Bards who join the College of Orator understand that words possess power far exceeding steel or spellcraft. Known as master rhetoricians, statesmen, and cunning negotiators, these bards command respect in noble courts and turn the tides of battle through sheer force of personality. Whether delivering impassioned speeches to rally faltering armies or subtly manipulating the motives of high-ranking diplomats, an Orator’s voice is their most potent tool.
When engaging in social maneuvering, their eloquence borders on the supernatural through Silver Tongue. Whenever a bard of this college makes a Charisma (Persuasion) or Charisma (Deception) check, they treat any d20 roll of 9 or lower as a 10. This guarantees that even their most offhand remarks carry insurmountable weight, ensuring that outright failure in diplomatic or deceptive endeavors is virtually impossible.
Beyond social grace, their command of rhetoric can be weaponized directly in combat through Unsettling Words. By expending a use of Bardic Inspiration as a bonus action, the bard speaks a tailored string of unsettling commentary, cutting insults, or demoralizing truths at a foe. Rolling the inspiration die subtracts that total from the target's next saving throw before the start of the bard's next turn, leaving enemies critically vulnerable to devastating spells or control effects from your party.
Finally, the College of Orator ensures that true encouragement is never wasted thanks to Unfailing Inspiration. When an ally rolls a Bardic Inspiration die provided by the bard and the overall attempt still results in a failure, the creature retains the inspiration die instead of losing it. This guarantees that your allies can repeatedly draw upon your motivating speech until they ultimately succeed, cementing your role as an unwavering beacon of leadership.
Whenever you make a Charisma (Persuasion) or Charisma (Deception) check, you can treat a d20 roll of 9 or lower as a 10.
As a bonus action, you can expend one use of Bardic Inspiration. Roll the die and subtract the number rolled from one target's next saving throw before the start of your next turn.
If a creature rolls your Bardic Inspiration die and the roll still fails, the creature keeps the Bardic Inspiration die instead of losing it.
As an action, choose a number of creatures equal to your Charisma modifier within 60 feet. For 1 hour, they magically understand your speech regardless of language. You can do this once per long rest, or by expending a spell slot of any level to do it again.
When a creature successfully uses your Bardic Inspiration die, you can use your reaction to give a Bardic Inspiration die to a different creature without expending a use from your pool. You can use this reaction a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier per long rest.
Base Class: Bard
Comments