5th Edition Subclasses for Artificer and Bard

Explore new options never before realized in this supplement for the world's largest role-playing game.

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COPYRIGHT NOTICE Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, LLC. System Reference Document 5.1 Copyright 2016, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Chris Perkins, Rodney Thompson, Peter Lee, James Wyatt, Robert J. Schwalb, Bruce R. Cordell, Chris Sims, and Steve Townshend, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.

Preface

This document provides subclass options for the artificer and bard. The College of Festivity improves the bard's healing and supportive abilities, while the Dusk Agent is a versatile and deft businessman, able to manipulate the markets to their sway with their brilliance.

This Is Playtest Material

The material in this article is presented for playtesting and to spark your imagination. These game mechanics are in draft form, usable in your campaign but not refined by full game design and editing. They aren’t officially part of the game and aren’t permitted in D&D Adventurers League events.

If I decide to make this material official, it will be refined based on your feedback.

Changelog

Version 0.0.1: Creation date: 16 January 2021 (Initial creation of document)

Time to Drop Knowledge

This document may reference spells that are not included within official textbooks (as indicated by their bold text). While these spells will be included for reference in an appendix at the end, I must insist you treat yourself to my other brews to better gauge the source from whence they came.

Credits

Images:

YUNPONG (https://www.artstation.com/artwork/1na6rK)
Shinji2602, KibblesTasty (https://www.gmbinder.com/share/-LAEn6ZdC6lYUKhQ67Qk, 5e Artificer v2.0.3, pg 17)

Credit: YUNPONG

Bard Subclass: College of Festivity

Many musicians hope to master their art, weaving together memories, dreams, and beautiful imagery into their songs to create spectacular works of wonder for their audiences. Bards of the College of Festivity can take this to new heights, as their musical performances become enriched with celestial power, granting all who listen peace of body and mind. These bards can turn any musical score into a spectacle of sight, sound, and magical glamour that enchants all who hear it.

Musical Expert

At 3rd level, your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses a musical instrument you are proficient with.

Healing Music

Also at 3rd level, your music serves as a balm to others, allowing you to use your musical instrument to enhance your invigorating magic. Whenever you use a spell of 1st level or higher to restore hit points to a creature, the creature regains additional hit points equal to your proficiency bonus.

This feature also benefits your Song of Rest starting at 9th level.

Focused Performer

At 6th level, your spells become harder to break. If you use your musical instrument as a focus for your bard spells, you gain a bonus to Constitution saving throws made to maintain concentration equal to your Charisma modifier. You also gain a bonus to Charisma (Performance) checks made to maintain spells with the Performance tag equal to your Constitution modifier.

Spirit Song

At 6th level, your music empowers magical spells you cast. Whenever you cast a spell of 1st level or higher that deals psychic or thunder damage, you can spend a Bardic Inspiration die to increase the amount of damage it deals by the roll.

Additionally, if a creature that can hear you within 60 feet casts a spell of 1st level or higher that deals damage or restores hit points, you can use your reaction to roll a Bardic Inspiration die and apply a bonus or penalty to the spell's damage or healing equal to the result.

Ballad of Life

At 14th level, you learn to sing the Ballad of Life: a powerful melody that emboldens your healing ability. As an action, you can spend 3 Bardic Inspiration die to begin this powerful song.

The Ballad of Life lasts for 1 minute (requiring your concentration, as if concentrating on a spell), during which you gain the following benefits.

At the start of each of your turns, creatures of your choice within 60 feet of you regain hit points equal to a roll of your Bardic Inspiration die + your Charisma modifier. This does not expend a use of Bardic Inspiration.
When you cast a spell of 1st level or higher that restores hit points to a creature other than you, you regain hit points equal to your proficiency bonus.
When you would normally roll one or more dice to restore hit points with a spell, you instead use the highest number possible for each die. For example, instead of restoring 2d6 hit points to a creature, you restore 12.

Once you use this feature, you cannot do so again until you complete a long rest. When the Ballad of Life ends, you cannot take actions until the end of your next turn.

Credit: Shinji2602, KibblesTasty (Fiverr.com, GMBinder.com)

Artificer Specialization: The Dusk Agent

The image of a travelling merchant may be hard to picture, but in the vast realms between cities, these are your most trusted sources of information, patent, and product. Spending weeks on the road to aid those without supply, Dusk Agents take their role seriously, never wavering to provide service to those with the need (though coin never hurts, either).

Dusk Agents prioritize their experience with purchase and sale, but when times are tough, dark powers arise. A Dusk Agent is no slouch when things get desperate, and can utilize their abilities in combat to provide the option of a decicive victory, or an expeditious retreat.

Bonus Proficiencies

At 3rd level, you gain proficiency with Persuasion if you don't already have it. If you are already proficient in Persuasion, you may gain proficiency in one skill of your choice from the following list: Arcana, Deception, Intimidation, Investigation, Nature, or Religion.

Businessman

Also at 3rd level, your reputation as a Dusk Agent allows you to manipulate the markets. When you make a Charisma (Persuasion) check to change the asking price of an item, you may add your Intelligence modifier to the roll.

Additionally, regardless of the roll, prices for items you buy are 10% lower, while prices for items you sell are 10% higher.

Dusk Agent Spells

You always have certain spells prepared after you reach particular levels in this class, as shown in the Dusk Agent Spells table. These spells count as artificer spells for you, but they don’t count against the number of artificer spells you prepare. If you gain access to a spell that doesn’t appear on the artificer spell list, the spell is nonetheless an artificer spell for you.

Dusk Agent Spells

Artificer Level	Spell
3rd	charm person, detect magic
5th	detect thoughts, suggestion
9th	clairvoyance, enemies abound
13th	arcane eye, charm monster
17th	animate objects, dominate person

De-Escalate

At 5th level, you can cast the calm emotions spell, without using a spell slot. The use of this spell is special for you, as it doesn't require concentration.

You can cast calm emotions in this manner a number of times per day equal to your Intelligence modifier, and regain all uses of it whenever you complete a long rest.

Dusk Warrior

At 9th level, you become your own bodyguard, bouncer, and sentry. When you hit a creature that hasn't attempted to make an attack roll against you before your current turn, you deal additional damage to the creature equal to your Intelligence modifier. Creatures that take this damage must make a Wisdom saving throw or be unable to take any reactions until the start of your next turn. A creature automatically succeeds on this saving throw if they are immune to being charmed.

Night's Watch

Also at 9th level, your tolerance for long work nights has become a balm against the terrors of the night, allowing you to remain awake twice as long before needing to make a Constitution saving throw to prevent exhaustion.

Additionally, you can complete a long rest by doing light activity such as tracking your stock of inventory, maintaining your infusions, or crafting small items such as potions, brooches, or other equipment.

Shrewd Contract

At 15th level, you become a master of brokering deals. The modifier to the prices of items you buy or sell increases to 25%.

In addition, you may use your reaction in combat, whenever a hostile creature you can see attempts to make an attack roll against you, to make a Charisma (Persuasion) ability check, contested by their Wisdom (Insight) ability check. If you succeed the contest, the creature must choose a different target for its attacks for the remainder of the turn. If no other eligible target is available, the attack roll automatically misses.