Bard Colleges

This presents another option for the bard class, reflecting an option from Pathfinder. Please check with your DM before you play this homebrew option. This is the first version and will be subject to balance changes. Thanks to Homebrewery for the awesome tool to create this.

College of the Diva

Bards of the College of the Diva are born to be in the spotlight. Usually singers, actors, or masters of ceremony, the divas are always characterized by their self-centered attitudes and temperamental demeanor. They use their skills to boost their allies, and more importantly devastate their foes if things do not go their way. Bards of the College of the Diva always seek on improving themselves and furthering their own agendas in whatever way they see fit. They run the gamut from altruistic patrons of arts to self-serving manipulators. Whatever the case, most people know if you are to encounter a member of the College of the Diva, it's better to have that person as an ally. Divas are traditionally female, but high tenor "divos" exist as well. The term Diva is often applied gender neutrally to both.

Costume Proficiency

A diva is incomplete without a costume, and they've learned to make the most of them. At 3rd level, you gain proficiency with medium armor, heavy armor, and shields.

Scathing Tirade

A diva is often known for throwing a tantrum when things don't go their way. At 3rd level, you can spend one inspiration die to begin a tirade directed at your enemies (like a barbarian's rage). The tirade lasts for 1 minute. It ends early if you are knocked unconscious or if your turn ends and you haven’t attacked a hostile creature since your last turn or taken damage since then. You can also end your tirade on your turn as a bonus action.

During the tirade, you gain the following benefits:

• You have advantage in Charisma (Intimidation) skill checks, Spell Attack Checks, and Charisma Saving Throws.

• You have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.

• You roll your bardic inspiration die twice, and gain that many temporary hitpoints. (2d6 at 3rd level, 2d8 at 5th level, and so on.)

• You may use your bonus action during the 1 minute duration to attempt to taunt a target within 30 ft. The target must make a Wisdom Saving Throw vs. your Spell Save DC. If they fail a saving throw, they they have disadvantage on attack rolls against all creatures other than you, advantage on attack rolls to attack you, and can’t willingly move more than 30 feet away from you. This effect ends on the creature if you are incapacitated, you die, you use this effect on another creature, the 1 minute duration ends, or if the creature is moved more than 30 feet away from you.

  

Devastating Aria

At 6th level, you learn to channel your voice into a deadly weapon. You gain the vicious mockery cantrip (or another cantrip from the bard spell list if you already have this one), and your spells with a verbal component that deal damage deal an additional thunder damage equal to your Charisma modifier to each target damaged by the spell. If you are in your tirade, this thunder damage is doubled.

The Show Must Go On

A diva cannot let injuries stop them. Starting at 14th level, your tirade can keep you fighting despite grievous wounds. If you drop to 0 hit points while in your tirade and don’t die outright, you can make a DC 10 Charisma saving throw to continue your performance. If you succeed, you drop to 1 hit point instead. Each time you use this feature after the first, the DC increases by 5. When you finish a short or long rest, the DC resets to 10.