College of Hope

Bards who join the College of Hope learn to find the best in others, and bring it out. They are a spark of light when all is shrouded in dark, a drop of water in an arid desert, or a breath of air in a vacuum. When all is lost, they bring hope that things will get better. Bards from this college are typically good in nature, seeking those in the worst of circumstances and guiding them through. Though villainous bards may use their knowledge to bolster the ideals of misaligned individuals, reinforcing their wicked beliefs, and aiding them as a means to an end.

Bolster Vitality

When you join the College of Hope at 3rd level, you gain the ability to revitalize the wounded through inspiration.

When a creature rolls your Bardic Inspiration die, they restore a number of hit points equal to the number rolled plus half of your Bard level (rounded down). Any excess healing gained through this feature is converted into temporary hit points.

Additionally, if a creature that has a use of your Bardic Inspiration die takes damage, they can roll the die to reduce the amount of damage taken equal to the number rolled.

Bright Speech

Also at 3rd level, you have learned to ignite the hope in others through your words.

You can use your action to speak words of hope. Choose a willing creature within 30 feet of you, if the chosen creature is subject to an effect that would have it repeat a saving throw at the start or end of its turn, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on a success.

Additionally, the chosen creature emits a flash of bright light in a 10-foot radius. When the light appears, you can designate any number of creatures you can see to be unaffected by it. A creature within the area must succeed a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC, or be Blinded until the end of their next turn. Creatures that cannot see automatically succeed the saving throw.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when finishing a long rest.

Inspire to Inspire

At 6th level, your ability to give hope to others inspires them to do the same. You gain the following benefits.

Whenever you use your Bardic Inspiration feature to give a creature a Bardic Inspiration die, you can expend two uses instead of one to give another creature within 60 feet of it (you can choose yourself) an additional die. Alternatively, you can give an additional Bardic Inspiration die without expending a second use, this die is a d4.

Additionally, when you cast a Bard spell of 4th level or lower that targets one or multiple creatures, you can choose to target an additional willing creature.

Magnum Hopus

At 14th level, you have learned to bring hope out of even the most lost soul.

You attempt to perform the ultimate act of inspiration. This act may be used as an action, bonus action, or reaction, and must target creatures that can see or hear you. It may be words of deep meaning, an act of self-sacrifice, an gentle loving touch, etc. If the act is not meaningful enough to inspire any intended creature, the feature fails and nothing happens (The DM has great say in which creatures that this feature affects, or if the act of inspiration is successful). If the act is successful, the following effects occur depending on how much meaning it had. The level of meaning depends on each affected creature.

Minor Meaning. Affected creatures gain inspiration.

Moderate Meaning. Affected creatures regain 70 hit points, any excess healing the creature receives is converted into temporary hit points.

Significant Meaning. Affected creatures can immediately take one action as if it was the start of their turn.

Major Meaning. Affected creatures gain a major benefit (Determined by the DM). This could something like regaining all expended spell slots, temporarily transforming into a dragon, being released from an ancient magical prison, or something even greater depending on the situation.

A creature affected by a deeper meaning gains the benefits of previous meanings.

Once you use this feature, you cannot use it again until you finish a long rest.