College Of Beats

Bards of the College of Beats are masters of rhythm in both music and battle. To them, combat is a dance of precision, where the beat of their hearts, the clang of their weapons, and the pulse of the battlefield create a powerful harmony. These bards learn to synchronize their actions with an inner rhythm, tapping into a state of heightened awareness known as The Zone, where they move and fight with unparalleled grace and precision. Whether wielding a sword or casting a spell, bards of the College of Beats make every move count, channeling their inner beat to dominate the battlefield.

 

Bonus Proficiencies

When you join the College of Beats at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with medium armor, shields, and martial weapons.

Rhythmic Strikes

Starting at 3rd level, you can channel the power of rhythm into your strikes, making each hit part of a larger, flowing beat.

 

On the First Strike. When you hit a creature with a melee or ranged weapon attack, you can expend one use of your Bardic Inspiration to deal extra damage to the target. The extra damage equals the number rolled on the Bardic Inspiration die.

 

Building Momentum. If you hit the same creature with a weapon attack on your next turn, you deal extra damage to the target again, equal to the number rolled on your Bardic Inspiration die, without expending another die. You can deal this extra damage for a number of hits equal to your proficiency bonus. Once you have dealt this bonus damage a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, you must expend another use of Bardic Inspiration to activate Rhythmic Strikes again.

The Zone

At 6th level, you can enter a heightened state of awareness called The Zone, where your actions synchronize perfectly with the rhythm of combat. As a bonus action, you can enter The Zone, which lasts for 1 minute or until you fall out of The Zone (see below). While in The Zone, you gain the following benefits: Locked Rhythm. When you make an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can choose to lock in the result of your first roll of that type (before adding modifiers). You can then use this result for all future rolls of the same type (attack rolls, saving throws, or ability checks) while you remain in The Zone.

Falling Out of Sync. If you roll a natural 1 on any roll while in The Zone, you immediately fall out of The Zone, and the effect ends.

True Zone. If you roll a natural 20 while in The Zone, the duration of your zone increases by a minute, and you are immune to Falling out of sync for the duration of the zone. You can use this feature a number of times equal to half your proficiency bonus (rounded down), and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Perfect Tempo

At 14th level, your mastery of rhythm allows you to sustain your performance in The Zone for longer, and to go past mortal limits.

Sustain the Beat. When you fall out of The Zone by rolling a natural 1, you can expend one use of Bardic Inspiration to remain in The Zone. You can only use this feature once per activation of The Zone. 

Once in a lifetime. When you roll a natural twenty in your true zone, you activate Once in a Lifetime, in which every roll you make is considered a critical success for the duration of the zone. After the zone ends, you gain a point of exhaustion. Once you use Once in a Lifetime, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.