u/CreepyUncleHodor

Context:

The party I will be playing with are a stabby stabby rouge, Shadow Monk, Evo Wizard, and Light Cleric.

The campaign will be Descent into Avernus and has been Homebrewed up to level 15 from the original 13. I am not spoiling myself by reading about the campaign so I am only going on assumptions, but at the very least I am expecting to predominantly be fighting Fiends, some undead, and likely a monstrosity or two.

The players are largely new and I don't expect them to minmax or even necessarily play their build more than their player fantasy. I do however expect the Clerk to take Inspiration Leader

The Rules we are playing are ONLY PHB 2024

With that in mind I see the obvious gap of some Charisma, which sure probably not too much wheeling and dealing to be had in hell, but I know devils do love their deals so it should at least be present and something we can handle well. So that pushed me toward Bard or Paladin.

I originally built this with a sorcerer instead of a bard, but when I realized that because of the enemy types I'll be facing are largely fiend/undead/Monstrousity a large portion of them (or at least the dangerous ones) will have Magic Resistance if not outright immune to Fear or Charm, which were my primary group control. With this in mind I shifted the build toward a Bard that will allow my team to reposition without penalty, have some extra temp hp and better roles when it counts, as well as eventually get me a free fire bonus action Command.

I want to be clear this build is support and control first, foremost, and exclusively. He is being built to protect the other players and enable them to dish damage and cover for their mistakes if not outright prevent them by locking the enemies down. I am attempting to achieve this through a mix of locking them in melee with me, while still being able to protect those in melee and while having concentration running still be able to CC with spells like Command and eventually charm when Bard gets to 3. Yes I know "just go full wizard or Druid! Spellcasters are the best cc!!!" Shush, that's not what we are doing here.

Here is the level plan I have:
1: Pally 1: Origin is Musician, Race is Brass Dragonborn, I rolled STUPID high stats 18-18-17-16-15-5 (Yes, my character will be illiterate for the sake of optimization lmao). Rocking a Battleaxe and Warhammer for Topple and Push

2: Pally 2: Fighting Style: Protection, Bless, Command, Thunderous Smite

3: Warlock 1: Pact of the Blade, Eldritch Blast/Mind Sliver, Armor of Agathys

4: Pally 3: Oath of vengeance, Vow of Enmity

5: Pally 4: Sentinel

6: Pally 5: Extra attack, Warding Bond

7: Pally 6: Aura of Protection (The entire reason I am playing Paladin here)

8: Warlock 2: Magical Cunning, Eldritch Mind, Repelling Blast

9: Bard 1: Bardic Inspiration, Faerie Fire, Vicious Mockery

10: Bard 2:

11: Bard 3: College of Glamour, Beguiling Magic, Mantel of Inspiration, Mirror Images

Past here is really loose because I don't know what items we will get, if everyone is still alive yadayadayada

12: Bard 4: Likely Shield Master/Mage Slayer(My guy reads at a 3rd grade level and might need the int save), Silence

13: Bard 5: Font of Inspiration, Cacophonic Shield, Hypnotic Pattern/Mass cure wounds

14: Bard 6: Mantel of Majesty

15: Bard 7: Greater Invisibility

I would love some feedback on whether Warlock is necessary or if you have different suggestions for feats. I'll even take recommendations on another build if you can rationalize spell control against largely Magic resistant Enemies, dropping Paladin 6 is non-negotiable so start from there if that's what you doing. I would love to see something that rolls in Spirit Guardians since I can't use Cacophonic with allies near by.