Bard
An Inspiring Performer of Music, Dance, and Magic
This Bard article features subclass options for Erenel players in 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons. The article will be updated over time as new subclasses are released! Some subclasses are only available for Gamingbrew Patrons!
Bards bring levity during grave times; they impart wisdom to offset ignorance; and they make the ridiculous seem sublime. Bards are preservers of ancient history, their songs and tales perpetuating the memory of great events down through time—knowledge so important that it is memorized and passed along as oral history, to survive even when no written record remains.
It is also the bard's role to chronicle smaller and more contemporary events—the stories of today's heroes, including their feats of valor as well as their less than impressive failures.
Of course, the world has many people who can carry a tune or tell a good story, and there's much more to any adventuring bard than a glib tongue and a melodious voice. Yet what truly sets bards apart from others—and from one another—are the style and substance of their performances.
To grab and hold the attention of an audience, bards are typically flamboyant and outgoing when they perform. The most famous of them are essentially the D&D world's equivalent of pop stars. If you're playing a bard, consider using one of your favorite musicians as a role model for your character.
Erenel 5E Subclasses
World Anvil Access
Support Erenel to gain full access to all 5E content on World Anvil.5E.24 Subclasses
The subclasses below are designed with 5E.24 rules and mechanics.College of Fortune
Fortune Favors the BoldBards of the College of Fortune are not just entertainers, they are gamblers, tricksters, and weavers of fate. Drawing inspiration from leprechauns, these Bards bend luck to their advantage, twisting probability and conjuring pots of gold from thin air. Some claim to have been touched by the Feywild, while others say they once stole luck from a god and never gave it back.
College of Fortune
College of Fortune
Bard Subclass
Level 3: Fool's Gold
Whenever an ally you can see expends your Bardic Inspiration, you can take a Reaction and play Fool’s Gold. Roll on the Fool’s Gold table below.Fool's Gold Table
| 1d4 | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | You take Psychic damage equal to the number rolled on the triggering Bardic Inspiration die. |
| 2 | You teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space you can see. |
| 3 | You and the ally gain Temporary Hit Points equal to the number rolled on the triggering Bardic Inspiration die. |
| 4 | You regain one expended use of your Bardic Inspiration. |
Level 3: Trickster Magic
Your mischievousness grows when you inspire others. When you use your Bardic Inspiration to inspire a creature, you can gain the Invisible condition until the start of your next turn. This condition ends early immediately after you make an attack roll, deal damage, or cast a spell.Level 6: Lucky Number Seven
Even fate itself knows when you’re on a lucky streak. Your attack rolls can score a Critical Hit on a roll of 7 or 20 on the d20.Level 14: Pot of Gold
As a Magic action, you can summon a spectral pot of gold that brings fortune to your allies and misfortune to your enemies. It manifests in an unoccupied space that you can see within 30 feet of you. An aura radiates from the pot of gold in a 30-foot Emanation. While in the aura, whenever an ally makes an attack roll or a saving throw, they add 1d4 to the attack roll or save. In addition, while in the aura, whenever an enemy makes an attack roll or a saving throw, they must subtract 1d4 from the attack roll or save. Your pot of gold lasts while you Concentrate (as if Concentrating on a spell) for up to 1 minute, but it ends early if you dismiss it (no action required) or have the Incapacitated condition. As a Bonus Action, you can move the pot of gold up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space you can see within 60 feet of yourself. Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a Long Rest. You can also restore your use of it by rolling a 4 on the Fool's Gold Table.
5E.14 Subclasses
Originally created for 5E.14, the subclasses below can be easily adapted for use with 5E.24 rules.College of Angel's Choir
To say that someone has a voice like an angel is normally a metaphorical compliment, but for members of this college, it's literal. Chosen and trained by an angel from a young age, these bards are often found traveling Erenel, helping those in need. The Angel's Choir hopes to one day earn the greatest honor. A member of this college can be chosen as one of the few mortal souls who assist the Solar Raduriel, the Redeemer, in his duty after their death.Available only for Gamingbrew Patrons. If you are a Patron the sub class will appear below.
College of Cupid's Arrow
Matchmakers of the College of Cupid’s Arrow master the art of romance. At their best, a Cupid’s Arrow brings happiness and love. At their worst, a matchmaking may prove mischievous and even deadly.
Available only for Gamingbrew Patrons. If you are a Patron the sub class will appear below.
College of Gravesinging
Vastly different from their counterparts, Bards of the College of Gravesinging do not offer a cheerful song or humorous anecdote. Instead, grave singers explore the forces of life, death and undeath by creating macabre art with their voice and by calling to creatures from the grave. These somber entertainers give haunting performances known to fill an audience with nervous glances and fearful screams.
Available only for Gamingbrew Patrons. If you are a Patron the sub class will appear below.
College of Hellsong
Amplified by the power of heavy metal, you've chosen to walk the infernal path of the College of Hellsong. When you strum your guitar, the unadulterated sound of destruction lifts your band mates, as your booming voice brings down the house around you.
College of Hellsong 5E Stat Block
College of Hellsong
Bard College
Power Chord
When you choose this proficiency at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with medium armor, shields, and a martial weapon of your choice. You also gain proficiency with the bass guitar which can act as your spellcasting focus.Thunderstruck
Also at 3rd level, you can unleash a wave of pure metal power. As an action, expend a use of your Bardic Inspiration, forcing hostile creatures within 15-feet to make a Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, creatures are marked with Thunderstruck until the beginning of your next turn. Thunderstruck. The next attack that hits the target knocks the target prone, and deals additional thunder damage equal to the Bardic Inspiration die roll.Mosh Pit
At 6th level, you protect your own, even when surrounded in chaos. Whenever an ally within 30-feet that you can see takes damage, you can use your reaction to transfer half of the total amount to yourself. You can use Most Pit a number of times per day equal to your Charisma modifier, regaining all uses after a long rest.Crazy Train
Starting at 14th level, you gain immunity to the frightened condition. Whenever you would be reduced to 0 hit points by a hostile creature, you are reduced to 1 hit point instead. Once this happens, you can't gain this benefit again until you finish a long rest. In addition, you learn the *infernal calling* spell, which counts as a bard spell but doesn't count against the number of bard spells you know.College of Imaginary Friends
The College of Imaginary Friends is the home of bards who have discovered a way to fulfill their need to entertain even while they’re alone. By talking to themselves! Whether singing a ballad, playing an instrument, or giving an eloquent speech, these bards can manifest perfect visual illusions of themselves to serve as an audience. Bard of this college are regarded as mischievous for their ability to sow chaos and doubt, disorienting both allies and enemies with their beguiling talent.
Available only for Gamingbrew Patrons. If you are a Patron the sub class will appear below.
College of the Liquid Courage
Bards that have studied with the College of Liquid Courage are exceptionally skilled in both crafting and consuming alcoholic beverages. Known for filling the glasses of their companions, these bards find courage at the bottom of a tankard before delving into the dangerous unknown. Masters of everything alcoholic, the college’s members gather in taverns and watering holes where folks are willing to buy a drink. Many believe the College of Liquid Courage is a place for bartenders and mixologists to sharpen their skills. In truth, bards of this college instead learn the art form of drinking and often lack the skill of a bartender’s sympathetic ear.
Available only for Gamingbrew Patrons. If you are a Patron the sub class will appear below.
College of the Loud Mouth
Bards are known for making beautiful music with their voices and various instruments. Unfortunately for the audience, the College of the Loud Mouth is not concerned with catchy melodies or artistic songs. Instead, their thunderous voice can split an eardrum or shatter fine glassware. To be a member of this college is to see the audience flee a tavern from the awful cacophony you screech on stage.
Available only for Gamingbrew Patrons. If you are a Patron the sub class will appear below.
College of Prismata
Those of the College of Prismata are adept at bringing out the colors of their soul through the various wavelengths of light. Proud by nature, they wear their hearts on their sleeves and ward others from harm. Above all else, bards of this college value freedom and self-expression, not just for themselves but for all.
College of Prismata 5E Stat Block
College of Prismata
Bard College
Created by Nano
Prismatic Ward
3rd-level College of Prismata feature You can bring out your inner colors and ward your allies. As an action, you can choose another allied creature within 30 feet of yourself and ward them. The creature warded by this feature gains temporary hit points equal to half your Bard level + your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1). Additionally, choose a color and the warded creature gains the listed benefit. Red. The warded creature can use their reaction to gain a bonus to attack rolls equal to one roll of your bardic inspiration die. The ward ends early at the end of this turn. Orange. The warded creature gains darkvision out to a range of 60 feet. If the creature already has darkvision, its range increases by 30 feet. Yellow. The warded creature gains a bonus to Persuasion and Performance ability checks equal to one roll of your bardic inspiration die. Green. The warded creature can use their reaction to gain a +2 bonus to their AC for 1 minute. The ward ends early at the end of this duration. Blue. The warded creature can use their reaction to end one effect on it causing it to be charmed or frightened. The ward ends early. Violet. The warded creature can’t be targeted by any divination magic or perceived through magical scrying sensors. The ward lasts for 1-hour, the warded creature is incapacitated or killed, or you use this feature to ward another creature. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.Colorful Inspiration
6th-level College of Prismata feature A creature warded by Prismatic Ward can choose to dismiss the ward (no action required) and gain a bonus equal to one roll of your Bardic Inspiration die to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw. This does not expend a use of Bardic Inspiration for you.Unending Pride
14th-level College of Prismata feature When you roll initiative and have no uses of Prismatic Ward remaining, you regain one use.College of Pyrotechnics
Students of the College of Pyrotechnics learn that their performance is as much a science as it is an art. They learn to wield the explosive force of fireworks and firearms to captivate the crowd and put an end to foes. Bards within this college have little issue finding the spotlight as they will merely make their own if necessary.
College of Pryotechnics 5E Stat Block
College of Pyrotechnics
Bard College
Created by Nano
Trained in Iron and Fire
3rd-level College of Pyrotechnics feature You gain proficiency in firearms. You also gain proficiency with tinker’s tools. If you already have this tool proficiency, you gain proficiency with one other type of artisan’s tools of your choice.Dancing Sparks
3rd-level College of Pyrotechnics feature Whenever you give a creature a Bardic Inspiration die, small crackles of energy flutter around the creature that lasts until the Bardic Inspiration die is lost. After the creature rolls the Bardic Inspiration die to add it to an attack roll against a target, the crackling energy surges towards the target. The target must make a Dexterity saving throw against your spell save DC, taking fire damage equal to two rolls of your Bardic Inspiration die on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one. Upon reaching level 10 in this class, the damage increases to four rolls of your Bardic Inspiration die.Captive Audience
6th-level College of Pyrotechnics feature As an action, you can place down an invisible trap on an unoccupied space within 30 feet of you which lasts for 8 hours. If a creature of your choice starts its turn or enters the trap during its turn it must make a Dexterity saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, the creature is restrained for as long as the trap remains or until it breaks free. A creature restrained by the trap can use its action to make a Strength check against your spell save DC. If it succeeds, it is no longer restrained and the trap disappears. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.Roaring Crescendo
14th-level College of Pyrotechnics feature When Dancing Sparks deals damage to a creature, or a creature is initially trapped by your Captive Audience feature, you can use your reaction to make a ranged attack roll with a firearm against the creature. On a hit, you deal extra damage to the target equal to one roll of your Bardic Inspiration die.College of Sea Shanties
Less of a college and more of a lifestyle, the Sea Shanty Bard inspires with tall tales and echoing melodies. You understand that making a name for yourself is as much about embellishing past experiences as it is inspiring a crew. As tales of your fame spread across the Crimson Shores, every seaport and dock will know of your prowess.
Available only for Gamingbrew Patrons. If you are a Patron the sub class will appear below.
College of War Song
Bards of the College of the War Song look less to entertain and more to inspire daring displays on the battlefield. These bards wield a blend of martial prowess and powerful booming voices, uplifting their allies and striking fear into their foes as their war song reverberates with veritable force across the war-torn fields of Erenel.
Available only for Gamingbrew Patrons. If you are a Patron the sub class will appear below.
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