D&D 5E The College of Psalms, for Holy Bards

[Herosmith14]

*This subclass has been revised. Latest version is on Page 2 of this thread.

So, I just homebrewed this subclass. I think I did well. I the versatility if built in, and I don't think I ripped off the cleric and paladin too much. The feature I struggled most with was Holy Magic. I had batted that around a bit, and had also thought about a feature akin to the Aasimar's Radiant Soul/Consumption. I figured this was a way to keep up the versatility and not take features from yet another thing. I included Land Druids in Holy magic because druids are also kind of a religious class, and they don't have a Channel Divinity, so.

Anyway, I came to you guys to see what you though about this: so here it is.

Bard: College of Psalms​

Bards of the College of Psalms devote themselves to the religious practices. They augment their power with radiant energy and that of the divine. Those who follow this path study the practices of Clerics and Paladins in an effort to understand and emulate their power. Whether for good or evil, bards of this college use powers beyond that of the arcane, that of the divine.
Bonus Proficiency

At 3rd level, you gain proficiency with the Religion and Insight skills, and, if they are not already benefiting from Expertise or a similar feature, you double your proficiency bonuses with them.

Divine Inspiration

When you choose this college at 3rd level, you have learned how to use your innate well of power to aid your healing and your attempts to smite your enemies. Whenever you cast a healing spell or roll damage for an attack or spell, you may use one use of your Bardic Inspiration. If it is added to a healing spell, add the number rolled to the hit points healed.

If used on an attack or spell add a number or radiant damage equal to the number rolled to the damage roll.

Channel Divinity

By 6th level, whatever source from which you have been granted divine magic has allowed you power similar to that of other holy warriors. You gain one use of the Channel Divinity feature, which recharges at dawn, and may choose any two of the Channel Divinity options from the Cleric and Paladin classes.

Should you choose Turn Undead and or Arcane Abjuration, they count as Destroy Undead and Arcane Banishment respectively, and scale the same as with the Cleric class.

Holy Magic

By 14th level, you have learned even more secrets of the various holy warriors of the world, and secrets of their magic. You learn any two Domain, Oath, or Circle spells from the Cleric, Paladin, or Land Druid classes. The spells must be of a level you can cast, but they do count as bard spells for you.

 

[cbwjm]

At 14th level a bard is already getting magical secrets. Sure your 14th level ability is an additional two spells but getting magical secrets and a lesser version of it at the same level may not be super exciting. I'd probably think about reviewing that ability and coming up with something a little more unique.

The other abilities look fine though.

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[Guest 6801328]

First reaction was that I love the idea of a bard who specializes in the glorification of deities. That part is pure genius. I think the implementation could use some improvement, though.

Bard: College of Psalms​

Bards of the College of Psalms devote themselves to the religious practices. They augment their power with radiant energy and that of the divine. Those who follow this path study the practices of Clerics and Paladins in an effort to understand and emulate their power. Whether for good or evil, bards of this college use powers beyond that of the arcane, that of the divine.
[h=1]Bonus Proficiency[/h]At 3rd level, you gain proficiency with the Religion and Insight skills, and, if they are not already benefiting from Expertise or a similar feature, you double your proficiency bonuses with them.

It's enough to give them bonus proficiencies. Doubling the bonus is too much. Why would they be better at Religion than a Cleric or Paladin?

[h=1]Divine Inspiration[/h]When you choose this college at 3rd level, you have learned how to use your innate well of power to aid your healing and your attempts to smite your enemies. Whenever you cast a healing spell or roll damage for an attack or spell, you may use one use of your Bardic Inspiration. If it is added to a healing spell, add the number rolled to the hit points healed.

If used on an attack or spell add a number or radiant damage equal to the number rolled to the damage roll.

Trying to make them both healer and smiter strikes me as a bit much. I'd pick one or the other and focus. (Personally I prefer the former...the game already has tons of sub-classes that do extra damage.)

[h=1]Channel Divinity[/h]By 6th level, whatever source from which you have been granted divine magic has allowed you power similar to that of other holy warriors. You gain one use of the Channel Divinity feature, which recharges at dawn, and may choose any two of the Channel Divinity options from the Cleric and Paladin classes.

Should you choose Turn Undead and or Arcane Abjuration, they count as Destroy Undead and Arcane Banishment respectively, and scale the same as with the Cleric class.

I was hoping for interesting new abilities, not just porting over abilities from other classes.

[h=1]Holy Magic[/h]By 14th level, you have learned even more secrets of the various holy warriors of the world, and secrets of their magic. You learn any two Domain, Oath, or Circle spells from the Cleric, Paladin, or Land Druid classes. The spells must be of a level you can cast, but they do count as bard spells for you.

As a previous poster noted, they already get spells from any class, so this is actually a weaker version of that. And kind of unexciting in that it's redundant.

For me, subclasses are interesting/exciting because they introduce new abilities and mechanics. I feel like I could get everything this subclass has by just multiclassing bard/cleric or bard/paladin.

The Psalmist is a great initial concept. Ask yourself what could a bard who goes around composing/reciting/singing paeans to his deity do that nobody else could do.

 

[abirdcall]

Trying to make them both healer and smiter strikes me as a bit much. I'd pick one or the other and focus. (Personally I prefer the former...the game already has tons of sub-classes that do extra damage.)

I actually think 3rd level here is a bit weak.

Lore gets Cutting Words, Valor gets armour.

I'd like to see bonus action inspiration die for a straight heal. That would be strong and subclass defining.

 

[bedir than]

I actually think 3rd level here is a bit weak.

Lore gets Cutting Words, Valor gets armour.

I'd like to see bonus action inspiration die for a straight heal. That would be strong and subclass defining.

Or, something like

"When casting a healing spell the Psalmist can use a number of Bardic Inspiration dice of their choosing to increase the healing effect."

And

I wouldn't do Insight as a proficiency gained, but instead...

Schooled in Faith
The Psalmist gains proficiency in Religion and gains two cantrips from the Cleric spell list.

 

[Satyrn]

I feel like the channel divinity is far too broad in its versatility. I think you should at least narrow it down to just the cleric ones.

 

[bedir than]

I feel like the channel divinity is far too broad in its versatility. I think you should at least narrow it down to just the cleric ones.

It should be for just a single Domain, representing that the Psalmist is from a particular faith

 

[Satyrn]

It should be for just a single Domain, representing that the Psalmist is from a particular faith

I was gonna suggest that as a possibility, too: Give them turn undead and their choice of a cleric domain's channel divinity.

Alternatively, pick a paladin oath and gain its channel divinities.

Or, hand-pick 4 or 5 of the most bardiest, most psalmiest options and let the player pick from those.

 

[abirdcall]

Or, something like

"When casting a healing spell the Psalmist can use a number of Bardic Inspiration dice of their choosing to increase the healing effect."

And

I wouldn't do Insight as a proficiency gained, but instead...

Schooled in Faith
The Psalmist gains proficiency in Religion and gains two cantrips from the Cleric spell list.

That's pretty weak.

Why can't the Bard heal with just Inspiration Dice?

 

[bedir than]

That's pretty weak.

Why can't the Bard heal with just Inspiration Dice?

Because the rules currently state that Bardic Inspiration applies to "one ability check, attack role or saving throw." By using it to buff a spell rather than replace a spell this shift isn't more potent than a Life Cleric.

Song of Rest only works during a short rest.

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