What's the simplest way to be able to cast Suggestion starting from a 5th level Human Fighter?

Question

I have a battlemaster fighter who, for flavor reasons, I would love if he could cast the spell "Suggestion". He's level 5 in fighter at the moment, and since I have a level-up in my near future, I'm looking for a path towards this spell.

It's for a low-magic community-style game, so magic items aren't likely (not to mention, may not have the same DM twice in a row!). Multiclassing is allowed (artificer is not), all my stats are above 13 except Strength (10) and Intelligence (11) thanks to Non-Variant Human!

I've already looked at taking the "Fey-Touched" feat at level 6, but as "Suggestion" is a level 2 spell, it won't do enough. Likewise, as far as I can tell, multi-classing Sorcerer or Cleric won't help me achieve this without an additional two levels.

Is there anyway I can get to the "Suggestion" spell sooner?

Answer 1

I think there is no faster way than spending three levels in multi-classing unless you can get DM buy-in or use a magic item like the helm of telepathy.

The simplest solution might be to get a helm of telepathy, it is an uncommon item, so it might be possible to get this even in a relatively low-magic campaign, in a major metropolis.

Barring that, the various feats that let you pick a spell (like fey touched or magic initiate) only give you first level spells as your pick, so they won't work.

The shortest route I can think of how you can do this innately is picking up three levels in a class like sorcerer or warlock, that has the spell on their list.

If you want to go that way, warlock might be a good option for you as a fighter, as you can pick a hexblade which can reinforce your prowess as a melee fighter with spells like shield, wrathful smite, the hexblade's curse and access to hex all from level one, so you are not wasting two levels just to bridge towards suggestion, without getting something out of them that works for what you already do. Sorcerer might also work; Wizard is probably not as good given your low intelligence score.

As DragonOfFlame's answer states, you might also be able to change your subclass retroactively, and get there within two levels, again this only works with your DM's approval.

Lastly, in addition to published rules, if your DM is willing to work with you, you could work out a feat with them that allows you to cast the spell 2-3 times a day, for example Charisma bonus times could work. The power value of being able to cast Suggestion once a day is worth about 3 points on Detect Balance, while the value of a full feat or Ability Score Improvement is 8 points. Of course, such homebrew is not an official way.

Answer 2

You could use the TCE customization rules to change your subclass

The fastest way to get suggestion as a fifth level fighter would be to change your subclass, to an Eldritch Knight. Fortunately, TCE allows this, saying:

With your DM's approval, you can change your subclass when you would normally gain a new subclass feature. If you decide to make this change, choose another subclass that belongs to your class and replace all your old subclass features with the features of the new subclass that are for your new level and lower.

You would have to wait until 7th level (unless your DM hand waved that), but that would still be a level sooner than you would get it otherwise. Once your character became an Eldritch Knight, you would be able to take suggestion as one of your spells.

Answer 3

Change your race to Yuan-Ti

While this is a much harder option to achieve (and may even be unwanted), the up-to-date version of Yuan-Ti from (Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse) gains the ability to cast "Suggestion" starting at third level.

While this is obviously a more difficult feat to accomplish, it solves the issue without needing to multiclass or spend a feat at all. (Though it brings its own share of cons as well)