Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Barky Feb 27, 2015 18:41:35	One aspect of 5E I like is the customization you can do within a class, like the ranger archetypes and wizard arcane traditions. I view the official ones in the PHB as templates or examples on making your own.    It's also a good way to involve your players. At 1st level, I saw my players running their characters in certain ways, but when it came time to chose those customizations (at 2nd or 3rd level), it felt like none of those archetypes fit the personality of the player or PC. That's one of the reasons I made the Mage of Learning (see that thread for more on that). The player liked what I wrote and he's trying it out. The ranger, on the other hand, was perfectly fine with "hunter", so that's what he is doing.   Now it's time for the bard to pick his Bard College. Again, neither College of Lore nor College of Valor seems to fit. I'd like to make something new for him, but am drawing a bit of a blank. So I'm looking for your thoughts. I am going to work with him to develop something he likes, but I also like to offer up options that will fit my campaign.   He likes the musical aspect of the bard. He actually writes parody songs to fit the campaign (they're REALLY good, I've actually gone ahead and awarded inspiration at the start of the session because of a campaign-specific parody he's done). He loves insulting authority figures. He REALLY loves taunting enemy groups into attacking each other, or at least trying to convince minions that their leader isn't worth a damn. Sometimes I let it work, sometimes not, totally depends on the situation. He also wants to appeal to the "common man". He's basically anti-authority. I'd like to build a bard college that rewards his playstyle. I'm thinking of College of Parody or College of Rhetoric or something like that, but then I stumble on how to make it combat-interesting as well.   -- Would a modificaiton of Cutting Words work, except it causes strife in the enemy ranks? Maybe something that overrides flanking or other cooperative combat tactics, or something that saps morale (even though there's no actual morale mechanic)? Remember this would be a 3rd level ability, and is not magical in nature. -- Maybe a spell-like power that causes doubts in an enemy's leadership, or a "distrust" spell that's like an enchantment but is specifically targetted towards making someone desert their cause? -- Maybe enhanced abilities to detect lies, or extra plusses to Insight, or something like that? Basically a BS detector? -- At 14th level, what about an Enthrall-type ability, where he can use song to turn a group into an audience who focuses on his performance?   Any good ideas out there?
#2 supreme_slayer Feb 28, 2015 17:00:15	It sounds like most of what your character wants can already be done by a bard. A lot of dms i have heard ignore enthrall amd let the bard make a performance check for the same effect. Expertise in Insight increases their ability to detect lies. Expertise in persuasion or another charisma skill helps to convince enemies to infight. Cutting Words etc essentially decreases the advantage of plusses by the enemy, with greater scope.
#3 Mephi1234 Mar 01, 2015 6:36:34	How is that not the College of Lore?        That said, snag some ideas from the 3e virtuoso PrC if you need ideas
#4 Kayal Mar 01, 2015 6:54:21	Barky wrote:
(Reply to #4) Barky	Kayal wrote:
#6 BRJN Mar 02, 2015 18:20:20	Barky wrote: