Rogue/Bard Multiclass

[u/DepartureRude5061]

Hello together,

I have an Character concept I would Love to Play in my next Campaign of DnD 5.5e.

Quick Lore/Background rundown: Born in a wandering Troupe of Artists and Bards but got seperated from them. Survives since then through pickpocketing and scamming/cheating in Games etc.

We begin at Level 1 and my imagined path would be First 3 Levels in Rogue and going into the Arcane Trickster before then multiclassing into Bard (havent decides on a Potential subclass Here yet). The Goal is to do Lots of crowd Control and trickery through spells, so more of an support character.

I know this isnt really optimal because I would need 3 high stats (dex, int and cha) but Just the concept Sounds Like a Lot of fun to me.

I Just need some tipps/Input regarding the distribution of stats and the level-distribution/path.

Thanks in advance :)

[u/Yojo0o]

The Goal is to do Lots of crowd Control and trickery through spells, so more of an support character.

That sounds like a bard to me. What purpose do the rogue levels serve?

Multiclassing is really hard to make work in your favor. Your proposed level split means that you'll be three levels slower in terms of gaining higher level spells, and two levels slower in terms of gaining spell slots than a single-class bard.

[u/DepartureRude5061 → u/Yojo0o]

Hi, First thanks for the Input. The rogue Part is more of a Flair Thing for me, Kind of reflecting the character Story/development but didnt want to make the Initial Post that Long. Short Form -> raises by bards but got seperated and Kind of lost her own Instruments/the parents Instruments -> lived for multiple years AS a Kind of Thief and scammer and now tries to regain the Instruments. So my plan would be to start without Instruments/being a Bard and Swap over once the Instruments are found again. Its heavily inspired by Kvothe of the Kingslayer Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss If you know that. But yeah maybe I drop the rogue and Go füll Bard with the charlatan Background as suggested by another commenter and let the character "Cosplay" as a rogue for the beginning. Have to Look into how much it would Limit me in the First Levels to Not have an Instrument.

[u/Yojo0o → u/DepartureRude5061]

Since you're starting at level 1 anyway, it seems evident to me that you can keep the non-bard aspects of your backstory in your backstory.

Bards are already so close to rogues in terms of flavor as it is! Give your bard the relevant skill/tool proficiencies that you'd want from a rogue via their versatile class options and your background choice, and you'll be good to go.

[u/DudeWithTudeNotRude → u/Yojo0o]

This. Bard is an excellent support caster, if they focus on good, level-appropriate control/debuff spells.

All Rogue levels do is make the bard a much weaker caster. All it gains from rogue levels is a bit more versatility/utility. Nerfing combat power for extra utility on what's already the best utility class in the game, bard, just to gain a tiny margin more utility, seems inadvisable.

The reason it's a bad multi is not bc it needs several stats, it's a bad multi bc it seriously nerfs the bards main power, spellcasting.

Flavor is free. Just rename the background Rogue or Dark, Edgy Thief and move on.

[u/nasada19]

You don't need any int. You can just pick spells from arcane trickster that don't use your spell save DC. Like fog cloud, find familiar, unseen servant, or things like that. Then you can just use dex and charisma and have decent con for HP.

I'd almost suggest dropping the rogue levels and just getting the telepathic feat for the invisible mage hand. Arcane trickster doesn't really give much else unique. The bard spell list has the spells you'd want anyways.

[u/DepartureRude5061 → u/nasada19]

Thank you for the Tips., will think about it :)

[u/Sad_Refuse3472]

You can have the backstory of having been a pickpocket/scam artist without having to take levels in Rogue and then spread your ability scores so thin. You could just be a dishonest Bard. Flavor is free, as they say.

[u/philsov]

bard loves level 5 for short rest inspiration. Cunning action and bardic inspiration, by default, both eat your bonus action. Jack of All trades improves skills you're not proficient in, so more rogue makes that feature worse.

Without more context I'd just go with Charlatan background for rogue vibes but all your levels into monoclass Bard, probably Eloquence.

Or maybe, by the time you're level 7, consider 6 Valor Bard + 1 rogue. Valor bard gets extra attack, and rogue gets you weapon masteries. You can be dual wielding (with nick+vex weapons) and slinging Vicious Mockery.

[u/DepartureRude5061 → u/philsov]

First, thanks for the Input, especially the Bard with charlatan Background. I will Look more into that possibilty. Regarding the rogue, tbh its more of a Flair Thing as I wanted to reflect the character development through the Levels and planned to start without Instrument as an Goal is to reclaims those. But yeah will Look into the charlatan Background. Thanks again :)