College of Dueling

In the annals of history, the art of dueling has stood as a testament to the bravery and honor of warriors throughout the ages. Rooted in the ancient traditions of knighthood and chivalry, dueling is a martial pursuit reserved only for the bravest and most skilled of combatants. From the dusty arenas of antiquity to the grand dueling grounds of noble courts, the duel has been a revered practice, embodying the virtues of courage, integrity, and unwavering dedication to one's principles.

Within the realm of bardic training, the path of the duelist is one fraught with challenge and sacrifice.

Young bards who dare to tread this illustrious path undergo rigorous training under the tutelage of seasoned masters, whose wisdom and experience are matched only by their unyielding commitment to the duelist's code. In the secluded training grounds, amidst the swirling mists of dawn and the resolute echoes of clashing steel, aspiring duelists hone their skills with a fervor unmatched by any other discipline.

With each swing of the blade and each deft maneuver, these noble warriors embrace the timeless traditions of the duel, forging themselves into paragons of martial prowess and honor. Through tireless dedication and unwavering resolve, they strive to embody the very essence of the duelist-a warrior of unparalleled skill and unwavering integrity. And as they step onto the field of battle, hearts ablaze with the fiery passion of champions, they carry with them the legacy of countless generations of warriors who have come before, ready to face whatever challenges may lie ahead with the indomitable spirit of the duelist.

Duelist’s Flair

Upon reaching 3rd level, your mastery in the art of dueling grants you the Dueling fighting style, which further amplifies your prowess in one-on-one combat. When you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no other weapons, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with that weapon.

Additionally, whenever you make a weapon attack against a creature that is your Duelist's Challenge target, you gain a +1 bonus to your Armor Class until the start of your next turn, representing your heightened focus and defensive prowess when engaging your designated opponent.

Dueling

When you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no other weapons, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with that weapon.

Duelist’s Challenge

Starting at 3rd level, as a bonus action, you can expend one of your Bardic Inspirations to issue a challenge to a creature within 30 feet of you, and not within 5 feet of any other creature, that you can see and that can hear and understand you. The target must make a contested Wisdom (Insight) check against your Charisma (Intimidation or Persuasion) check. If the target fails the check, it is compelled by your challenge and marked as your primary opponent in the duel. The target remains challenged for one minute or until it drops to 0 hit points.

While the target is challenged, you gain the following benefits if you are wielding a finesse weapon in one hand and no other weapons, and if you are wearing light armor:

• You have advantage on melee attacks made with a finesse weapon.
• You add your proficiency bonus to damage rolls against the target.
• The target has disadvantage on attack rolls against creatures other than you.

The challenge ends if you attack any other creature, or cast a spell that targets a hostile creature other than the target, if any of your allies attack the creature, or if you end your turn more than 30 feet away from the target.

Duelist’s Gambit

When you make a weapon attack with a finesse weapon that you are proficient with against your Duelist's Challenge target, you can choose to roll a Bardic Inspiration die and subtract the number rolled from your attack roll. If the attack hits, add the number rolled to the attack’s damage.

Additionally, when you score a critical hit with a finesse weapon on your turn, you can make one melee weapon attack as a bonus action.

Extra Attack

You can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Master Duelist

Upon reaching 14th level, you are the undisputed master of one-on-one combat. When you face off against a Challenged opponent, you gain the following benefits:

• You gain advantage on saving throws against effects aiming to incapacitate or restrain you.
• You add your Charisma modifier to your damage rolls against them.
• You score a critical hit on attack rolls of 19 or 20.
• You have resistance against bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage dealt by the target of your duel.