War caster or resilient at 8th?

[dnd2016]

Lore bard, Con is 17. Was considering lucky also

[solidork]

I'm pretty sure it's just down to preference. I've gone Resilient: Con both times I've been in this situation and never really regretted it.

[Jyuasnteisn]

Resilient is better if all you're looking for is to keep concentration, between the proficiency and bringing CON to 18.

War Caster lets you do some interesting combos though, especially as a Bard. Booming Blade instead of your AoO is a significant boost to damage, and you can even proc it yourself with Dissonant Whispers or Fear.

[Ferrin33]

Since you're a lore bard it's unlikely you will need to use both your hands on a weapon, or be on the frontlines much so your opportunity attack can be used on spells.

That leaves us with the advantage on concentration checks from War Caster, which is ~5 extra on the roll on average.

Taking Resilient(Con) gives +4 to con saves at level 8, +5 at level 9, up to +7 when you get +6 proficiency. This bonus to saves works on all Constitution saves, not just Concentration saves. In addition to that you're also getting 8 extra health from the con.

Seems like a clear winner to me. If you were a Valor Bard it would be an interesting choice, but not so much as a lore bard.

[Cespenar]

Let's say you'll make one Concentration check per day, even though you're a back liner and probably won't.

Let's also say that you'll make another Constitution save per day, again, even though you're a back liner and probably won't.

That still leaves you with one Lucky die to use however you want.

[Drackolus]

I'd say resilient, since the effect on your concentration will be the same, but resilient gives you more hit points and resistance to a lot of nasty effects, and warcaster gives you only one effect that only helps if you know booming blade and have good dex.
Normally I'd say you shouldn't be in melee anyway, but with that much con, if your dex is good too you actually can be with bb. I do it with my bard, though he has 18 dex and 16 con.

[Strill]

The true power of Resilient (Con) is that once you reach either 20 CON or +5 Proficiency, you will automatically succeed on DC10 concentration checks, which means an enemy will have to deal at least 22 damage to you in order to have even a chance to break your concentration.

[hymer]

The true power of Resilient (Con) is that once you reach either 20 CON or +5 Proficiency, you will automatically succeed on DC10 concentration checks, which means an enemy will have to deal at least 22 damage to you in order to have even a chance to break your concentration.

Don't you mean you must have both 20 con and +5 proficiency?

[Solunaris]

Don't you mean you must have both 20 con and +5 proficiency?

You can't roll a 0 on a d20.

[hymer]

You can't roll a 0 on a d20.

I'm aware of that.

Edit: That was too obtuse: You roll 1, have 20 con, but +3 proficiency (level 8). Total rolled is 9, and enough to fail the DC 10 save.

Edit: As Saiga below points out...

[Saiga]

Having +5 proficiency or 20 con only guarantees a concentration check of 6+, though.

[Solunaris]

I'm aware of that.

Sorry, I'll go a bit further into detail. With a Con of 18 and a proficiency bonus of +5 and a d20 roll you, at minimum, get a 10.

[hymer]

Sorry, I'll go a bit further into detail. With a Con of 18 and a proficiency bonus of +5 and a d20 roll you, at minimum, get a 10.

Agreed. :smallsmile:

[Saiga]

Sorry, I'll go a bit further into detail. With a Con of 18 and a proficiency bonus of +5 and a d20 roll you, at minimum, get a 10.

Okay, so you meant in this particular case. That makes sense.

[Solunaris]

Okay, so you meant in this particular case. That makes sense.

Yeah, I was following the chain of conversation from Strill's post about why he thought Resilient was the better choice.

[hymer]

Yeah, I was following the chain of conversation from Strill's post about why he thought Resilient was the better choice.

Yes, we all make perfect sense properly considered. :smallbiggrin:

[djreynolds]

The undead paralyzing and eating do not care about concentration. Resilient con affects all constitution saves.

[dnd2016]

I have 18 Dex is well. Booming blade seems cool.basically 3d8 thunder damage if I hit and he moves