Bardic Colleges, for non-Bards (5e Variant Rule)

What Is A Bardic College

Eager to learn and often fond of company, most bards organized themselves into loosely bound fellowships known as colleges, which helped to preserve each bard's individual knowledge and pass them on to others. Some of the most common colleges are listed below.

Remember: You're still not an actual Bard

You may or may not know how to sing or to play any particular instrument. Nor are you necessarily particularly inspiring. You do not possess the Bardic Inspiration feature.

Because other characters do not actually possess Bardic Inspiration Dice, all Bardic Inspiration abilities granted to these Characters--unless otherwise noted--may be used once per short rest.

If an individual class description gives different rules for these rage-based abilities, use the specific rule, rather than the general one.

When an ability would reference the die size for Bardic inspiration dice use what a bard would possess at the same level.

Problematic Class Abilities

The Bardic Archetypes presented in the players handbook contain 3 features which may become problematic (in terms of game balance) when applied to other classes:

• Bonus Proficiencies: 3 free proficiencies is a big deal. the Paladin, Ranger, Rouge, and Wizard classes have had this feature replaced.
• Extra Attack: When this feature is applied to a class which already possesses the Extra Attack feature (Barbarian, Monk, Paladin, Ranger) this can be too similar to the actual fighter, who also receives another Extra Attack at level 11. Instead, replace the 2nd instance of Extra Attack with Action Surge, as possessed by a level 2 fighter.
• Battle Magic: utterly useless to non-spellcasters. Many classes, however, are offered the option of learning Additional Magical Secrets: it is suggested that such characters choose to learn Cantrips, as they are not actually granted any spell slots with which to cast higher level spells.

Individual Class Descriptions

Artificer

Receives level 3 feature at level 3

Receives level 6 feature at level 5

At level 9 you receive the Song of Rest (d8) feature, which increase to a d10 at level 15.

Receives level 14 feature at level 15

If your Bardic College has an ability that would use a Bardic Inspiration die, you may use it once. You regain the use of it on a Short or Long Rest, or by expending a spell slot of 1st level or higher as part of activating that ability. Additionally, you can cast your artificer spells using an instrument you are proficient with as an arcane focus.

Barbarian

Receives level 3 bonus proficiencies at level 3.

Receives other level 3 college feature at level 6.

Level 6 college feature is moved to level 10.

Level 14 College feature is gained at level 14, as normal.

Cleric

Receives level 3 bonus proficiencies at level 1.

Receives other level 3 college feature at level 2, as a channel divinity option. Any other abilities gained which would function from the use of a bardic inspiration die may be powered by a Channel Divinity use instead. The die size for Bardic inspiration dice is equal to what a bard would possess at the same level.

Level 6 College feature is gained, as normal, at level 6.

Level 14 College feature is moved to level 17.

Finally, at level 8 the Cleric may learns their choice of either the Bard's Song of Rest, Countercharm, or Additional Magical Secrets ability.

Druid

Receives level 3 bonus proficiencies at level 2.

Receives other level 3 college feature at level 2.

Level 6 college feature is gained at level 6. Level 14 College feature is gained at level 14, as normal.

Finally, at level 10 the Druid may learns their choice of either the Bard's Song of Rest, Countercharm or Additional Magical Secrets ability.

Fighter

The Bardic College Features are largely redundant/incompatible, when applied to a Fighter.

Monk

Receives level 3 bonus proficiencies at level 3.

Receives other level 3 college feature at level 6.

Level 6 college feature is gained at level 11.

Level 14 College feature is gained at level 17.

Paladin

Does not Receive level 3 bonus proficiencies.

Receives 1 proficiency of own choice at level 3.

Receives other level 3 college feature at level 3, as a channel divinity option. Any other abilities gained which would function from the use of a bardic inspiration die may be powered by a Channel Divinity use instead.

Level 6 College feature is gained at level 15.

Level 14 College feature is learned early, at level 7.

Finally, at level 20 the Paladin gains 2 additional Bardic inspiration dice, and learns the Bard's Song of Rest, and Countercharm abilities.

Ranger

Does not Receive level 3 bonus proficiencies.

Receives 1 proficiency of own choice at level 3.

Receives other level 3 college feature at level 3.

Level 6 College feature is gained at level 11.

Level 14 College feature is learned at level 15.

Finally, at level 7 the Ranger learns their choice of the Bard's Song of Rest, Countercharm or Additional Magical Secrets abilities.

Rogue

Does not Receive level 3 bonus proficiencies.

Receives other level 3 college feature at level 3.

Level 6 College feature is gained at level 9.

Level 14 College feature is learned at level 17.

Finally, at level 3 the Rogue learns the Jack of all Trades ability of a Bard, and at level 13 the Rogue learns their choice of the Bard's Song of Rest, Countercharm, or "Additional Magical Secrets" abilities.

Sorcerer

Receives level 3 bonus proficiencies at level 1.

Receives other level 3 college feature at level 1.

The Sorcerer may expend 2 Sorcery Points in place of a Bardic Inspiration die.

Level 6 College feature is gained at level 6, as normal.

Level 14 College feature is learned at level 14, as normal.

Finally, at level 18 the Sorcerer learns the Bard's Song of Rest, and Countercharm abilities.

Warlock

Receives level 3 feature at level 1.

Receives level 6, 10 and 14 features, all at their normal levels.

Wizard

Does not Receive level 3 bonus proficiencies.

Receives 1 proficiency of own choice at level 2.

Receives other level 3 college feature at level 2.

Level 6 College feature is gained at level 6.

Level 14 College feature is learned at level 14.

Finally, at level 10 the Wizard learns the Bard's Song of Rest, and Countercharm abilities.

Classes Not Fit for a Bardic Archetype

Fighter: The existing bardic colleges either make the bard behave more like a fighter--which the fighter already does very well--or make them a better spellcaster--which the Eldritch Knight does for a Fighter much better than this would. Additional 3rd party Colleges may be appropriate, but 3rd party archetypes exist for the fighter as well.

All: heavy provisions have had to be made to consider bardic abilities playable on other classes at all. Game balance is not guaranteed.

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