As a wannabe melee/hybrid Bard, planning on College of Swords, which would serve me better, Magical Secrets or Pact of Blade?
If Swords Bard is in the game, Warlock 1 with Hex Warrior (if that's in the game), then Swords Bard all the way after that. Best gish in PnP, in my opinion. Throw in a background that adds good skills. If no Swords Bard, I'll make do with Valor. But if no Hex Warrior feature, I see no reason to take any levels of Warlock.
Sword bard is in. Pact of the blade (at level 3) is like hex warrior. It makes attacks scale with Cha. But u can get the spell hex at level 1. + some short rest spell replenishment, eldritch blast, some spells etc. 2 lock will get u eldritch invocations and a lock spellslot.
Thats why people are wondering if 1,2 or 3 levels of lock. Also maybe get magical secrets at 10.
Myself, i think i will go 8 bard 3 lock. Then at 12 respec 10 bard 2 lock. By then i will have tested things out and see what i will prefer.
Probably level in this order: 1 bard, 1 lock, 5 bard (extra attack,spells etc), 2 lock, 2 bard. Then respec 10 2.
I am leaning towards magical secrets being better then pact of the blade. Since dex seems to be such a good stat anyway. We will have to wait and see.
Ive also considered 2/3 (hunter)Ranger. I will make a drizzt-like character (with some twists). Sword bard with a Lock or Ranger dip seems to fit that. Would actually prefer Ranger RP-wise and for proficencies. Lock dip just seems so much better.
Also, i think i will do 5 ranger for Shadowheart (4cleric/5ranger/3rogue) , so that covers ranger a bit already.
