Aldarc
Legend
With the two UA bardic colleges released, I thought now would be a good time to try my own hand at homebrewing some bardic colleges. The bard represents an incredibly versatile class that can occasionally serve as either a jack-of-all-trades or a niche-filler. The colleges represent ways to further thematically hone those niches. The College of Valor, for example, represents the bard as gish. The College of Lore represents the bard as versatile skill-monkey. As such, the colleges that I present attempt to fill in other common niches for the bard: bard as healer (College of Vigor) and bard as mage (College of Arcana). For the time being, I will simply present them for your feedback. But if requested, I would gladly provide the design philosophy behind these two colleges.
COLLEGE OF ARCANA
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Bonus Proficiencies
At 3rd level when you join the College of Arcana, you gain proficiency in the Arcana skill. If you are already proficient in Arcana, choose another skill proficiency.
In addition, you learn two cantrips of your choice from any class. These cantrips are considered Bard spells for you. The chosen cantrips count as bard spells for you but don’t count against the number of cantrips you know.
Song of Renewal
Also at 3rd level, you can restore some of your magical energy by attuning yourself to the echoes of the song of creation. During a short rest, you choose expended spell slots to recover. The spell slots can have a combined level that is equal to less than half your bard level (rounded up), and none of the slots can be 6th level or higher. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.
For example, when you are a 4th-level bard, you can recover up to two levels worth of spell slots. You can recover either a 2nd-level slot or two 1st-level slots.
Potent Spellcasting
Starting at 6th level, you add your Charisma modifier to the damage you deal on a hit with any bard cantrip.
Improvised Spell
At 14th level, you gain the ability to briefly replicate the spells of other spellcasters. Once per day, you can cast a spell from any spell list of a spell level of 3rd level or lower using one of your available spell slots to cast the spell. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until after you finish a long rest.
COLLEGE OF VIGOR
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Bonus Proficiencies
When you join the College of Vigor at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in the Medicine skill and the Herbalism kit, and you learn the spare the dying cantrip.
Invigorating Words
Also at 3rd level, you learn how to reinvigorate the wounds of others through your inspiration. You can use your reaction to expend one of your uses of Bardic Inspiration to heal target a creature you can see within 60 feet, rolling a Bardic Inspiration die and healing them a number equal to the roll plus your Charisma modifier. Alternatively, if a creature that has a Bardic Inspiration die from you is dying, they can spend the Inspiration die to gain advantage on their death saving throws.
Improved Song of Rest
At 6th level, when you use your Song of Rest ability, any creatures within a 30-foot radius are treated as if you had cast the lesser restoration spell.
In addition, whenever you use your Song of Rest ability, you roll two dice instead of one. For example, at 13th level your Song of Rest would restore 2d10 hit points instead of the usual 1d10.
Vital Chorus
Starting at 14th level, the effects of your healing spells reverberate to others. Whenever you use a spell of 1st level or higher to restore hit points to a creature, the creature and all allies within 30 feet regain additional hit points equal to the spell level plus your Charisma modifier.
COLLEGE OF ARCANA
[flavor text]
Bonus Proficiencies
At 3rd level when you join the College of Arcana, you gain proficiency in the Arcana skill. If you are already proficient in Arcana, choose another skill proficiency.
In addition, you learn two cantrips of your choice from any class. These cantrips are considered Bard spells for you. The chosen cantrips count as bard spells for you but don’t count against the number of cantrips you know.
Song of Renewal
Also at 3rd level, you can restore some of your magical energy by attuning yourself to the echoes of the song of creation. During a short rest, you choose expended spell slots to recover. The spell slots can have a combined level that is equal to less than half your bard level (rounded up), and none of the slots can be 6th level or higher. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.
For example, when you are a 4th-level bard, you can recover up to two levels worth of spell slots. You can recover either a 2nd-level slot or two 1st-level slots.
Potent Spellcasting
Starting at 6th level, you add your Charisma modifier to the damage you deal on a hit with any bard cantrip.
Improvised Spell
At 14th level, you gain the ability to briefly replicate the spells of other spellcasters. Once per day, you can cast a spell from any spell list of a spell level of 3rd level or lower using one of your available spell slots to cast the spell. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until after you finish a long rest.
COLLEGE OF VIGOR
[flavor text]
Bonus Proficiencies
When you join the College of Vigor at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in the Medicine skill and the Herbalism kit, and you learn the spare the dying cantrip.
Invigorating Words
Also at 3rd level, you learn how to reinvigorate the wounds of others through your inspiration. You can use your reaction to expend one of your uses of Bardic Inspiration to heal target a creature you can see within 60 feet, rolling a Bardic Inspiration die and healing them a number equal to the roll plus your Charisma modifier. Alternatively, if a creature that has a Bardic Inspiration die from you is dying, they can spend the Inspiration die to gain advantage on their death saving throws.
Improved Song of Rest
At 6th level, when you use your Song of Rest ability, any creatures within a 30-foot radius are treated as if you had cast the lesser restoration spell.
In addition, whenever you use your Song of Rest ability, you roll two dice instead of one. For example, at 13th level your Song of Rest would restore 2d10 hit points instead of the usual 1d10.
Vital Chorus
Starting at 14th level, the effects of your healing spells reverberate to others. Whenever you use a spell of 1st level or higher to restore hit points to a creature, the creature and all allies within 30 feet regain additional hit points equal to the spell level plus your Charisma modifier.
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