Counterspell + Jack of all trades

[DeShurland]

Hi all

Playing a 6th lvl Bard, about to take 2 additional spells from lore college.

Counterspell + Jack of all trades. Apparently they combine? I vaguely see how... What I don't get is "make an ability check using your spellcasting ability."

Would my counter roll be Cha save + jack of all trades (+2) + [if needed] bardic inspiration

The above is a mess, sorry.

Thanks

[AttilatheYeon]

As a bard you use cha as your spellcasting stat. So it would be your cha bonus plus half prof from jack of all trades.

As an example let's sat cha 18 at level 6. You'd roll 1d20 + 4(cha bonus) + 1 (half of prof bonus(+3) rounded down).

[Hellpyre]

Would my counter roll be Cha save + jack of all trades (+2) + [if needed] bardic inspiration

Thanks

Yes, except that your JoAT bonus rounds down, so at level 6 it'll be a +1, not a +2, and you cannot give yourself bardic inspiration.

EDIT: Your CHA mod, not save. Eyes just passed right over it xD

[BloodSnake'sCha]

Yes, except that your JoAT bonus rounds down, so at level 6 it'll be a +1, not a +2, and you cannot give yourself bardic inspiration.

EDIT: Your CHA mod, not save. Eyes just passed right over it xD

The only bard who can use his own bardic inspiration is a level 14 lore bard

Peerless Skill
Starting at 14th level, when you make an ability check, you can expend one use of Bardic Inspiration. Roll a Bardic Inspiration die and add the number rolled to your ability check. You can choose to do so after you roll the die for the ability check, but before the DM tells you whether you succeed or fail.

[Teaguethebean]

And remember this spreads to more things like dispel magic and even initiative.

[Chronos]

On the other hand, if there's another bard in your party, you could still benefit from their inspiration. And you could also use Guidance, if someone had cast it on you. And if you had Enhance Ability (Eagle's Splendor) or Glibness on you, those would also work.

A few sessions ago, my party went into a villain's lair. They thought that it'd be tough to talk their way past the guard at the door, so they popped an Enhance Ability and a Guidance on the sorcerer (the most charismatic party member), right before they turned the corner. But it turned out that they guard was willing to let them in anyway, and so they went to talk to the BBEG, and the talking (as often happens) turned to fighting. And the sorcerer then ended up counterspelling a very nasty spell that probably would have taken out multiple party members, and he needed every bit of buff he had to make the roll.

[DeShurland]

Hi all,

thanks for the responses

"You'd roll 1d20 + X(cha bonus) + 1 (half of prof bonus(+3) rounded down)." this is a massive help. I think I just had a big old brain freeze.

Also I had no idea that I could apply 'JOAT' to initiative!

This is all greatly appreciated!

Thanks
Vondal Greybeard (Hill Dwarf Bard)

[AttilatheYeon]

Hi all,

thanks for the responses

"You'd roll 1d20 + X(cha bonus) + 1 (half of prof bonus(+3) rounded down)." this is a massive help. I think I just had a big old brain freeze.

Also I had no idea that I could apply 'JOAT' to initiative!

This is all greatly appreciated!

Thanks
Vondal Greybeard (Hill Dwarf Bard)

FYI you can also apply the guidance cantrip.

[ff7hero]

Lore Bards make some of the best Telekinesis casters if they burn a Magical Secret on it.

JoaT, Cutting Words, Peerless Skill and Glibness all synergize amazingly with what is already one of the best single target control spells.