Backwood Ballads

You’ve learned to weave rough, rhythmic magic into song, layering bursts of magic that empower allies and disrupt enemies before culminating in a powerful crescendo.

Ballad Performance

As a bonus action, you roll 1d6 to begin a song.

When a song begins, choose a number of creatures equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum 1). You may include yourself. Song effects apply only to the chosen creatures.

You may have multiple songs active at the same time. 

Song Duration

Standard: The song lasts until the end of your next turn.

Echo: When you begin a song, you may expend one use of Bardic Inspiration to extend the song’s duration to 3 rounds.

Song Table (1d6)

1–2: Back in the Saddle

When the song begins, 2 chosen creatures regain hit points equal to your Bardic Inspiration die + your Charisma modifier (minimum 1).

For the duration, chosen creatures gain a +1 bonus to AC. This bonus increases to +2 at Bard level 10.

3–4: Light ’Em Up

When the song begins, choose up to two creatures you can see within 60 feet.

Each target takes thunder damage equal to your Bardic Inspiration die + your Charisma modifier and must make a Constitution saving throw against your Bard spell save DC, taking half damage on a success.

For the duration, chosen allies gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls on the first weapon hit each turn. This bonus increases to +4 at Bard level 10.

5–6: Hold the Line

When the song begins, chosen creatures may immediately use their reaction to move up to half their speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

This song creates a 30-foot aura centered on you (40 feet at Bard level 10, 60 feet at Bard level 15) that lasts for the song’s duration.

Chosen creatures within the aura gain advantage on saving throws against being pushed, pulled, or knocked prone, and gain a +2 bonus to Strength and Dexterity saving throws.

Resonance

Each time you begin a song, you gain 1 Resonance (maximum 3).

Crescendo

When you gain your 3rd Resonance, you immediately trigger a Crescendo as part of the same bonus action, then your Resonance resets to 0.

• Choose one friendly creature you can see within 60 feet. That creature gains the effects of the Haste spell for 1 minute. This effect does not require concentration.
• Additionally, all allies of your choice within 60 feet gain temporary hit points equal to your Bardic Inspiration die + your Charisma modifier.