I don't believe spells get a damage bonus? rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/53292/… - also since there's only 3 players in the party, a powerful cantrip isn't that big a deal as it turns out. The Warlock can't stay out of melee for more than a round or two if there are more than two opponents ...

@BobTway Agonising Blast specifically allows the Warlock to add charisma bonus to Eldritch Blast damage (similar to how a weapon normally gets strength/dexterity bonus to damage). And a warlock can usually stay out of melee quite easily if supported by allies (and depending on environment).

@BobTway The Warlock invocation Agonising Blast adds cha to damage of each attack of Eldritch Blast, which scales in attacks like a Fighter

Ah, sorry, I was thinking of it as a spell, not an eldritch invocation. The problem is that I kind of already have been through the weapon options and the Ranger is adamant he wants to keep the longsword. So if I explain the mistake and run the rules right, the Bard will out-fight him.

@BobTway why are you so set on the bard not being as good as the ranger?

@SeriousBri Because - in my head at least - a Bard should not be the party tank. Since the Bard also gets more spells than the Ranger, and many of the Ranger's unique skills are highly situation-specific, keyed to certain enemies or terrain, it would seem to leave the Ranger without much to excel at.

@BobTway Why shouldn’t the bard be the party tank? Is this just some arbitrary, non-negotiable rule you’ve decided to make up?

@ThomasMarkov Let me rephrase it: if the Bard is the party tank, the Ranger doesn't have much else to do.

Of Bard, Ranger and Warlock, no-one is a tank.

@BobTway "So if I explain the mistake and run the rules right, the Bard will out-fight him." Or more likely, the ranger's player will be less adamant about using a longsword, which he choose while having an incorrect understanding of the rules. A rapier for him will let him easily out fight the bard (+2 damage from dueling is nothing to sneeze at, and is greater than the +1 average damage from using a longsword 2-handed). A player being adamant about a choice doesn't mean much when they don't know what the correct rules are in order to make an informed choice.

@WillemRenzema No, this is the problem. I have explained the rules to him and I've suggested he switches to a rapier, two shortswords or at least carry a shield and he still wants to keep using the longsword. I'm going to have to go over it again at the start of the next session when I explain also about the damage bonus.

@BobTway I see. You statement above saying "So if I explain the mistake and run the rules right..." implied to me that you hadn't given him the correct rules. I misunderstood.

I'm also confused by "a high dexterity for archery" combined with "adamant he wants to keep the longsword" Use a bow!

@Caleth Longbow isn't much use in melee. I'm hopeful I can resolve this by persuading him to take the shield. It's the easiest fix, it's something the bard (college of Lore) cannot do and it's just like a Ranger would in 2e. I'm really quite baffled by his refusal to consider one.

I can understand having a back-up weapon. I less understand taking a fighting style for that, after ignoring options that are essentially free for a better improvement.

I'll just copy this over