College of Snark

Few bards are willing to admit how much of their craft relies upon mockery. Not so for bards of the College of Snark. These bards embrace the art of the witticism, wielding it as a rapier to a foe and a banner to a friend.

Designed for the estimable @SnarkAndBourbon, who makes it his business to promote the worthy, to mock the mockable, and inspire us all.

Relentless Mockery

When you choose this college at third level, you learn the Vicious Mockery cantrip. This spell does not count against your number of cantrips known. In addition, whenever you hit a creature with this cantrip, attacks made against the creature have advantage until the end of your next turn.

Bardic Barbs

Also at third level, you learn to run your enemies through with words alone. Once per turn, you can expend one Bardic Inspiration die to deal extra damage against one creature you hit with an attack.

Allied Instigation

At sixth level you learn how to misdirect your enemies with a word. As an action, choose a number of creatures equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum 1) you can see within 60 ft. of you to misdirect. Then choose an ally within 60 ft. of you to become the object of their focus. Whenever an affected creature makes an attack against a target other than the chosen ally, they must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, the attack fails automatically.

This effect lasts a number of rounds equal to your proficiency bonus and ends early if you fail to maintain concentration or become incapacitated. You may use this feature once per short or long rest.

Inspiring Initiative

At fourteenth level, you adopt a daily practice of inspiring the initiative of your allies. At the end of a long rest, you can expend and roll one of your Bardic Inspiration dice. Whenever you roll initiative, you and a number of creatures you can see within 60 ft. equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum 1) can add this number to your initiative rolls.

This bonus lasts until your next long rest.