Help me with this Bard.

[PoeticDwarf]

I play a campaign and I'm a lv. 13 open hand monk. (109hp and 19AC), since lv. 1 I play him and I really like the character BUT.
My monk is every session one time or more on 0hp and I don't think he is going to live until lv. 20.
I'm making a back-up character (I prefer an archer). This is my build but I don't think it's optimal.

Lv. 14 valor Bard (guild artistian)
With a +1 longbow

STR 10
DEX 18
CON 16 (Resillent)
INT 12
WIS 13
CHA 18
Expertise: Perception, deception, persuasion, stealth.


Spells:Cantrips:
Friends
Vicious Mockery
Minor Illusion
Message

Lv. 1 spells
Healing word
Longstrider
Charm Person
Dissonant Whispers
Hellish Rebuke (stolen spell)

Lv. 2 spells
Silence
Enchance ability
Blindness/deafness

Lv. 3 spells
Fear
Leomund's tiny hut
Bestow Curse

Lv. 4 spells
Dimension door
Fire Shield (stolen)
Freedom of Movement

Lv. 5 spells
Mislead
Swift Quiver (stolen)
Dominate person
Contagion (stolen)

Lv. 6 spells
Mass suggestion
True Seeing (because one guy in the party likes casting darkness in comb. with Devil's sight.)

Lv. 7 spell
Regeneration

So anyone with ideas? Other nice spells to steal or bard spells I didn't see. Maybe a feat I need to have???

[Ashrym]

I play a campaign and I'm a lv. 13 open hand monk. (109hp and 19AC), since lv. 1 I play him and I really like the character BUT.
My monk is every session one time or more on 0hp and I don't think he is going to live until lv. 20.
I'm making a back-up character (I prefer an archer). This is my build but I don't think it's optimal.

Lv. 14 valor Bard (guild artistian)
With a +1 longbow

STR 10
DEX 18
CON 16 (Resillent)
INT 12
WIS 13
CHA 18
Expertise: Perception, deception, persuasion, stealth.


Spells:Cantrips:
Friends
Vicious Mockery
Minor Illusion
Message

Lv. 1 spells
Healing word
Longstrider
Charm Person
Dissonant Whispers
Hellish Rebuke (stolen spell)

Lv. 2 spells
Silence
Enchance ability
Blindness/deafness

Lv. 3 spells
Fear
Leomund's tiny hut
Bestow Curse

Lv. 4 spells
Dimension door
Fire Shield (stolen)
Freedom of Movement

Lv. 5 spells
Mislead
Swift Quiver (stolen)
Dominate person
Contagion (stolen)

Lv. 6 spells
Mass suggestion
True Seeing (because one guy in the party likes casting darkness in comb. with Devil's sight.)

Lv. 7 spell
Regeneration

So anyone with ideas? Other nice spells to steal or bard spells I didn't see. Maybe a feat I need to have???

You will probably never use vicious mockery on ability archer bard because the damage is low and the disadvantage only works on one attack anyway; you already have spells that create disadvantage as well. You would normally use attacks over cantrips. Mending can fix your arrows.

Charm person is redundant. You already have proficiency, expertise, high CHA, and enhance ability. I would trade fire shield for absorb elements (EE spell) because the reaction resistance is worth it even if you miss the bonus damage and it's cheaper. Charm would be upgraded to another spell if it hasn't been already or swapped for polymorph, confusion, or improved invisibilty to keep a 4th level spell. Thunderwave or featherfall can be decent 1st-level alternatives because the push from thunderwave can protect you from opportunity attacks and another reaction option for featherfall is nice.

Silence is overrated and situational, imo. I would drop it for lesser restoration (some status removal), or invisibilty for when you need some place to hide.

Touch attack spells on a ranged character can be counter-productive. Trading bestow curse off for dispel magic or glyph of warding might be more useful more often, or hold monster instead of contagion. Glyph of warding is fun because it removes the concentration from spell glyphs and adds a spell trap style of play.

You are high enough level to make contagion glyph traps if you don't mind time, money, and the higher spell slot costs. You can also use it for buffs. For example, a glyph of ability enhancement let's you use 3rd-level slot for the glyph taking an hour and 200 GP in material costs, but you can trigger it, gain the benefits (like DEX advantage) for the full duration of enhance ability without concentration, then cast invisibilty with your concentration. Or replace one of those with pass without trace if it was picked up with secrets instead.

The whole spell trap / additional buffing can be very thematic on a magical archer / skill specialist like you're working on. Even just the 5d8 explosive runes can be fun.

Hope that helps.

Edit: crossbow expertise and sharpshooter are feats to look at. Aside from the bonus attack potential or -5/+10, they both eliminate penalties to accuracy associated with ranged attacks.

[PoeticDwarf]

Thank you for the help. The sharpshooter feat is something I tought about. I'm thinking of swapping vicious mockery, and bstw. curse. I'm not sure about fire shield. It isn't concentration so it is strong. Your other advice is usefull too.

(I see I have too may spells, I'll chance it later)