Magic Initiate Bard on an Arcane Trickster

[nickl_2000]

So, say I take Magic Initiate Bard on a level 4 arcane trickster for Silent Image and 2 cantrips.

Can I cast Silent Image using a spell slot using intelligence? Does my free casting of Silent Image use Cha, but if I use a spell slot it use Int? Is there even an official way that this is handled or is it just up to DM ruling?

[CheddarChampion]

You'd have to use Charisma.
My interpretation of the PH Errata is that you can use spell slots for more castings (but you'd still use Charisma in this case).

Interpretations of the errata seem to be mixed, so ask your DM.

[Rowan Wolf]

You could always just take Magic Initiate Wizard instead and have INT be the spell modifier and have silent image as a first level spell and the only cantrip bards get that wizards do not is Vicious Mockery.

[nickl_2000]

You could always just take Magic Initiate Wizard instead and have INT be the spell modifier and have silent image as a first level spell and the only cantrip bards get that wizards do not is Vicious Mockery.

Yup, that is what I will likely do.