A Homebrew 5e Bard Subclass

 

Bards of the College of Thunderous Rock are known for their versatility in battle, loud foul mouths, and showboating . No matter if they’re in the back supporting the party with buffs or up front hitting the enemy with thunderous strikes there’s no mistaking a College of Thunderous Rock Bard when you see one.

Bonus Proficiencies

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

Instrument of Destruction

Also at 3rd level, you can fashion together an instrument with a devastating edge. Choose one martial weapon to become proficient with that does not have the special property. Your instrument takes on the basic shape of this weapon and gains its statistics. You cannot be disarmed of this weapon and can dismiss it as a bonus action, shunting it into an extradimensional space, and it appears in your hands when you use a bonus action to summon it. You can choose a new Instrument of Destruction by performing a 1-hour long ritual over an existing instrument. When you attack with your Instrument of Destruction you use your Charisma modifier, instead of Strength or Dexterity, for the attack and damage rolls.

Expanded Spell List

When you join the College of Thunderous Rock at 3rd level you gain access to this expanded spell list as long as you are using your Weapon of Destruction. They count as bard spells for you, but they don't count against your number of Spells Known.

College of Thunderous Rock Expanded Spell List

BARD LEVEL	SPELLS
3rd	Thunderous Smite, Shatter
5th	Thunder Step, Antagonize
7th	Storm Sphere, Elemental Bane
9th	Destructive Wave, Bigby’s Hand

Chords of Power

Finally at 3rd level, you can manifest your thunderous musical energy in the form of powerful blasts of sound.

Chords. You learn two chords of your choice, which are detailed under "Chords" below. Many chords enhance an attack in some way. You can use only one chord per attack and each chord utilizes one use of your Bardic Inspiration feature unless otherwise stated. Some chords require a saving throw, if this is the case the DC is equal to your Spell Save DC.

You learn one additional chord of your choice at 6th and 14th level. You can change which Chords you know whenever you gain a level in this class.

Chord of Discordant Shriek (Level 3)

When you see a creature casting a spell, you can use your reaction to spend a bardic inspiration and cast Counterspell at 3rd level without expending spell slots.

Chord of Echoes (Level 3)

When you cast a spell that deals damage, you can expend a Bardic Inspiration and at the start of their next turn the target takes damage equal to half the damage dealt by the spell before.

Chord of Extreme Speed (Level 14)

You can use your bonus action to give one target of your choice within 30 ft. of you (including yourself) the following effects until the start of your next turn:

• Double their movement speed
• Advantage on Dexterity Saving throws
• An additional action that can be used only to take the Attack (one weapon attack only), Dash, Disengage, Hide, or Use an Object action.

Chord of Frenzy (Level 14)

You can use your action to force an enemy target within 30 ft. of you to make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, they must spend their next turn attacking their nearest ally. If there is no one in range, they spend the turn attacking themselves.

Chord of Improvisation (Level 6)

When you fail a saving throw, you can use your reaction to roll a bardic die and add the result to your saving throw, potentially turning it to a success.

Chord of Loud Travel (Level 6)

You can spend a Bardic Inspiration to cast Misty Step without expending a spell slot to travel at the speed of sound. Immediately after you teleport to your new location a wave of thunderous force sweeps out from you. Each creature in a 10-foot cube originating from you must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 2d8 thunder damage and is pushed 10 feet away from you. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and isn't pushed.

Chord of Misleading (Level 14)

When an attack hits you. You can use your reaction to cast Mislead without spending a spell slot.

Chord of Persuasive Strike (Level 3)

When you hit a creature with your Instrument of Destruction, the creature must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become charmed by you for 1 minute. The creature repeats the saving throw at the beginning of each of their turns in order to remove it.

Chord of Rallying Melody (Level 3)

When you make an attack against a creature with your Instrument of Destruction, you can use your reaction to allow an ally to use their reaction to make an attack against the same creature as a part of your attack action.

Chord of Second Chances (Level 3)

When you or an ally within 30 ft. of you misses with an attack, you can use your reaction to roll a bardic die and add the result to the attack roll, making it potentially hit.

Chord of Shielding (Level 3)

When you would be struck by an attack, you can use your reaction to increase your AC by an amount equal to the value rolled by your Bardic Inspiration die.

Chord of Soaring Wings (Level 3)

You can use your bonus action to give yourself or an ally within 30 ft. of you a flying speed equal to their walking speed till the start of your next turn.

Chord of Speed (Level 3)

You use your bonus action to pull the wind to your back. Your walking speed, jump height, and jump distance is doubled and attacks of opportunity against you have disadvantage until the start of your next turn.

Chord of Taunting Howl (Level 3)

You can use your action to make a harsh noise from your Instrument of Destruction. A creature of your choice within 30 ft. of you must succeed on a Charisma save or become annoyed and have disadvantage on attack rolls against all targets other than you. The creature repeats a Charisma saving throw at the end of their turns in order to end this effect.

Chord of Thunderous Pain (Level 6)

When you hit a creature with your Instrument of Destruction, the creature takes an additional amount of damage equal to two of your Bardic Inspiration die.

Thunderous Repetition

Starting at 6th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn. Moreover, you can cast one of your cantrips in place of one of those attacks. The cantrip must have a casting time of 1 action.

Also starting at 6th level, when you use your Instrument of Destruction as a spellcasting focus to cast a spell that deals thunder damage, you can reroll any 1s rolled on the damage die. You must use the new roll. Also anytime a spell you cast deals thunder damage to a creature, they must make a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failure, they are deafened for 1 minute or until the start of their next turn

Embodiment of Rock

By 14th level, your body has been infused with the thunderous essence of your music. When you are struck by an attack you can use your reaction to deal your Bardic Inspiration die in thunder damage to the attacker. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier before taking a short or long rest. This does not expend your uses of Bardic Inspiration.

Additionally, attacks you make with your Instrument of Destruction deal an additional amount of thunder damage equal to your Bardic Inspiration die.