because armourer.
Sounds very similar to my swords bard tank build from a few months ago 😉
I was making an Inquisitive Rogue and looking at the races I noticed that the Pallid Elf was the best one for how the subclass approaches sneak attack.
Great video, as usual.
You said that you recently played the control freak in a one shot. Is that adventure posted online? Would be great to see what that build can do.
Loved the tribute to tribute you absolute wordsmith you
Love your videos! I've got a weird build I'm working on that might interest you: ranged eldritch knight/peace cleric (twilight might be better, but the bonds are awesome). High elf, 2 levels of fighter, 1 cleric, get to 5 fighter for extra attack, and then cleric all the way for the spells. It feels strong for a party of 3 or 4 but gets weak in larger groups. But I'd love to see the longbow eldritch knight/cleric build you would come up with!
Interesting concept!
Awwww. Love the shoutout they gave ya
I fixed Countercharm on my campaigns (whenever someone pick a bard) by making it an action that you can take every turn to force nearby enemies that are concentrating to make a concentration save against your spell DC. You can't countercharm and concentrate on a spell at the same time, but you can countercharm as much as you want. Most players liked the change, and I had no problem with them abusing it or anything.
Hi Colby! Would be interesting if you could always give alternative races or feats when possible for players who did roll their ability scores, assuming they won't be so ASI dependent!
Great stuff as usual, but a couple of things.
1. Blade Flourishes can be used multiple times per turn, one just can't use the same one on the same turn but also you only have so many bardic inspirations. Just an FYI since its not really a thing until you get the 14th Swords Bard feature otherwise you're blowing through those inspirations quick like potentially.
2. I don't like the idea of bardic inspirations being reactions because it competes with spells like absorb elements, counterspell, feather fall, slivery barbs, and shield. Yes, I really enjoy Bards as well but I typically pick up at least a level of Sorcerer for some of the spells mentioned above, and some worthwhile attack cantrips.
3. Cool build.
Take care.
Cool concept. Very nice! Now I want to know, how often you get more than one enemy within 5ft. At our table that's rather rare 😅
Love you, too Colby! Hope you do well yourself! :D
Last time I did a Sword Bard he was a Yuan-Ti. A circus performer who could pass as a normal (if completely bald) human. Singer, dancer, contortionist, and knife juggler. Mix a dash of Swashbuckler Rogue (+CHA to Init, sneak attack freely as long as you're fighting 1v1, deny opportunity attacks). It was fun, though not as part of his combat build, the one thing he got the most use out of was the racial immunity to all poisons. Since he could pass for a human (all his snake features were internal except his hairlessness, his major snake feature was a prehensile spine) he would challenge people to drinking competitions, ignore the alcohol in his system (haha, poisons...) and get his party members and/or fellow carnies to start betting pools on when he'd pass out. Then keep all the money as he walked home stone-cold-sober.
The problem with commander strike for this build is that commander's strike uses your bonus action in addition to your action and the allies reaction.
TENACIOUS D REFERENCE! HELL YEAAAAAAAAH!!
You did a good job on this video.
SO WHOLESOME we love when youtubers shout out
*D4 posts a vid* I upvote and comment, and now the rock music begins!!
For Magical Secrets, I would consider Spirit Guardians
I've plugged this before, but since this is another build making lots of attacks I'm going to do it again. By Level 14, a Horizon Walker/ Echo Knight with a weaponized bonus action can make 12 attacks in one round - or just 11 if you'd prefer to do it while you're invisible. I'd love to see what you can do with this.
Extra Attack = 2, Distant Strike = 1 more, unleash incarnation = 1 more - double all of that for 8 - 1 more for haste so 9, Bonus Action attack for 10... I'm missing a couple. Or are you assuming that Haste would trigger twice? I think that's debateable, but I'm still short 1...
@@DnDDeepDive I see the disconnect. The extra attack you get from Haste may or may not let you use Distant Strike and Unleash Incarnation. I think it would - it's still the Attack action.
So ...
4- Action to Attack (2) with Distant Strike (1), and Unleash Incarnation (1);
4- Action Surge to Attack (2) with Distant Strike (1), and Unleash Incarnation (1);
3- Haste Attack (1) with Distant Strike (1), and Unleash Incarnation (1).
Plus one from the Bonus Action if you've built that way, but you're probably better off doing all of this while Invisible.
It leaves some interesting room to debate whether the Echo attacks would get Advantage from being invisible, since the exact wording is "YOU make YOUR attacks from the Echo's space," and if YOU are invisible YOUR attacks have advantage, but ... not sure if it makes a whole lot of sense. Does Invisibility make your Echo also Invisible? Can it be made Invisible separately?
D&D needs better editing. Active Voice Saves Lives.
@@DnDDeepDive Here's the text from Haste: "That action can be used only to take the Attack (one weapon attack only), Dash, Disengage, Hide, or Use an Object action."
Take out the stuff from the middle, and it's "That action can be used only to take the Attack (one weapon attack only) ... action."
It's still the attack action.
From Echo Knight: "Whenever you take the Attack action, you can make one additional melee attack from the echo’s position."
And because we've attacked two creatures, we can use Distant Strike: "If you attack at least two different creatures with the action, you can make one additional attack with it against a third creature."
Looks like good math to me.
Have you looked at the Maverick Artificer from Exploring Ebberon? I know its technically homebrew, but its my favorite artificer subclass, and also probably the most versatile! I plan on playing one in my next game, and im eyeing paladin's spell list for smites.
If one of the goals hadn’t been to use Ranger with Bard, I think an interesting way to accomplish the cleaving goal in a way that doesn’t rely on Metamagic Adept that could be fun is to go Bladesinger Wizard/Swords Bard. As long as you go to Wizard 6 that way, you can combine attacking with a cantrip with the Bard’s Flourish. It would free up the species choice, as well. 6 levels is a steep dip, but even with a lower Intelligence, there are a ton of goodies on the Wizard list that don’t require saving throws.
Most fun you've had with a build in a while sounds like a challenge to yourself. I want to see you have the most fun possible with a build. What would that be?
:) When it first appeared on screen, I thought Randal's picture had the character drinking from a flask...
I spent a good 5 seconds trying to figure out how Drunken Master Monk would, in ANY way, help this build.
Funny note on Blind fighting, the Blinded condition and invisible creatures.
RAR Blind fighting does not remove disadvantage vs invisible creatures.
Similarly, RAR, Blind fighting does not remove disadvantage from the blind condition.
This is mainly due to the way these conditions are described in the source material.
Both the Invisible condition and the Blinded condition are worded similarly : The creature cannot be seen (cannot see). Attacks are made with advantage (disadvantage) and attacks against the creature are made at disadvantage (advantage).
Since, the seeing / seen part is not related to the advantage / disadvantage (as per the wordage), Blind fighting would allow you to see an invisible creature, but you would still have disadvantage on your attacks.
Faerie Fire, on the other hand, specifically states that the target cannot benefit from the Invisible condition. You would then have advantage vs the no-longer-invisible target!
Now the fun begins! If you are fighting an invisible creature hit by faerie fire while blinded, you do not gain advantage from faerie fire (stated by the spell). However, in the same situation if you had Blind fighting, you would retain the advantage from Faerie Fire (since you can see the target), but it would be cancelled out by the Blinded condition giving you disadvantage.
All of that to say that RAR is dumb!
Colby: “Of course, we take spirit…”
me: “Guardians.”
Colby: “…Shroud.”
me: 🧐
(I realize you’re looking to enhance *attacks*)
The Easter egg songs at the end are fun seeing if I know them!
I refreshed the google drive and saw the writeup... unusual that I see that first!
That Dungeon Dudes video was actually how I found this channel.
woo hoo!