Sorcerer multiclass indecision: Sorcerbard? Barderer? Other?

[Khazidhea87]

Hi all,

I was recently playing a sorcerer/warlock in AL until we had a TPK last week. I’m now going through the process of recreating the character but am being indecisive about whether I want to stick with what I had or try something a little different. I’ll be weighting theme over optimisation, but I see no harm in trying to optimise fun (and I'll have fun with any of the options listed). (And my apologies for the wall of text. When I over think character options I tend not to be concise).

The basics: A Yuan-ti Pureblood (Volo's my +1, so only PHB options please). Crowd control = social > buffs > damage. As it’s AL I won’t specialise fully as my party will change each time I play, so some well rounded-ness will be built in. Image-wise I like the idea of sorcerer but the class has no stand out features for me (beyond spells and metamagic) until level 14. I’ve had Warlock dips for other characters so might try adding Bard levels instead for something different. Was playing wild sorcerer, but will switch to dragon (twinned haste on two others, wild magic surge turned me into a plant breaking concentration, we all died (not directly due to that, but it didn’t help)).

Initially I built around the Warlock invocation Mask of Many Faces, with Actor for my first feat as I really liked the idea of a deceptive character that changes appearance at will. I still favour that idea but am no longer planning my build around it and will see if I can pick up/trade for a hat of disguise to work it into my other options (and if not will be fine without it). Still keeping the idea of an acidic tongued (in my head a mix of Cordelia from Buffy and Olenna Tyrell from GoT), deceptive, magical character.

I like multiclassing for a bit of extra flavour or additional features. I haven’t played enough D&D to really miss any of the higher level spells I’d be delaying, so while I know that’s a thing most like to avoid I’m not overly fussed about it. I like having AC, so most of the builds I’ll try getting shield proficiency eventually (but will likely keep draconic resilience even if medium armour could work better). I’m mostly focussing on mid-level play (8-15), so planning to 20 is nice but not something that will impact most of my choices.

Likely stats: Strength 8, Dexterity 15 (if picking up MA feat), Constitution 12, Intelligence 14, Wisdom 8, Charisma 17. The points in intelligence may not be optimal, but it's what I want; picking up arcana and maybe investigation.

Will start Sorcerer regardless for saving throw proficiencies, then main class for 5-6 levels, then dip (unless suggested otherwise). At least enough Sorcerer levels for metamagic (subtle and likely twinned for haste/greater invisibility/banishment).


Pro:
• Full spell progression
• Decent spell options
• Sorcery points & metamagic
• (eventually) dragon wings
Neutral
• Elemental affinity (it’s a bonus, but not something I’ll make much use of)
Cons:
• No shield proficiency, lower AC unless I increase dex
o Might dip fighter if I really wanted shield proficiency, defensive fighting style
• No ‘exciting’ class options til level 14

Pros:
• Shield proficiency (feat), +3 to 5 ac with Shield/Shield +2 and extra dex from MA
• Eldritch blast (and likely agonising blast)
• Unused Warlock spell slots to spell points on short rest
• If going to level 3 warlock,
o More low level spells known, can pick up a few extras I’d like for utility (detect thoughts/enhance ability/suggestion (have 1 per day as Yuan-ti, so might not double up on it)
o Improved familiar or rituals
• GOO telepathy
• Dragon wings
• Mask of many faces
Neutral
• Hex (likely use concentration on other spells)
• Elemental Affinity
Cons
• No spell slot progression for warlock levels

Pro:
• Shield proficiency (valour bard), +2 to 4 ac with Shield/Shield +2
• Jack of all trades
o Better counterspell
• Extra proficiencies and expertise
o Bonus initiative
o Better social skills
• More low level utility spells
• 1d6 Bardic inspiration. Combat inspiration
Neutral
• Elemental Affinity
• Song of rest
Cons:
• Delayed spell progression
• Bardic inspiration only refreshes on long rest

Pros:
• Shield proficiency (feat), +3 to 5 ac with Shield/Shield+2 and extra dex from MA
• Jack of all trades
o Better counterspell
• Extra proficiencies and even more expertise
o Even better initiative
o Add stealth and sleight of hand
o Better social skills
• More low level utility spells
• Bardic Inspiration with die progression, refreshes on short rest
• Cutting Words
Neutral
• Countercharm
• Song of rest
Cons
• Lack of sorcery points
• Delayed spell progression
• Less defensive spells at lower levels
• No 9th level spells
• Using magical secrets to pick up the wanted sorcerer spells
• Would need to optimise spell choice a bit to upcast more with the higher level slots


Not locked in stone, just as an indication
At level 3: Shield, Sleep, Mirror Image, Blindness Deafness
4 Misty Step
5 Haste, Fireball (-sleep)
6 Counterspell
7 Greater Invisibility
8 Banishment
9 Animate Objects
10 Dominate Person
11 Mass Suggestion


1 Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Healing Word, Tasha's Hideous Laughter
(Sorcerer: Shield, Sleep)
2 Unseen Servant
(Sorcerer: Fog Cloud, Disguise self (if no HoD/MoMF), -sleep)
3 Blindness/Deafness, Hold Person -THL
(Sorcerer: Mirror Image, Misty Step -DS)
4 Heat Metal
5 Hypnotic Pattern, Bestow Curse -DW
6 Dispel Magic
Magical secrets: Counterspell/Haste/Fireball
7 Greater Invisibility
8 Enhance Ability
9 Animate Object
10 Geas
Magical Secrets: Wall of Force/Bigby's Hand/Banishment/Circle of Power
11 Mass Suggestion

[Wizard_Lizard]

Of it is flavour and sneakiness you want, I could see an arcane trickster sorcerer as an option.

[Khazidhea87]

Thanks for that Wizard Lizard, Arcane Trickster was an option I hadn't considered, and it's a good one indeed! Expertise and Cunning Action would be great, and getting Find Familiar would be add to flavour (I think I've got access to a flying snake from Fai-Chen).

Definitely a strong contender, now I'm even more indecisive of the direction to take :)

[Keravath]

I'm a bit confused.

It is AL. Spend treasure points on a raise dead scroll and the character will be back in play for the next session after spending 5 down time days recovering. You could even go as far as spending more TCP for a True Resurrection if that was needed for some reason. If you have insufficient treasure points, AL even allows you to go have "treasure point debt" in order to restore your character.

You can create a new character starting at level 1 if that is what you want to do but in AL you don't have to do so even if there is a TPK.

Other than that, you have outlined a number of useful options. Another possibility might be 1 Fighter/ 2 warlock / 17 sorcerer since you get the con saves/armor as well as a fighting style (likely defensive) from one level of fighter. The 2 levels of warlock give you the fun warlock things and the 17 levels of sorcerer still gives you level 9 spells. I have a yuan-ti pureblood character that is starting like this but they may toss in some wizard levels as well if I decide I'd rather have the versatility in the long run than the 9th level spells. My starting stats were 8 14 14 14 9 16 with the plan being to wear medium armor and a shield and take resilient(wisdom) at some point though the build only gets 4 ASI (2 for cha and 1 for resilient leaves one for other things).

An 18 bard/2 warlock would be another option but it drops the sorcerer aspect.

[Khazidhea87]

Interesting, that could work, thanks for the option. I'd gain at least 1 AC over my other options, and have eldritch blast for damage and MoMF for as much disguise self as I want, but be behind on spell slots. I assume it wouldn't be that viable to start fighter for heavy armour, if I stick with 8 strength?

I considered resurrecting my character but as I was only level 6 and didn't have any unlocks I particularly wanted I decided starting over wasn't too much of a set back (and then I can use the tcp elsewhere, and play through White Plume Mountain again for treasure (where the TPK happened).