Alternate Bard v1.1.0 - Public Update!
Added 2023-05-07 12:39:41 +0000 UTCHey all! Excited to share a pretty significant update to my Alternate Bard class today. I’ve made quite a few changes based on the feedback I got, and I think this v1.1.0 is much better for it!
As always, any constructive feedback you have is welcome!
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The Alternate Bard Class
The Bard has undergone some massive changes here, most notably becoming a “half-caster” (in the style of the Artificer). However, their other bardic abilities have been greatly improved to make up for the loss of those high-level spells! Personally, I think full progression Spellcasting is such a powerful feature that it doesn’t leave much room in the power budget for anything else interesting - don’t worry you still end up learning the *same* number of spells as the PHB Bard!
New to this update are the subclasses from Xanathar’s Guide to Everything: the Conspirator (College of Whispers), Mesmer, (College of Glamour), and Sword Dancer (College of Swords).
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Change Log v1.0.0 --> 1.1.0
- Bardic Inspiration // General rephrasing around “Bardic Inspiration dice”.
- Spellcasting // Moved up to 1st level (switched with Folklore). You only learn two spells at first level.
- Folklore // Moved back to 2nd level (switched with Spellcasting). Now just lets you gain proficiencies, no static Bardic Inspiration bonuses.
- Song of Rest // Added a clause allowing exhaustion level reduction.
- Countersong // Reworked.
- Font of Inspiration // You can only transfer spell slots to Bardic Inspiration now.
- Musical Expertise // Also grants advantage on Bardic Inspiration rolls.
- Mythic Performance // Reworked.
- Fool // Satirical Theatrics // You now always gain a BI die bonus to Acrobatics and Sleight of Hand rolls.
- Fool // Sharp Wit // Now you can deal psychic damage with Cutting Words on any failure, and you add your Charisma modifier to the damage roll.
- Fool // Wondrous Tumbler // Clarified that dealing damage ends invisibility.
- Fool // Fool’s Luck // Reworked. You now choose to fail a roll.
- Loremaster // Potent Performer // Removed Bardic Inspiration Advantage (moved to Musical Expertise).
- Spells // Added // elemental bane, fabricate, and resilient sphere
- Spells // Glitterbeam // Fixed damage scaling.
- Spells // Inspiring Melody // Initial cast grants temp hp to all creatures in range.
- Spells // Heroic Anthem // Reworked.
- Spells // Revitalizing Hymn // Creatures add your spellcasting mod to their roll.
- Conspirator // NEW Tradition based on the College of Whispers
- Mesmer // NEW Tradition based on the College of Glamour
- Sword Dancer // NEW Tradition based on the College of Swords
Comments
Oh, I did find a couple things while going through the subclasses though - Greater Performance should probably specify if it's "bonus action to grant effect or bonus action to cast spell" or "bonus action to grant effect or action to cast spell" - It could be interesting to have Elegant Duelist allow for melee weapons you're proficient in to be able to replace musical instruments for spells? - Seeds of Terror being reduced to creatures you can see kinda feels restrictive? It was fun to have the option of making them afraid of the king, or their boss, or the party member waiting outside, stuff like that. Still, I understand how that can get weird with the whole can't-get-closer thing This is just wording and minor stuff though, the update is awesome! I'm looking forward to when the other bard subclasses get adapted and more exploit content in the future!
Crow's Parliament
2023-05-07 16:03:18 +0000 UTCAt first I thought the new Countersong wasn't great, but Musical Expertise makes a big difference there. Rolling multiple dice each twice and adding the higher results feels a bit awkward, but oh well. Mythic Performance seems kinda unimpressive for a 20th-level ability, though. Also, subclass abilities that grant proficiencies (e.g. Cunning Influence) should probably include the standard "if you already have this proficiency, you get a different proficiency of the same type instead" language. (I suspect most reasonable DMs will read this into the ability anyway, but still.)
Jeff Potato
2023-05-07 15:12:21 +0000 UTCYes! love the spellcasting back at 1st level and the subclasses being added! The change to Countersong is great too and encourages you to tactically use your BI dice! Font of Inspiration and Mythic Performance being reworked is amazing! This update totally fixed any qualms I had about turning it into a half-caster, congrats on the stellar homebrew yet again
Crow's Parliament
2023-05-07 14:25:48 +0000 UTC
