So a while ago I started with the college of strings, and with feedback and ideas from awesome people it has gotten to where I think its getting to a finished subclass.
Bard College: College of Shredding The college of shredding is about laying down those sick solos, playing those power cords until your fingers bleed and your audience's minds have been thoroughly blown.
Bonus Proficiencies When you join the college of shredding at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in the Performance skill if you don’t already have it, and with all string instruments. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any Charisma (performance) check you make using a string instrument. Examples of string instruments are the Lute, the Lyre, and the Viol.
Power Chords Starting at 3rd level, you earn how to use your string instrument to manipulate the flow of magic around you. As an action your may use your string instrument to perform a power chord. Forceful Chord. You strike a chord causing a wave of force to erupt from your instrument. Each creature in a 30-foot cone originating from you must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw versus your spell save DC, or be pushed back 10 ft. and knocked prone. Shielding Chord. You strike a chord causing a wall of sound to wrap around and protect you. Until the start of your next turn you gain a bonus to you AC equal to your Charisma modifier. (minimum of 1) Slicing Chord. You strike a chord causing ghostly blades to shoot out toward a target. Make a Ranged Spell Attack against a target within 60 ft., on a hit the target takes slashing damage equal to your bardic inspiration die + your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1).
Magical Chords At 6th level, when you use your action to cast a cantrip, you can perform a power chord as a bonus action.
Performing for an Audience Starting at 6th level, you gain a bonus to any Charisma check you make equal to the number of allies you can hear and see within 60 feet of you. (Maximum of 5)
Improved Magical Chords At 14th level, when you use your action to cast a spell, you can perform a power chord as a bonus action.
Ensnaring Solo Starting at 14th level, you can conjure ghostly wires from your instrument ensnaring your victims. As an action, choose a number of creatures equal to your Charisma modifier, that you can see within 60 feet of you, those creatures must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw versus your spell save DC, or become restrained by ghostly wires. Whenever you perform a power chord, creatures grappled by this feature take slashing damage equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1). A creature restrained by this feature may use their action on their turn to make a Strength saving throw versus your spell save DC to try and escape. Once you use this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.
This seems like a good start for a homebrew subclass but I think you need to tweak it more towards either being a bruiser or a more team focused Crowd Control.
IF YOU WANT TO GO THE BRUISER ROUTE:
*I'd maybe consider a name change to College of the Power Chord or College of the Soul King maybe? Something more intimidating
*For an additional 3rd level ability, I'd say giving proficiency with the Performance skill wouldn't be a half bad idea as well as maybe a bonus to Initiative checks equal to your Charisma modifier
*The Power Chord idea is neat but I personally would just stick to it being a new 'damaging cantrip/attack' you can do as an action as to avoid choice overload. Also, the number of allies incorporated into the damage seems like a strange choice if this subclass leans towards being a bruiser, I'd suggest doing leaning towards spellcasting ability over anything
*The 6th level feature Magical Chords is good for a bruiser, keep that but maybe by 10th/14th level, they can cast a spell as an action and use power chord as a bonus to make there seem like more progression
*The 14th level feature Ensnaring Solo I would retool slightly use your Bardic Inspiration die to active (so you can have more people ensnared at once), have it restrain a target (instead of grapple) and change the saving throws including the number of allies idea and replace it with using the number rolled on the Bardic Inspiration die and your spellcasting modifier. Otherwise, I like how creatures trapped by this, take a little damage when you use your Power Chord feature, it makes it become a tactical feature and give a small utility element to this subclass
IF YOU WANT TO GO THE TEAM FOCUSED CROWD CONTROL ROUTE:
*I'd maybe consider a name change to College of the Soul Strummer
*For an additional 3rd level ability, I'd say giving Expertise proficiency with the Performance skill would be a good idea and maybe an ability that expands on your Power Chord feature, such as each ally that contributes to the damage of Power Chord gains temporary Hit Points equal to your Charisma modifier + the number of allies within 30 ft of you and these temporary Hit Points disappear at the beginning of your next turn. So at most, each party member gets 10-11 temporary Hit Points that refresh each turn, its not a game breaker but its a nice buff for those who are taking lots of damage.
*The Power Chord idea is neat but I personally would just stick to it being a new 'damaging cantrip/attack' you can do as an action as to avoid choice overload. Also, the number of allies incorporated into the damage seems like a strange choice at first but a the team focused Controller (like your allies are your audience or muse) would be something neat but there would have to be more benefits for them for them to want to stay close to you in combat, which can be expanded upon in later abilities
*At 6th level, I would replace Magical Chords with a new ability incorporating the Bard feature, Countercharm, which you get at the same level called Counter Chord?. If you are using the original rules from the PHB, I would say anytime you use are your Countercharm feature, you can use your Power Chord as a bonus action and allies within 30 ft of you can make a saving throw against being frightened or charmed immediately with the Power Chord. Now with my homebrew rules, I have Countercharm can be used on consecutive turns as a bonus action so I would say using Power Chord as an action while you use the Countercharm as a bonus action can yield the same results but it would take a turn longer to pull this off.
*At 14th level, I'm not sure Ensnaring Chord works with this but I can see it working if you take ques from the Bruiser example I made earlier in this post. I'm not entirely sure how to completely tool it correctly
Hope this helps make this cool class even cooler and inspires you in some way. Keep rocking on, fellow Bard!
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"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid." Proverbs 12:1
I like this, but I'm new here. How can I import this and use it in my campaign?
Not yet implemented in Dndbeyond, I think they have said they will be adding custom subclasses after they do their character sheet refresh that they have been working on. That and they are working on a mobile app which I am guessing is taking a significant portion of their time.
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"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
Thank you for the feedback, I really appreciate you taking the time to write all that up. I kinda left it on here to simmer for a bit and work on my campaign setting in the meantime, going give this subclass a rework soon.
(Edit) I have reworked this class into the Bard: Collage of Shredding
So a while ago I started with the college of strings, and with feedback and ideas from awesome people it has gotten to where I think its getting to a finished subclass.
Bard College: College of Shredding
The college of shredding is about laying down those sick solos, playing those power cords until your fingers bleed and your audience's minds have been thoroughly blown.
Bonus Proficiencies
When you join the college of shredding at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in the Performance skill if you don’t already have it, and with all string instruments. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any Charisma (performance) check you make using a string instrument.
Examples of string instruments are the Lute, the Lyre, and the Viol.
Power Chords
Starting at 3rd level, you earn how to use your string instrument to manipulate the flow of magic around you. As an action your may use your string instrument to perform a power chord.
Forceful Chord. You strike a chord causing a wave of force to erupt from your instrument. Each creature in a 30-foot cone originating from you must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw versus your spell save DC, or be pushed back 10 ft. and knocked prone.
Shielding Chord. You strike a chord causing a wall of sound to wrap around and protect you. Until the start of your next turn you gain a bonus to you AC equal to your Charisma modifier. (minimum of 1)
Slicing Chord. You strike a chord causing ghostly blades to shoot out toward a target. Make a Ranged Spell Attack against a target within 60 ft., on a hit the target takes slashing damage equal to your bardic inspiration die + your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1).
Magical Chords
At 6th level, when you use your action to cast a cantrip, you can perform a power chord as a bonus action.
Performing for an Audience
Starting at 6th level, you gain a bonus to any Charisma check you make equal to the number of allies you can hear and see within 60 feet of you. (Maximum of 5)
Improved Magical Chords
At 14th level, when you use your action to cast a spell, you can perform a power chord as a bonus action.
Ensnaring Solo
Starting at 14th level, you can conjure ghostly wires from your instrument ensnaring your victims. As an action, choose a number of creatures equal to your Charisma modifier, that you can see within 60 feet of you, those creatures must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw versus your spell save DC, or become restrained by ghostly wires. Whenever you perform a power chord, creatures grappled by this feature take slashing damage equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1).
A creature restrained by this feature may use their action on their turn to make a Strength saving throw versus your spell save DC to try and escape.
Once you use this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.
This seems like a good start for a homebrew subclass but I think you need to tweak it more towards either being a bruiser or a more team focused Crowd Control.
IF YOU WANT TO GO THE BRUISER ROUTE:
*I'd maybe consider a name change to College of the Power Chord or College of the Soul King maybe? Something more intimidating
*For an additional 3rd level ability, I'd say giving proficiency with the Performance skill wouldn't be a half bad idea as well as maybe a bonus to Initiative checks equal to your Charisma modifier
*The Power Chord idea is neat but I personally would just stick to it being a new 'damaging cantrip/attack' you can do as an action as to avoid choice overload. Also, the number of allies incorporated into the damage seems like a strange choice if this subclass leans towards being a bruiser, I'd suggest doing leaning towards spellcasting ability over anything
*The 6th level feature Magical Chords is good for a bruiser, keep that but maybe by 10th/14th level, they can cast a spell as an action and use power chord as a bonus to make there seem like more progression
*The 14th level feature Ensnaring Solo I would retool slightly use your Bardic Inspiration die to active (so you can have more people ensnared at once), have it restrain a target (instead of grapple) and change the saving throws including the number of allies idea and replace it with using the number rolled on the Bardic Inspiration die and your spellcasting modifier. Otherwise, I like how creatures trapped by this, take a little damage when you use your Power Chord feature, it makes it become a tactical feature and give a small utility element to this subclass
IF YOU WANT TO GO THE TEAM FOCUSED CROWD CONTROL ROUTE:
*I'd maybe consider a name change to College of the Soul Strummer
*For an additional 3rd level ability, I'd say giving Expertise proficiency with the Performance skill would be a good idea and maybe an ability that expands on your Power Chord feature, such as each ally that contributes to the damage of Power Chord gains temporary Hit Points equal to your Charisma modifier + the number of allies within 30 ft of you and these temporary Hit Points disappear at the beginning of your next turn. So at most, each party member gets 10-11 temporary Hit Points that refresh each turn, its not a game breaker but its a nice buff for those who are taking lots of damage.
*The Power Chord idea is neat but I personally would just stick to it being a new 'damaging cantrip/attack' you can do as an action as to avoid choice overload. Also, the number of allies incorporated into the damage seems like a strange choice at first but a the team focused Controller (like your allies are your audience or muse) would be something neat but there would have to be more benefits for them for them to want to stay close to you in combat, which can be expanded upon in later abilities
*At 6th level, I would replace Magical Chords with a new ability incorporating the Bard feature, Countercharm, which you get at the same level called Counter Chord?. If you are using the original rules from the PHB, I would say anytime you use are your Countercharm feature, you can use your Power Chord as a bonus action and allies within 30 ft of you can make a saving throw against being frightened or charmed immediately with the Power Chord. Now with my homebrew rules, I have Countercharm can be used on consecutive turns as a bonus action so I would say using Power Chord as an action while you use the Countercharm as a bonus action can yield the same results but it would take a turn longer to pull this off.
*At 14th level, I'm not sure Ensnaring Chord works with this but I can see it working if you take ques from the Bruiser example I made earlier in this post. I'm not entirely sure how to completely tool it correctly
Hope this helps make this cool class even cooler and inspires you in some way. Keep rocking on, fellow Bard!
"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid." Proverbs 12:1
I like this, but I'm new here. How can I import this and use it in my campaign?
"Ridicule is nothing to be scared of" S. Goddard
"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
Thank you for the feedback, I really appreciate you taking the time to write all that up.
I kinda left it on here to simmer for a bit and work on my campaign setting in the meantime, going give this subclass a rework soon.
(Edit) I have reworked this class into the Bard: Collage of Shredding