Bard: Difference between revisions

== Bard Colleges ==

=== College of Creation ===

Bards believe the cosmos is a work of art—the creation of the Three. That creative work included harmonies that continue to resound through existence today, a power known as the creation energy, khaagaazh. The bards of the College of Creation draw on that primeval song through dance, music, and poetry, and their teachers share this lesson: “Before the sun and the moon, there was the Song, and its music awoke the first dawn. Its melodies so delighted the stones and trees that some of them gained a voice of their own. And now they sing too. Learn the Song, students, and you too can teach the mountains to sing and dance.”

Dwarves often encourage their bards to become students of the Song of Creation. And among dragonborn, the Song of Creation is revered, for legends portray Bahamut and Tiamat—the greatest of dragons—as two of the song’s first singers.

'''Mote of Potential.''' Starting at 3rd level, whenever you give a creature a Bardic Inspiration die, you can utter a note from the Song of Creation to create a Tiny mote of potential, which orbits within 5 feet of that creature. The mote is intangible and invulnerable, and it lasts until the Bardic Inspiration die is lost. The mote looks like a musical note, a star, a flower, or another symbol of art or life that you choose.

When the creature uses the Bardic Inspiration die, the mote provides an additional effect based on whether the die benefits an ability check, an attack roll, or a saving throw, as detailed below:

:'''Ability Check.''' When the creature rolls the Bardic Inspiration die to add it to an ability check, the creature can roll the Bardic Inspiration die again and choose which roll to use, as the mote pops and emits colorful, harmless sparks for a moment.

:'''Attack Roll.''' Immediately after the creature rolls the Bardic Inspiration die to add it to an attack roll against a target, the mote thunderously shatters. The target and each creature of your choice that you can see within 5 feet of it must succeed on a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC or take thunder damage equal to the number rolled on the Bardic Inspiration die.

:'''Saving Throw.''' Immediately after the creature rolls the Bardic Inspiration die and adds it to a saving throw, the mote vanishes with the sound of soft music, causing the creature to gain temporary hit points equal to the number rolled on the Bardic Inspiration die plus your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1 temporary hit point).

'''Performance of Creation.''' At 3rd level, as an action, you can channel the magic of the Song of Creation to create one non-magical item of your choice in an unoccupied space within 10 feet of you. The item must appear on a surface or in a liquid that can support it. The gp value of the item can’t be more than 20 times your bard level, and the item must be Medium or smaller. The item glimmers softly, and a creature can faintly hear music when touching it. The created item disappears after a number of hours equal to your proficiency bonus.

'''Animating Performance.''' At 6th level, as an action, you can animate one Large or smaller non-magical item within 30 feet of you that isn’t being worn or carried. The animated item uses the Dancing Item stat block, which uses your proficiency bonus (PB). The item is friendly to you and your companions and obeys your commands. It lives for 1 hour, until it is reduced to 0 hit points, or until you die.

'''Creative Crescendo.''' At 14th level, when you use your Performance of Creation feature, you can create more than one item at once. The number of items equals your Charisma modifier (minimum of two items). If you create an item that would exceed that number, you choose which of the previously created items disappears. Only one of these items can be of the maximum size you can create; the rest must be Small or Tiny.

=== College of Dance ===

'''Fast Movement.''' When you join the College of Dance at 3rd level, your walking speed increases by 10 feet. At 6th and 14th level, your walking speed increases by an extra 5 feet.

'''Inspirational Dance.''' Also at 3rd level, you learn how to use the universal language of dance. As a bonus action, you can expend one of your uses of Bardic Inspiration to dance and reinvigorate a creature other than you who can see you. When you do, roll a Bardic Inspiration die. That creature gains temporary hit points equal to the number rolled plus your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1). When a creature gains temporary hit points in this way, it can immediately use its reaction to move up to its speed without provoking opportunity attacks or take the Dodge action.

'''Entrancing Movement.''' At 6th level, your movements become so graceful that even the most cold-hearted enemies are filled with remorse for having stopped your dance. Whenever a creature hits you with an opportunity attack, that creature takes psychic damage equal to your Charisma modifier + half your bard level.

'''Endless Dance.''' By 14th level, your dance has become so invigorating that it can inspire an ally to attack. A creature that gains temporary hit points from your Inspirational Dance can choose to use its reaction to make one weapon attack.

=== College of Diplomacy ===

'''Foreign Relations.''' When you join the College of Diplomacy at 3rd level, you learn the proper etiquette for handling those from other cultures. You learn three languages of your choice.  

'''Magical Networking.''' Also at 3rd level, you can utilize your web of personal connections to extend your reach through Khaagaazh. By expending a use of your Bardic Inspiration when you cast a bard spell, you can choose to cast the spell as if you were located in the space of a willing creature within 60 feet of you that can see or hear you.

'''Secret Communiqué.''' From 6th level, your mastery of statecraft allows you to communicate with but a meaningful look.  The ranges of both your Countercharm and Bardic Inspiration features are doubled, and if an ally can see you, it doesn't need to hear you to be affected by either of those features.  

In addition, using this feature, you can choose to activate your Countercharm feature silently, without moving, and by using a bonus action instead of an action. Until the end of your next turn, targets affected by this use of Countercharm have advantage on their Charisma, Intelligence, and Wisdom saving throws, and can also communicate telepathically with any other affected targets they can see, regardless of their language.  

You can use countercharm in this way a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, regaining expended uses at the end of a long rest.

'''Diplomatic Immunity.''' Starting at 14th level, you can magically compel even your enemies to act cordially towards you.  As an action, you can force up to 5 creatures of your choice within 60 feet of you that can see and hear you to make a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC.  

A target automatically succeeds if it can't understand your language, but if it shares more than one language with you, it makes this save with disadvantage.  If a target fails its save, it becomes charmed by you and all of your allies it can see within 60 feet of you. This effect lasts until the end of your next turn if you are fighting the target or if you begin to fight it, or for 1 hour otherwise. This effect ends on a target if it notices you or your allies harm it or a creature it is friendly towards.  

=== College of Eloquence ===

'''Silver Tongue.''' At 3rd level you become a master at saying the right thing at the right time. When you make a Charisma (Persuasion) or Charisma (Deception) check, you can treat a d20 roll of 9 or lower as a 10.

'''Cutting Words.''' Also at 3rd level, you learn how to use your wit to distract, confuse, and otherwise sap the confidence and competence of others. When a creature that you can see within 60 feet of you makes an attack roll, an ability check, or a damage roll, you can use your reaction to expend one of your uses of Bardic Inspiration, rolling a Bardic Inspiration die and subtracting the number rolled from the creature’s roll. You can choose to use this feature after the creature makes its roll, but before the DM determines whether the attack roll or ability check succeeds or fails, or before the creature deals its damage. The creature is immune if it can’t hear you or if it’s immune to being charmed.

'''Unfailing Inspiration.''' At 6th level, your inspiring words are so persuasive that others feel driven to succeed. When a creature adds one of your Bardic Inspiration dice to its ability check, attack roll, or saving throw and the roll fails, the creature can keep the Bardic Inspiration die.

'''Universal Speech.''' Also at 6th level, you have gained the ability to make your speech intelligible to any creature. As an action, choose one or more creatures within 60 feet of you, up to a number equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of one creature). The chosen creatures can magically understand you, regardless of the language you speak, for 1 hour.

'''Infectious Inspiration.''' When you successfully inspire someone, the power of your eloquence can now spread to someone else. When a creature within 60 feet of you adds one of your Bardic Inspiration dice to its ability check, attack roll, or saving throw and the roll succeeds, you can use your reaction to encourage a different creature (other than yourself) that can hear you within 60 feet of you, giving it a Bardic Inspiration die without expending any of your Bardic Inspiration uses.

=== College of Four Suits ===

'''Arcane Deck.''' When you join the College of Four Suits at 3rd level, you find a way to twist your bardic magic in new ways using the magic of chance. You gain proficiency with playing card sets, if you don’t already have it, and you can use playing card sets as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses playing card sets, such as Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) or Charisma (Performance) checks made to either cheat or perform card tricks, respectively. In addition, you can transform a mundane playing card set into a magic one, called an arcane deck, using a special ritual while holding the cards. The ritual takes 1 hour, which can be done during a short rest. You can then dismiss the deck (no action required), shunting it into an extradimensional space. The deck also disappears if it’s more than 120 feet away from you for 1 minute or more, or if you die. You can summon the arcane deck to an empty hand using a bonus action, and can use it as a normal playing card set. You can replace your arcane deck by performing the 1-hour ritual on another playing card set. When you do, the previous arcane deck becomes a non-magical playing card set again. The deck appears at your feet if it is in the extradimensional space when this happens. You use this arcane deck for your College of Four Suits features, drawing and playing cards as described in them and using the following rules:

:The arcane deck uses a standard deck of 52 cards, removing any jokers from the deck. You can use a deck of playing cards at your table for these features or use a digital tool instead.

:An ace counts as 1, and a jack, queen, or king counts as a 10.

At 3rd level, your maximum hand size is 3. Your maximum hand size increases when you reach certain levels in this class, becoming 4 cards at 6th level, and 5 cards at 14th.

'''Hand of Fate.''' At 3rd level, you draw a hand of cards whenever you roll for initiative, up to your maximum hand size, called a hand of fate. You keep these cards until they’re played or until the combat resolves, at which time any remaining cards in your hand are discarded. When you draw these cards, your arcane deck and drawn cards magically appear and float in the air within easy reach for the duration. While the arcane deck is summoned in this way, you don’t need to be holding it in order to use it as a spellcasting focus.

You can play multiple cards at a time and combine their values provided that they’re all from the same suit. Regardless of what your cards’ combined value is, it can’t exceed your bard spell save DC. After a card is played and its effect resolves, it disappears from your hand and is placed in your discard pile. You can play cards from your hand of fate in a variety of ways as described below.

Fate Change. You can choose to forgo rolling a d20 for an attack roll or ability check to play one or more cards from your hand (no action required), using their combined value to determine the roll instead. You can wait until after you roll the d20 before deciding to use this feature, but must decide before the GM says whether the roll succeeds or fails. Once you use this ability, you can’t do so again until you roll initiative again and draw a new hand. If you can eventually replace a d20 roll with a combined card value of 20 or more, it doesn’t count as a critical hit or success on the roll you replace it with.

:'''Trick.''' You can use an action to send one or more cards from your hand hurtling at a creature that you can see within 30 feet of you (other than yourself ).

:'''Clubs or Spades.''' If the cards’ suit is a club or spade, make a ranged spell attack against the target, using your spell attack bonus. On a hit, the target takes force damage equal to the cards’ combined value.

:'''Diamonds or Hearts.''' If the cards’ suit is a diamond or heart, the target gains a number of temporary hit points equal to the cards’ combined value, which last for 1 minute or until you use this Trick again.

Whenever you expend a use of your Bardic Inspiration, you can draw 2 cards from the deck and choose 1 of them to add to your hand, placing the second card on the bottom of the deck. If your hand is full when you add a new card in this way, you can choose to either discard a card from your hand and replace it with the new one or simply place it on the bottom of the deck without replacing any cards in your hand.

'''Hole Cards.''' Also at 3rd level, when you finish a long rest, you can draw up to your maximum hand size from your arcane deck. Choose 1 of those cards and shuffle the remainder back into the deck. This card is called your hole card, and remains separate from your arcane deck and hand of fate.

When you roll a d20 to make an attack roll or ability check, you can choose to play a hole card and add its value to the total of the roll. You make this decision after you roll the d20, but before the GM says whether the roll succeeds or fails. Regardless of the value of the card, it can’t exceed the maximum value of your Bardic Inspiration die. For example, if your Bardic Inspiration die is a d6, a 7 card or higher would be treated as a 6.

'''Royal Flush.''' Starting at 6th level, you’ve learned how to draw more magic from your arcane deck and influence those around you. You can use an action to play a jack, queen, or king card from your hand of fate or hole cards to cast the command spell from it at 1st, 2nd, or 3rd level, respectively, using your bard spell save DC and without expending a spell slot. Once you play a card in this way, you can’t do so again with that card from any other suit until you finish a long rest. In addition, the range of your Trick feature increases to 60 feet, instead of 30.

'''Ace in the Hole.''' By 14th level, you’re an expert at using cards to influence your fortune and succeed. Your feature becomes more powerful in the following ways:

An ace counts as a 10 for you, instead of a 1.

:You can choose to combine cards of the same value, rather than suit, when playing them as part of your Fate Change or Trick features. When played as part of a Trick in this way, you choose which suit to use between all the ones played when determining the kind of Trick it is.

:If you hit a target with a Club or Spade Trick, you can add your Charisma modifier to the total of the damage dealt by the attack. The Trick’s total damage dealt still can’t exceed your bard save DC.

:You can use your Fate Change feature twice during combat, instead of once.

:If you have an ace in your hand of fate or as a hole card, you can use your reaction to play it when you see a creature within 60 feet of you make an attack roll or ability check, expending a use of your Fate Change feature if you’re in combat and replacing the target’s d20 roll with either a 1 or 10 (your choice). You can choose to use this reaction after the creature makes its roll, but before the GM determines whether the attack roll or ability check succeeds or fails. If the creature is unwilling, it can make a Charisma saving throw against your bard save DC, ignoring the effect and using the original roll on a success

=== College of Glamor ===

The College of Glamor is the home of bards who mastered their craft in the vibrant realm of the Feywild or under the tutelage of someone who dwelled there. Tutored by satyrs, eladrin, and other fey, these bards learn to use their magic to delight and captivate others.

'''Mantle of Inspiration.''' When you join the College of Glamor at 3rd level, you gain the ability to weave a song of fey magic that imbues your allies with vigor and speed.

As a bonus action, you can expend one use of your Bardic Inspiration to grant yourself a wondrous appearance. When you do so, choose a number of creatures you can see and that can see you within 60 feet of you, up to a number equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of one). Each of them gains 5 temporary hit points. When a creature gains these temporary hit points, it can immediately use its reaction to move up to its speed, without provoking opportunity attacks.

'''Enthralling Performance.''' Starting at 3rd level, you can charge your performance with seductive, fey magic.

If you perform for at least 1 minute, you can attempt to inspire wonder in your audience by singing, reciting a poem, or dancing. At the end of the performance, choose a number of humanoids within 60 feet of you who watched and listened to all of it, up to a number equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of one). Each target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or be charmed by you. While charmed in this way, the target idolizes you, it speaks glowingly of you to anyone who talks to it, and it hinders anyone who opposes you, although it avoids violence unless it was already inclined to fight on your behalf. This effect ends on a target after 1 hour, if it takes any damage, if you attack it, or if it witnesses you attacking or damaging any of its allies.

'''Mantle of Majesty.''' At 6th level, you gain the ability to cloak yourself in a fey magic that makes others want to serve you. As a bonus action, you cast command, without expending a spell slot, and you take on an appearance of unearthly beauty for 1 minute or until your concentration ends (as if you were concentrating on a spell). During this time, you can cast Command as a bonus action on each of your turns, without expending a spell slot.

'''Unbreakable Majesty.''' At 14th level, your appearance permanently gains an otherworldly aspect that makes you look more lovely and fierce.

In addition, as a bonus action, you can assume a magically majestic presence for 1 minute or until you are incapacitated. For the duration, whenever any creature tries to attack you for the first time on a turn, the attacker must make a Charisma saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, it can’t attack you on this turn, and it must choose a new target for its attack or the attack is wasted. On a successful save, it can attack you on this turn, but it has disadvantage on any saving throw it makes against your spells on your next turn.

=== College of Lore ===

Bards of the College of Lore know something about most things, collecting bits of knowledge from sources as diverse as scholarly tomes and peasant tales. Whether singing folk ballads in taverns or elaborate compositions in royal courts, these bards use their gifts to hold audiences spellbound. When the applause dies down, the audience members might find themselves questioning everything they held to be true, from their faith in the priesthood of the local temple to their loyalty to the king.

The loyalty of these bards lies in the pursuit of beauty and truth, not in fealty to a monarch or following the tenets of a deity. A noble who keeps such a bard as a herald or advisor knows that the bard would rather be honest than politic.

'''Bonus Proficiencies.''' When you join the College of Lore at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with three skills of your choice.

'''Unsettling Words.''' Also at 3rd level, you can spin words laced with magic that unsettle a creature and cause it to doubt itself. As a bonus action, you can expend one use of your Bardic Inspiration and choose one creature you can see within 60 feet of you. Roll the Bardic Inspiration die. The creature must subtract the number rolled from the next saving throw it makes before the start of your next turn.

'''Additional Magical Secrets.''' At 6th level, you learn two spells of your choice from any class. A spell you choose must be of a level you can cast, as shown on the Bard table, or a cantrip. The chosen spells count as bard spells for you but don’t count against the number of bard spells you know.

'''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.

Famed for their hulking frames and sure-footed swagger, the bards of the College of Machismo are dedicated to building (and flaunting) their own physiques. By putting their muscles to work, these entertainers will “perform in circus acts, gladiatorial bouts, contests of strength, bachelorette parties, and anywhere they can bask in the roar of a crowd.  

'''Bardic Brawn.''' When you join the College of Machismo at 3rd level, you double down on iron-pumped peacocking. Your hit point maximum increases by 3, and it increases by 1 whenever you gain another level in this class. Further, your unarmed strikes now use a d4 for damage, and by flaunting your physique or muscular prowess, you can make

This degree of self-confidence is its own form of protection. While you aren't wearing armor or wielding a shield, your AC equals 10+ your Strength modifier + your Charisma modifier.  

'''Feat of Strength.''' Also at 3rd level, you learn to draw inspiration from displays of your own physical power. As a bonus action, you can expend one use of your Bardic Inspiration to make a Strength-based melee attack or Strength ability check. This check could involve grappling or shoving a creature, smashing a sturdy object, or jumping an unusually-long distance.  

'''Tireless Showboating.''' Starting at 6th level, your drive to impress others allows you to accomplish the positively Heraclean. You gain proficiency in Strength saving throws, and if you can see an ally that can see you, your movement speed isn't reduced by grappling a creature or carrying weights that aren't more than double your normal carrying capacity.  

In addition, each turn you can give yourself advantage on one Strength-based attack roll or Strength ability check or saving throw, but only if you can see an ally within 60 feet of you that can see you. If this roll would be affected by disadvantage, you can ignore it.  

'''Center of Attention.''' After reaching 14th level, you can strike a vainglorious pose that taunts your enemies and provokes their enmity. Using an action, or using the bonus action granted by your Feat of Strength feature, you can make a Strength (Performance) check contested by the Wisdom (Insight) check of a creature within 60 feet of you that can see you. Creatures that cannot be charmed are unaffected.  

If your check is successful, your target becomes enraged by you until the end of your next turn.

'''Coin Flip.''' Starting when you join the College of Mercantile at 3rd level, a creature that uses a Bardic Inspiration die from you can choose to forgo rolling the die to flip a coin instead. If it’s heads, the creature treats the Bardic Inspiration die as if it rolled its maximum number. If it’s tails, the GM takes the Bardic Inspiration die and can use it when another creature of the GM’s choice makes an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw instead. The GM can have multiple Bardic Inspiration dice at a time in this way, but can still only add one of them to a roll at a time. When you finish a long rest, the GM loses any of these taken Bardic Inspiration dice.

'''Magic Coin.''' Also at 3rd level, you know that coins can be just as powerful as the most enthralling rhetoric. Whereas other bards may use words and song as their means for conjuring spells, you instead use a simple coin. You can use any coin worth at least 1 cp as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells.

In addition, you can use an action to magically fling a coin from your hand at a target within 60 feet of you. Make a ranged spell attack with the coin, using your Charisma mod- ifier for the attack roll. On a hit, the target takes 1 bludgeoning damage plus 1d12 thunder damage. Immediately after the attack, the coin returns to your hand. If you roll a 20 on the attack roll against a hostile creature using a non-magical copper, silver, electrum, or gold piece, the coin is magically duplicated when it returns to your hand. The new coin can appear in your hand, at your feet, or in a coin pouch on your person (your choice).

'''Money Talks.''' By 6th level, you’ve learned how to briefly enchant a coin with divination magic. You can enchant a mundane copper, silver, electrum, gold, or platinum piece that you’re holding in this way using an action. A creature holding the coin that knows at least one language can understand the meaning of any word you speak, and when it speaks, you understand what it says. In addition, you have advantage on the first Charisma (Persuasion) check you make when negotiating the value of a good or service with a creature that’s holding or carrying the enchanted coin.

Alternatively, you can use an action to see and hear through the enchanted coin until the start of your next turn as if you were in the coin’s space. During this time, you are deaf and blind with regard to your own senses.

'''Shrewd Consumer.''' Starting at 14th level, whenever you cast a spell that consumes a material component, drink a potion, or use a spell scroll that’s worth no more than 500 gp, there is a 50 percent chance that the component, potion, or scroll isn’t consumed. In addition, you can use a bonus action to take the Use an Object action or drink a potion.