College of Rhythm

Bards of the College of Rhythm are known for their impressive feats of mobility and embodiment of art - carrying and conveying their emotion through their complicated movements, and employing suspense and rhythm to captivate their audiences. Those who study this college perform dances, acrobatic feats, play in sport, and break records. While they employ their talents for the entertainment of others, their skills are often the real deal and they make great adventurers.

The training for the College of Rhythm is known to be unrelenting, a Bard of the College of Rhythm may find themselves obsessing over what they eat, what kind of exercises they form, and what is good for their career. It's somewhat uncommon for Bards of this college to lead lives outside of their own performances, and many often quit due to the pressure. Other bards may take the challenge - these types generally tend to be more idealistic in terms of their dreams. Most troupes are happy to accept a College of Rhythm's talent for the excitement it adds to a performance, but the qualifications are high - there's little room for mediocre members of the college here.

Not all members of the College of Rhythm must have a fate like this, there's plenty of occupations such as cultural dances and local performances that suit the skills of a College of Rhythm. Many of them are generalists who learn to sing or act - there's nothing quite as entertaining as theatre these days.

Bonus Proficiencies

When you join the College of Rhythm at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with the quarterstaff and acrobatics. If you’re proficient with acrobatics then you may choose any other skill to have proficiency in. You also have the ability to extend the reach of your melee attacks with your contortions and movements equal your Dexterity Modifier.

Practiced Motion

At 3rd level, you learn techniques taught only in performance that allow you to accomplish especially complicated feats of motion and rhythm.

You may choose two of these techniques at the third level to learn. As part of your Bardic Inspiration bonus action, you may use one of these techniques as part of that action. You may only have one of these activated at a single time. 

Arcane Dance.

Arcane Dance. You can expend an extra use of your Bardic Inspiration to heighten the potency of certain spells to a great extent. Whenever casting a spell, you may cast it at 1 level higher than the spell slot used to cast it for a number of turns equal to your expended inspiration die.

 

Nimble Dance

Nimble Dance. You can expend an extra use of your Bardic Inspiration to gain momentum in your movements. Your inspiration will shorten the Attack action to the time of a Bonus Action for as many turns as your Dexterity Modifier (minimum of 1).

 

Vertigo Dance

Vertigo Dance. You can expend an extra use of your Bardic Inspiration to wrap around and confuse a single target you're engaged with. As a reaction, you may impose disadvantage on all attack rolls this target makes for a number of turns equal to your expended inspiration die.

 

Warding Dance

Warding Dance. You can expend an extra use of your Bardic Inspiration to protect the harmony of you and your allies. Your inspiration will grant advantage on all saving throws for as many turns as the number rolled from the expended die. 

 

Performer's Training

Upon entering this college at 3rd level, when you are not wearing armor or wielding a shield, your base armor class is equal to 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Charisma modifier. You may also add your Charisma Modifier to any check that requires an ability check in Dexterity (Acrobatics) or Strength (Athletics).

 

Acrobatic Artist

Starting at 6th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn. Your movement increases by 10 feet and your melee weapon attack range has your Charisma modifier added to it.

Olympian Stamina

Starting at 14th level, you gain the ability to perform your dances at will without expending an Inspiration Die.