College of Philosophy

Musing about the fundamental aspects of reality is considered by those who partake in it to be just as much an art as song, dance, or theatre. Bards of the College of Philosophy are unique among the other bard colleges in that the use of a musical instrument—the typical marker of a bard—is unnecessary, making philosophers that use instruments as a channel for their magic uncommon as a result. Bards of this college often find themselves in high station. Rulers of nations and circles of nobles find great pleasure in hearing the ponderings of a good philosopher.

Even though bards of this college are unified by their love of seeking fundamental truths, that's about all two philosophers will have in common. Very, very few philosophers agree on everything, and those who do often are under the same teacher...although it's only a matter of time before they deviate into their own philosophical ideas. The College of Philosophy is attractive to people of all walks of life, and although disagreements about specifics may occur, a philosopher knows that they're always in good company with one of their own.

Spellcasting Focus

As a curator of the philosophical arts, your magic can be channeled through your philosophies instead of an instrument. You gain additional options to choose from when selecting a spellcasting focus for your bard spells. You determine its appearance, or generate it randomly by rolling on the Philosophical Focus table.

Philosophical Focus

d6	Philosophical Focus
1	Scroll
2	Book
3	Skull
4	Cup
5	Pipe
6	Gemstone

Well Learned

When you join the College of Philosophy at 3rd level, your time spent poring over pages has made you familiar with many magical traditions. Choose two spells from any classes, including this one. A spell you choose must be of a level you can cast, as shown on the Bard table, or a cantrip.

The chosen spells count as bard spells for you and are included in the number in the Spells Known column of the Bard table.

Additionally, you gain proficiency with two skills of your choice.

Perplexing Speech

Also at 3rd level, you can orate your deepest philosophies to attempt to cause the incapable minds of your opponents to falter. As a bonus action, you can expend one use of your Bardic Inspiration to force a number of targets you can see equal to your proficiency bonus to make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, a creature is stunned for an amount of turns equal to the number you roll on the Bardic Inspiration die. A target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, and on a success is no longer stunned. On a successful save, the target takes psychic damage equal to the number you roll on the Bardic Inspiration die. The creature is immune if it can’t hear you or if it’s immune to being stunned.

Captivating Thoughts

At 6th level, your philosophies are increasingly complex, allowing you to increase your chances of success when petitioning an audience. As an action, you gain advantage on a Charisma (Deception) or Charisma (Persuasion) check. You can use this ability an amount of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.

Enigmatic Dialogue

Also at 6th level, you are able to twist your words in order to make influential magic more persuasive. As a reaction, when a creature makes a saving throw against an enchantment spell cast by a creature you can hear, you can expend one use of your Bardic Inspiration to give the target disadvantage on the saving throw.

Pure Reason

Starting at 14th level, you can use your philosophical perspective to manipulate your magical ability. Whenever you deal damage from a racial ability or spell, you can change the damage type of that racial ability or spell to psychic.

Additionally, when you use your Perplexing Speech ability, targets have disadvantage on the saving throw.