Preface

Bardic Inspiration is a compendium of subclasses and spells created for the Bard. None of these have been play tested yet but that is hopefully the next step. If you decide you want to play one of these classes please feel free to let me know and send me a message at u/LamboCryBaby! I would love to hear how it goes.

The contents of this compendium are intended to be balanced for play in a regular Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition group.

Bardic Colleges

Special Thanks

I want to thank everyone who has commented and critiqued these subclasses. Hopefully I have done them justice. I also want to give a special shout out to u/BedrocksTheLimit for always being willing to help me Homebrew and balance all things 5e!

To study at the College of the Advant-Garde is to study our very nature. A Bard that wants to provoke and inspire often finds their way to this college. You never know what to expect from a performance or piece of artwork. You might even be a part of their show and never even know.

Immersive Performance

Also at the 3rd level before rolling a saving throw you can use your reaction to substitute your charisma modifier instead of the normal modifier for that roll.

You may use this feature as many times equal to your proficiency bonus and regain all uses on a long rest.

Artistic Momentum

Starting at 6th level when a creature you can see within 30 ft of you fails an attack roll or skill check you can use your reaction to move to a square adjacent to the creature and attempt to make the same check or attack they did to rectify the failure. You make the attack or skill check with your modifiers, proficiencies, and damage rolls. If they have a bardic inspiration that you have given them you have advantage on the roll.

You may use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus and regain all uses on a long rest.

Misunderstood Masterpiece

At 14th level your art is profoundly deep and extremely beguiling and often is off putting to the audience that witnesses it. You have even started to include your own allies in the pieces that you make.

As an action, you can expend a use of a bardic inspiration or a creature can expend a bardic inspiration that you have given them to force a creature within 5 ft of them to make an Intelligence saving throw against your spell save DC as you make a performance. On a failure, the creature has disadvantage on ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the beginning of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success

The bard that has studied the College of Anguish is never the one you want to see. They are the barer of bad news and the one who plays a dirge when someone is laid to rest. The weight of death lays heavy on their shoulders and they can't help but bring sorrow with their presence.

Deep Despair

You are not the bard that spreads cheer and joy throughout your adventures. You bear the weight of the horrors and pain that seem to happen all around you. Instead of inspiring you now bring despair. Instead of inspiring the ones you care for with courage and care your Bardic Inspiration now inspires deep despair in your enemies. At 3rd level you give your * Bardic Inspiration die* to enemies instead of your party. As a bonus action you can give a creature within 60 feet a Bardic Inspiration that last for 10 minutes. You can stack as many die equal to your proficiency bonus on any single creature. Your Bardic Inspiration now can do the following:

Torment

As a reaction when a creature with a Bardic Inspiration rolls for an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw you can use the Bardic Inspiration the creature holds to try and alter the result. You roll a Bardic Inspiration and subtract the number from the roll.

Misery

As an action you may expend as many Bardic Inspiration that a creature has in order to hasten their death. Roll the amount of die that you have used and the creature takes necrotic damage equal to the amount rolled.

Reap

As a reaction when a creature's hit points are reduced to 0 within 30 ft of you, you can gain back however many Bardic Inspiration they were holding.

Dreadful Dirge

At 6th level, your sorrow is contagious. You seem to create a cloud of misfortune that follows you and you emit an aura of profound sadness. As an action, you can play your painful songs and make your aura tangible within a 15 ft radius around you. The area is heavy with sorrow and is considered difficult terrain and lasts for 1 minute. While playing your song you can give any number of creatures equal to your proficiency bonus that are within your aura a Bardic Inspiration as a bonus action.

Once you use this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Doomed Demise

Also at 6th level as a reaction when a creature is dealt necrotic damage and it is holding a Despair Die you can add your charisma modifier to the damage dealt.

Grieves Guilt

At 14th level you have taken on and carried all the guilt and weight of your party, but you have begun to learn how to share the burden you bear. As an action you can imbue your Bardic Inspiration with some of your own agony. Now you can enter a state of anguish for 1 minute. While you are in a state of anguish when a creature receives a Bardic Inspiration from you they must make a successful constitution saving throw against your spell save DC or suffer a level of exhaustion. If a Bardic Inspiration that a creature holds is used by other features the creature immediately is invigorated and is no longer suffering from that level of exhaustion.

Once you use this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest.

Nature Calls

Beginning at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in Nature and Survival and you can now use an umbrella as your spellcasting focus. Also you gain three additional uses of your Bardic Inspiration.

Additionally, during the course of a long rest you can commune with your spellcasting focus to accurately predict the natural weather patterns within 3 miles of you for the next 24 hours.

Warm Wild Wind

Also at 3rd level, you can read the wind patterns and shape it for your allies. If you or an ally have a bardic inspiration die you can expend the die in order to roll it at the beginning of your turn to increase your own speed. Roll the die and see how much movement you gain.

Movement	Prediction Roll
10 feet of movement	1-2
20 feet of movement	3-4
30 feet of movement	5-6
40 feet of movement	7-8
50 feet of movement	9-10
60 feet of movement	11-12

Alternatively, upon successful hit one can expend a bardic inspiration and send an enemy flying in any horizontal direction of your choice.

Movement	Prediction Roll
5 feet	1-2
10 feet	3-4
15 feet	5-6
20 feet	7-8
25 feet	9-10
30 feet	11-12

Nimbus Nebula

At 6th level your knowledge of weather has increased to a supernatural level. You can choose any point within a 60 foot radius of you. At the point chosen you create a nimbus cloud by expending one of your bardic inspiration die. The cloud is 30 feet above the ground and has a 10 foot radius

Once per turn as a bonus action you may do one of the following three things;

Predictions

Add a inspiration die The cloud grows 10 feet by diameter for every inspiration die.
Move You may move the cloud 20 feet in any direction. It must stay within 60 feet of you or it dissipates
Discharge the storm Roll the die to see what the storm does. You may reroll the die as many times as there are inspiration die collected in the nimbus cloud. You must take the new roll.

Storm Discharge	Prediction Roll
Winds - The area below the nimbus cloud becomes difficult terrain. Also all ranged attacks are done with disadvantage towards a target within the winds.	1-3
Rain - The rain pours so heavy that any enemy below is now obscured. At the start of their turn if one starts under the nimbus they must make a strength saving throw against your spell DC or they slip and fall prone and their speed is reduced by 10 feet for every die the Nimbus Nebula cloud has.	4 -6
Lightning - Anyone you choose under the storm is near and surrounded by bolts of lightning and takes damage equal to 3d8 thunder damage plus an extra d8 die for every Bardic Inspiration dice the cloud has collected.	7-9
Hurricane - The rain, wind, and lighting effects all take place.	10-12

The College of Remedies is a college dedicated to the health and wellbeing of the world and all its inhabitants. They seek to cure ailments minor and small whether by arcane means or by just good old fashioned medicine. A bard who has studied at the College of Remedies is dedicated to fighting the spread of disease and the enemies who attempt to weaponize pain and suffering.

Restorative Treatment

Also at 3rd level, you can employ your music to keep your party healthy and alive in the heat of battle. When a creature that currently has Bardic Inspiration that you have given them has it’s hit points restored, they may roll their bardic inspiration die and add the number to the total amount of hit points healed.

In addition, if a creature that is holding your Bardic Inspiration is forced to make a saving throw that would result in them being blinded, deafened, paralyzed, or poisoned and they expend a Bardic Inspiration die they can add their proficiency bonus to the roll.

Bardic Resuscitation

Next, at 6th level your medical studies have given you the skill set to perform emergency procedures to an ally in need of serious life saving treatment. When you are within 5 ft of an injured creature you can use your action in order to provide them with medical attention. Roll a Wisdom (Medicince) check to see how many hit points the creature recovers. If a creature is at 0 hit points then you have a -5 to the Wisdom (Medicine) check.

Medicine Check	HP Recovery
1-5	1 hp
10	1d6
15	2d6
20	4d6
25	6d6
30	8d6

You can use this feature as many times as half your proficiency bonus and regain all uses once you finish a long rest.

Preemptive Prescription

Starting at 14th level whenever you give someone Bardic Inspiration you can also heal their hit points equal to your Charisma modifier + your proficiency bonus. If the creature is at full hit points they become temporary hit points.

Lullabies are sacred little pieces of music, and they hold a lot of power. The Bard that has studied the art of the lullaby understands that comfort and rest are vital. They are the guards of a good night's sleep. They will make sure that when the camp is made and the beds are unrolled, their allies will be able to take on anything that lies ahead.

Slumber

At level 14 when you cast the Sleep spell, you can choose to empower it, putting the targets into a deep Slumber. Creatures put to sleep by the spell cannot be woken up by using an action. When a creature is in a Slumber and they take damage they are then forced to make a Wisdom saving throw and only on a success do they wake up.

Keen Eye

When you join this college at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in the Perception and Sleight of Hand skills. If you are already proficient you may choose another proficiency instead.

Self-Centered

Also at 3rd level, you have only focused on yourself and this self reflection has led you to many profound truths. You now can give yourself Bardic Inspiration and you have advantage on your Bardic Inspiration rolls when you use it on yourself. Roll the Bardic Inspiration die twice and take the higher result.

Assertive Avarice

When you reach the 6th level your deep desires motivate you to go and take what is yours. When a creature within 60 ft of you starts their turn you may use your reaction to act before them. You can use an action, bonus action, and move up to your speed. When you do this, you cannot move or take actions and reactions on your next turn.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus and you regain all uses after a long rest.

Easy Mark

At the 14th level, your hands have tendency to wander and that has led you to many a treasure. As an action if you are within 30 ft of a creature you may make a Wisdom (Perception) check to study the enemy and see the openings in their defenses. If the result is higher then the creatures AC it is successful and the creature is considered a mark. On a success you know how to assess and how to weaken a creatures armor, whether it be natural or fabricated, you find where to strike and you are able to be the hero you always dreamed of.

For the next minute when you attack a marked creature your proficiency bonus is doubled for attack roles you make against the target.

You may use this feature a number of times equal to half your proficiency bonus and regain all uses on a long rest.

Animal Magnetism

When you join this college at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in the Animal Handling skill. If you are already proficient you may choose another proficiency instead.

You also learn the Summon Beast spell. It is considered a bard spell for you and it doesn't count against the number of your Bard spells known.

Pied Piper

Starting at 3rd level your music has a hypnotic quality that tends to bring creatures from different areas or even different planes to come and see you. As an action you may roll your Bardic Inspiration die (This does not expend a Bardic Inspiration) and magically summon incorporeal spirits of a small creature of your choice equal to the number rolled within a 10 ft radius of you. They count as neither a creature nor an object, though they have a spectral appearance of the creatures they represent. They must all must be the same creature and the max amount of creatures you can have summoned at any given time can not exceed the highest number of your Bardic Inspiration die.

The summoned creatures can move up to 15 ft at the beginning of your turn and can occupy the same 5 ft. space of any creature that is small and larger. You can choose for a Pied Piper creature to be considered difficult terrain to move through and if a creature is attacked while a Pied Piper creature is occupying their space once per turn you can choose to add your Charisma modifier to a damage roll dealt.

Finally, when you Cast a Spell with a range of touch, a Pied Piper creature can deliver the spell as if they had cast it. If the spell requires an Attack roll, you use your Attack modifier for the roll. Pied Piper creatures last for an hour and vanish if they are not within 60 ft of you.

You can summon creatures a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier, and regain all expended uses after a short or long rest.

Beguiling Beasts

At 6th level you learn the Conjure Animals and Charm Person spell, they are considered bard spells for you and they don't count against the number of Bard spells known.

Also if you cast Charm Person or Charm Monster you may choose to empower the spell in order to cast it on a number of creatures equal to your Charisma modifier that are currently in a space that is also occupied by a Pied Piper creature. If the spell is cast this way then the affected creature does not know they have been charmed when the spell ends.

Once you use this feature you may not use it again until you have completed a long rest.

Mesmerizing March

Once you reach 14th level creatures now have disadvantage on saving throws against being charmed by the Charm Person or Charm Monster spell when you cast it.

Also if a creature is currently charmed by you or is willing and they are occupying a space of one of your Pied Piper creatures as a bonus action you can move your Pied Piper creature 10 ft and lure the creature to move to the same location. If your pied Piper creature lures the creature to a spot occupied by another Pied Piper creature you can move the new Pied Piper creature and lure them another 10 ft. Although Pied Piper creatures are self preserving so you can not give an order that would result in their death.

You may use this feature a number of times equal to half your proficiency bonus and regain all uses on a long rest.

College of Cartography

There is a sense of wonder and reverence when it comes to traversing the world. Be it by sea or by land or even something deeper beneath the dirt we step on the Bard that has studied at the College of Cartography understands that we are but guests on this plane of existence and the Bard of this college acts accordingly. They travel high and low and create your own destiny.

Arcane Excavation

At 14th level when an enemy walks on difficult terrain you have created within a 60 foot radius of you, you may use your reaction to immediately create a 5 ft wide by 10 ft deep pit collapsing the earth beneath them.

The creature must make a dexterity saving throw against your spell save DC. On a success the creature avoids the pit and moves 5 ft in a direction of their choice. On a failure the creature falls 10 feet into the pit taking 1d6 of fall damage and lands prone.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to half proficiency bonus and you regain all uses after a long rest.

Expert Heckler

When you join this college at 3rd level, you learn the Vicious Mockery cantrip, which doesn’t count against the number of bard cantrips you know and you may cast it as a bonus action.

Miraculous Mistake

Also at 3rd level you are not afraid of making a fool of yourself and you know how to turn a bad situation in at least an entertaining one.

When you roll an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw and the roll is 5 or below you can roll one of your Bardic Inspiration and add it to the result. This does not expend a use of your Bardic Inspiration

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier and you regain all uses once you finish a long rest.

Klutzy Combat

At 6th level you have combined your slapstick comedy with your combat, creating opening in the mistakes of you and your enemy.

When you miss with a melee weapon attack against a creature within 5 ft of you or a creature within 5 ft misses an attack against you, the creature you are engaged in battle with still takes bludgeoning damage equal to your Charisma Modifier.

Pratt Falls

Also at 6th level you have fallen and picked yourself back up so many times it's considered unnatural by some. But you have studied and you know to physically recover and roll with the punches where others could not.

After you move on your turn, you may move an additional number of feet equal to half your speed, then fall prone.

Failing Up

Once you reach 14th level you have learned that in order to succeed you must fail miserably. You have found the joke and joy in everything and this profound discovery has led to you creating incredible opportunities out of devastating losses. Your weapon attacks score a critical hit on a roll of 1 or 20.

Hidden Guile

When you join this college at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in a Disguise kit and the skills Performance and Deception.

Change Character

Also at 3rd level your ability to change you appearance and pretend to be in the skin of another person has led you to study and work towards a way to always be the person you want to become.

You can cast the Disguise Self spell without expending a spell slot.

Personal Plagiarism

And lastly at 3rd level You can give yourself advantage on a Charisma based ability check that you roll. You must choose to use this feature before you make the roll.

You can do this a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus and you regain all uses after a long rest.

Whose Who?

Also at 6th level while you are disguised as an enemy during battle you can try to confuse their allies so they become hesitant to attack you.

When a creature targets you with an attack while you are within 15 ft of the creature you are disguised as, you can use your reaction to attempt to confuse the creature. They must make a Wisdom (Perception) check against your spell save DC. On a failed save, the creature must choose a different target, or the attack automatically misses. On a success the creature can not be affected by this feature until you leave their sight.

You can use this reaction a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier, and regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Quick Change

At 6th level you are a master of disguise and subterfuge. People see you at one moment and then you are forever lost in the crowd. You can cast the spell Disguise Self as a bonus action.

Flawless Impostor

By the 14th level your skill in impersonations can cause havoc during battle. Your words and actions are so convincing that you can compel others to believe that the creature you are disguised as is in fact the impostor.

As an action, if you are within 15 ft of the creature you are disguised as, you can make a Charisma (Persuasion) check contested by a creature's Wisdom (Insight) check. The creature must be able to hear you, and the two of you must share a language.

If you succeed on the check the creature is no longer hostile towards you and is now hostile towards the creature you are disguised as. This feature lasts until you are out of combat, or it ends if you do anything harmful to it or if the creature you are disguised as uses an action to convince them they are the real one.

You may do this an amount of times equal to half your proficiency modifier and regain all uses after a long rest.

Actor Feat

This class could synergize with the Actor Feat extremely well. It is something to consider while you are choosing this class.

Iron Stomach

Starting at 3rd level you gain proficiency in Brewers Tools and Constitution Saving throws.

Fuzzy Feeling

Also at 3rd level your Bardic Inspiration causes a warm fuzzy feeling. When a creature uses their Bardic Inspiration on a Charisma based ability check if they roll below half your Bardic Inspiration die they can choose for the result to be half the die instead.

Drunk Casting

At 6th level when you hit a creature with a spell attack you can choose to empower the spell with arcane fermentation in an attempt to make the creature dizzy. The creature must succeed on a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC or become dizzy. On a success the creature is unaffected for the next hour. When a creature is dizzy and tries to move, they must roll a d20; on a roll of 9 or lower, the creature falls prone. When a creature ends its turn it can make a Constitution saving throw. On a successful save, they are no longer dizzy.

You can use this an amount of time equal to your Charisma Modifier

Alcohol Poisoning

Once you reach 14th level every action you take is seeping with booze. The air around you is thick and heavy and people can become drunk around you just from contact alone.

As an action you can expend a use of Bardic Inspiration in order to make yourself pleasantly drunk for the next minute. While drunk you have advantage on Charisma Saving throws and when you force a creature to make a Constitution saving throw they roll with disadvantage.

The College of Folktales is all about weaving a story and using your arcane abilities in order to enhance your myths and legends. These bards are master storytellers who can make you believe in almost anything.

Inspiring Image

Also at 3rd level, you craft images out of thin air to help invoke an empathetic response. You may learn an additional 1st level spell from the school of Illusion and it is considered a bard spell and it doesn't count against the number of Bard spells known. When you cast a spell from the school of illusion you can also give Bardic Inspiration as part of the same action.

Weaving Tales

Once you have reached 6th level you are able to make the impossible seem real. Creatures, locations, props; All these things are created in order to enhance your storytelling.

Your connection to the imaginary world allows you to cast an illusion spell that is of a level that you can cast. It can be from any spell list, and you still must expend a spell slot, as normal.

Once you use this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Limitless Imagination

You learn the spell Creation and it is considered a bard spell and it doesn't count against the number of Bard spells known. For you the casting time is 1 action.

In addition, you may cast creation without expending a spell slot. Once you do so, you may not doing it again until you finish a long rest. You may cast the spell using a spell slot, as normal.

Talented Designer

When you join this college at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with Weaving Tools. If you are already proficient you may choose another tool instead. You also learn the Mending cantrip It is considered a bard spell and it doesn't count against the number of Bard cantrips known.

If you cast Mending on a piece of fabric or cloth the area you can repair increases to 10 ft.

Also over a short rest if you have the appropriate provisions you can create fashionable clothing in any style or design if you know their dimensions.

Enhanced Appearance

Starting 3rd level you may take 1 hour to style a creature who is wearing Fashionable Clothing and shine their armor and tailor their clothes so they look sophisticated and presentable. For the next hour a styled creature can add your proficiency bonus to all Charisma based ability checks they make.

Once you use this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest

Grand Entrance

Also at level 3 when you enter battle you know how to help some make quite the entrance. As a reaction when a creature within 30 ft rolls for initiative you can add your Charisma modifier to the modifier.

Once you use this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Made with Love

At 6th level you start to see how spells and the tangible world work together and you can imbue you creations with fashionable arcane energy.

You can expend a use of Bardic Inspiration in order to weave a spell with the range of touch into a piece of clothing. The process takes 10 minutes and you must expend the appropriate spell slot it takes to cast the spell that you are choosing to weave into the fabric.

As a bonus action the creature that is wearing the article of clothing you created can activate the spell you have woven into the clothes as if you had cast it on them. Once the spell is cast the piece of clothing returns to a normal and is no longer holding magical power.

Arcane Stitching

When you reach 14th level you learn how to stitch together the very fabric of reality and everyone withing it.

When a creature that is wearing your woven clothing casts a spell or has a spell cast on them that targets themselves you can knit the spell together with a another creature within 30 ft that is also wearing your clothing. You can use your reaction so that both creatures gain the effects of the spell.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to half you proficiency bonus and you regain all uses after a long rest.

Medical Treatment

Cantrip Transmutation

• Casting Time: bonus action
• Range: 5 ft
• Components: V, S, M
• Duration: Instantaneous

If a creatures hit points are reduced to 0 you may go to the body and provide medical treatment. For the next minute as long as you stay with 5 ft of the unconscious creature they advantage on their next death saving throw.

Sweet Scent

3rd-level Transmutation

• Casting Time: 1 Action
• Range: Self
• Components: V, S, M
• Duration: 1 hour

Creature's find your scent intoxicating and intriguing at the same time. Anytime you make a Charisma based ability check you can treat a d20 roll of 9 or lower as a 10.

Unexpected Aid

1st-level ???

• Casting Time: 1 bonus action
• Range: Self
• Components: V, S, M
• Duration: 10 minutes, concentration

For the spells duration when you give the help action to a creature you can add your proficiency modifier to the roll you are helping with.

Sure Step

1st-level ???

• Casting Time: 1 action
• Range: 30 ft
• Components: V, S, M
• Duration: 1 hour

For the next hour a creature who is under the effect of the Sure Step spell can not be impeded by difficult terrain.

Enhance Vitality

???-level ???

• Casting Time: 1 action
• Range: 5 ft
• Components: V, S, M
• Duration: 1 hour

You increase a creatures natural stamina and health. For the next hour the target of this spells max hit points increase by 10.

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