I am playing one currently, and in my niche I feel very potent. But when we're not in a social situation I am perfectly happy, though the college doesn't make me shine really. I love the character and am very happy with it.
I just started playing a Bard in a Theros campaign and am chomping at the bit to reach 3rd level to dive into the College of Eloquence. As a variant human, I took the Magic Initiate Feat (Cleric) to get Guidance (stacks with Bardic Inspiration) and Bless (both have already payed dividends).
Going to really dive in hard on the Persuasion / Deception portion of the character. At first level, CHA 16, I'm already getting a +5 to those skills (and adding in a 1d4 from Guidance). At 3rd level... With expertise and Silver Tongue... the lowest possible roll for Persuasion / Deception will be a 17.
In a role-play heavy campaign, this character can be absolutely bonkers! But, I wouldn't consider it broken. Just really good at having folks see things from their point of view. :) Although, it could possibly give the DM some fits, but I'm sure they will be able to manage, lol. I recorded my character build if anyone is interested: D&D College of Eloquence Bard 5E Build
We'll see how things go in Theros, but this is possibly my new favorite Bard college!
You don't even need guidance. If you take expertise in persuasion and deception, at Level 3 the lowest you can roll is 15.
I am playing one currently, and in my niche I feel very potent. But when we're not in a social situation I am perfectly happy, though the college doesn't make me shine really. I love the character and am very happy with it.
Unsettling Words lowers an enemy's saving throw by an average 3.5 for a d6. Start using those save spells.
Definitely not as powerful as its UA but it still seems pretty solid. It seems like it does what a Bard is essentially meant to do but with a kind of aggressive, straightforward slant to it.
Is it as powerful as Lore Bard? I dunno, but everything's compared to Lore Bard so whatever. lol
It's also a subclass that should make you frequently check your initiative order...
"Unsettling Words" can be used as a bonus action to make your own "saving spells" have a substantially better chance of working, sure...but if one of your party members is next in the initiative order, you could also give them a chance to make any of their saving-throw features work, as well...
Off the top of my head, these could involve a Monk's "Stunning Strike" ability (REALLY useful, considering Constitution-saving throws are fairly common), a Battlemaster Fighter's Manuevers...or any other spellcaster's saving throw spells.
WotC has a bad habit of over-balancing a lot of their subclasses. A lot of Druid subclass for example while they are amazing about half of them don't do anything with their wild shape. So it's often a good idea that if they are going to make a new subclasses it's best to make a subclass that takes their favorite thing about that class and crank it up to 11. Again, example being the Moon Druid, reason why it was so successful because it was the most "Druid" like subclass there is.
Enter the Eloquence Bard. When people think of "the Bard" stereotype they imagine a smart talking, charismatic, supporter who has to amazing toolbox spells or abilities that help the flashier classes shine. So WotC took that and made the Eloquence Bard the Bariest of Bards there is. Persuasion and Deception, check! Able to insult the enemy as a battle strategy, check! Make speaking more important, check! Make Bardic Inspiration even more fun, check!
To be honest, I'm glad they waited to make this "Bard's Bard" type of subclass. I feel they would've messed it up like they did the Wizard's Necromancer or the PHB Beast Master Ranger. Every class has that stereotypical subclass that takes what that class is famous for in fiction and such and takes it to the next level. But while some classes like Druid and Bard have that other classes don't.
But it's reasons like this Bard is my favorite class. Nothing makes me happier being a persuasive guy who supports party members in those critical moments. The fact that I can now do that even better now is everything I ever wanted. Add Mirror Imagine (bonus options) and now I don't even feel the need to multi-class Warlock anymore.
Unsettling words alone felt very broken to me when I played Eloquence. To be fair we were level 16, but yeah, your DM better be stacking a lot of combats during your adventuring day so those inspiration dice aren't all going into the boss fight.
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I am playing one currently, and in my niche I feel very potent. But when we're not in a social situation I am perfectly happy, though the college doesn't make me shine really. I love the character and am very happy with it.
You don't even need guidance. If you take expertise in persuasion and deception, at Level 3 the lowest you can roll is 15.
Unsettling Words lowers an enemy's saving throw by an average 3.5 for a d6. Start using those save spells.
Oh for sure, it really creates some amazing openings
Definitely not as powerful as its UA but it still seems pretty solid. It seems like it does what a Bard is essentially meant to do but with a kind of aggressive, straightforward slant to it.
Is it as powerful as Lore Bard? I dunno, but everything's compared to Lore Bard so whatever. lol
It's also a subclass that should make you frequently check your initiative order...
"Unsettling Words" can be used as a bonus action to make your own "saving spells" have a substantially better chance of working, sure...but if one of your party members is next in the initiative order, you could also give them a chance to make any of their saving-throw features work, as well...
Off the top of my head, these could involve a Monk's "Stunning Strike" ability (REALLY useful, considering Constitution-saving throws are fairly common), a Battlemaster Fighter's Manuevers...or any other spellcaster's saving throw spells.
It's Balanced.
WotC has a bad habit of over-balancing a lot of their subclasses. A lot of Druid subclass for example while they are amazing about half of them don't do anything with their wild shape. So it's often a good idea that if they are going to make a new subclasses it's best to make a subclass that takes their favorite thing about that class and crank it up to 11. Again, example being the Moon Druid, reason why it was so successful because it was the most "Druid" like subclass there is.
Enter the Eloquence Bard. When people think of "the Bard" stereotype they imagine a smart talking, charismatic, supporter who has to amazing toolbox spells or abilities that help the flashier classes shine. So WotC took that and made the Eloquence Bard the Bariest of Bards there is. Persuasion and Deception, check! Able to insult the enemy as a battle strategy, check! Make speaking more important, check! Make Bardic Inspiration even more fun, check!
To be honest, I'm glad they waited to make this "Bard's Bard" type of subclass. I feel they would've messed it up like they did the Wizard's Necromancer or the PHB Beast Master Ranger. Every class has that stereotypical subclass that takes what that class is famous for in fiction and such and takes it to the next level. But while some classes like Druid and Bard have that other classes don't.
But it's reasons like this Bard is my favorite class. Nothing makes me happier being a persuasive guy who supports party members in those critical moments. The fact that I can now do that even better now is everything I ever wanted. Add Mirror Imagine (bonus options) and now I don't even feel the need to multi-class Warlock anymore.
Unsettling words alone felt very broken to me when I played Eloquence. To be fair we were level 16, but yeah, your DM better be stacking a lot of combats during your adventuring day so those inspiration dice aren't all going into the boss fight.