Hello, I'm new to this board and the entire RPG. I bought 5e after reading an interesting review online.
This is the first character I created after reading the book. Is he well designed? Note that this is is a support character.
Name: Vergille Rondeau
Level 1 Bard
Alignment: Neutral
Race: Human
Languages: Common, Draconic, Gnomish, Elven
ST 8 DX 13 CN 12 Int 17 Wis 15 Cha 10
Feats: Keen Mind
Skills : Arcana, History, Religion, Nature, Investigation, Perception
Spells:
Cantrips Light, Viscious Mockery
1st level: Thunderwave, Cure Wounds, Healing Word, Charm Person
Background: Sage
Traits: I am horribly awkward in social situations, I like to sing in Draconic
Idea: Knowledge
Bond: My life's work culminates in a set of tomes
Flaw: I am easily distracted by the promise of information
Anything you have to say would be appreciated. 
Classes more or less require a certain stats. Bards, for instance, pretty much require a good Cha score.
I suggest playing a wizard instead. It woudl fit better with your chacaters.
mellored wrote:
And even a lot of your friendly-aid features rely on charisma as well. Cure wounds and bardic inspiration for example rely on charisma. If you really want to play a bard, you really need to put some points in charisma instead of intelligence. But if you want to play an intelligent character, wizard is the obvious choice.
MoonFlower65 wrote:
If you are into the flavor of a person who sings or plays an instrument, just get Performance and/or an Instrument proficiency from a background, and pick Cleric, Druid, or Wizard.
But yes, Inspiration is HUGE for Bards, and if you nerf your own Charisma, you're basically making your own buffing potential pretty blech, even if you pick spells which don't use your Charisma
You want to swap your charisma and intelligence scores around as your spells and bardic inspiration stuff is keyed off charisma. Your PC riught now is kind of weak due to only having a 10 charisma.
MoonFlower65 wrote:
Theros wrote:
MoonFlower65 wrote:
Corran21 wrote:
The nice thing about D&D is that your characters build and his personality don’t have to be the same thing. Your bard can have a high CHA and still be quite and reserved. If I’m understanding your character concept correctly then I suggest the following.
Variant Human
STR: 8
DEX: 14*
CON: 12
INT:15*
WIS:10
CHA: 16*
Feat: Observant (+1 to Int or Wis, Read Lips, +5 bonus (massive) to passive perception and investigation)
Weapons: Light Crossbow +4 to hit 1d8+2 damage, Rapier +4 to hit 1d8+2 damage
Armor: Leather 11+2 = AC 13 (upgrade to studded leather when you can)
Take the Collage of Lore path at level 3:
- Proficiency in 3 more skills (that’s a total of 7 skills of your choice!)
- Cutting Words (one of the best support abilities in the game and fun to role play too)
- Additional Magical Secrets at level 6 (I suggest Fly and Mass Healing Word)
At Level 4 bump up your CHA or DEX whichever you find your using most. Or take the Keen Mind feat like you intended and bump up your INT to a 16 and gain proficiency in an additional 3 skills.
With this build your more skillful (and knowledgeable) than any other class
Your fighting skills are decent especially if you stay at range where your lower AC won’t be a problem
Your buff spells are potent both offensively and defensively and you have more use of your bardic inspiration.
Your build fits your character concept, while still providing a powerful addition to your team.
You also get any musical instrument you want at level 1 as starting equipment. I would suggest asking your DM if you could turn the Mandolin into your Light Crossbow as well given your high INT.
Go ROCK that Mandolin Sir!
MoonFlower65 wrote:
Theros wrote:
It's not overkill.
Also what they said above about the ability scores not determining personality is spot-on.
The ability scores exist to help determine how well your character performs certain actions - and that's all. It's a mechanic, and it can be used an inspiration to Roleplay, but it doesn't Determine how you Roleplay.
bawylie wrote: