I've thought for a while that it would be neat to combine the flexible casting of the Sorcerer with the utility of the Bard, without a multiclass being necessary. I've also thought it would be nice if there were a Bard subclass that more focused on the Bard's musical talent. Swords, Whispers, and Valor Bards do not seem to do that. Lore Bards seem to focus more on storytelling and insulting people (Cutting Words), and Glamour Bards, while probably the closest, seem (in my opinion) to focus more on the "pop star" aspect of the Bard than on the Bard's ability as a musician.
The College of Virtuosity is meant to combine these two ideas. Using his/her musical ability, the Virtuoso Bard alters the spells they cast to more fit their situation.
I've written up the first version of the subclass here.
I'm mostly looking for feedback on the mechanics, especially pertaining to balance. Feedback/tips on the flavor would be appreciated as well, though.
Thanks!
Changelog:
9/9/2018:Lowered the power of Intensification, and uploaded the details page. Thanks to Astromancer for help in these areas.
Frankly, it's a fine subclass, not very unique mechanically and the flavor isn't there. I like Songs for All Ears and may use it for my own homebrew bard subclass.
I don't know why the homebrew system doesn't like it, check your modifiers perhaps, make sure everything's the way it's supposed to be. What's the error you're getting?
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
Level 14 goes wild. Intensification is just ridiculous. It would be more balanced to target one creature affected by the spell. Taking a large AOE spell for your Magical Secrets and then combining it with this just gets insane. The rest of the subclass looks solid, though. Some interesting things here. A bardic take on metamagic, which I dig.
Frankly, it's a fine subclass, not very unique mechanically and the flavor isn't there. I like Songs for All Ears and may use it for my own homebrew bard subclass.
I don't know why the homebrew system doesn't like it, check your modifiers perhaps, make sure everything's the way it's supposed to be. What's the error you're getting?
I appreciate your frankness. I can see why it doesn't seem very unique; the idea was based on combining 2 class features. But I'm glad you like Songs for All Ears.
The error is that the Bardic College is too similar to the College of Swords.
Level 14 goes wild. Intensification is just ridiculous. It would be more balanced to target one creature affected by the spell. Taking a large AOE spell for your Magical Secrets and then combining it with this just gets insane. The rest of the subclass looks solid, though. Some interesting things here. A bardic take on metamagic, which I dig.
Yeah, looking at this again I wonder what I was thinking with that specific feature. Would you suggest swapping it out for a similar ability or simply discarding it?
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
On the matter of Intensification, perhaps opt for 8 instead of 1. Not too low, but most creatures will have a hard time making up the difference.
It was. But it seems like my current iteration of the subclass is quite different.
8 seems like a good idea, but I think it may still be too powerful. Looking at monsters between CR 12-16, the majority might be able to hit your save DC 18 with their best save when you first get this. But if you cast, say, Fear on a few creatures and used Intensification, you'd most likely trivialize that encounter. So I'm thinking changing it to 8 and one single target (but maybe all of their saves, not just the first? - with abilities like legendary resistance and other save bonuses usable, of course) may be a good idea. Any thoughts on that? And thank you for your feedback so far. It's been quite helpful.
If you limit it to one target, you could probably get away with a 5 or an 8. But if you decide all targets, perhaps 10? I think limiting it to the first saving throw is the right idea. This feature might just need some playtesting to really test if it's too powerful.
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
If you limit it to one target, you could probably get away with a 5 or an 8. But if you decide all targets, perhaps 10? I think limiting it to the first saving throw is the right idea. This feature might just need some playtesting to really test if it's too powerful.
I think you're right. Changes coming soon.
On another note, as I edit this, I hope to add more and more flavor, but that'll be a slow process for sure.
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And that's all I have to say about that.
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Hi, Chrominator here.
I've thought for a while that it would be neat to combine the flexible casting of the Sorcerer with the utility of the Bard, without a multiclass being necessary. I've also thought it would be nice if there were a Bard subclass that more focused on the Bard's musical talent. Swords, Whispers, and Valor Bards do not seem to do that. Lore Bards seem to focus more on storytelling and insulting people (Cutting Words), and Glamour Bards, while probably the closest, seem (in my opinion) to focus more on the "pop star" aspect of the Bard than on the Bard's ability as a musician.
The College of Virtuosity is meant to combine these two ideas. Using his/her musical ability, the Virtuoso Bard alters the spells they cast to more fit their situation.
I've written up the first version of the subclass here.
I'm mostly looking for feedback on the mechanics, especially pertaining to balance. Feedback/tips on the flavor would be appreciated as well, though.
Thanks!
Changelog:
9/9/2018: Lowered the power of Intensification, and uploaded the details page. Thanks to Astromancer for help in these areas.
And that's all I have to say about that.
Frankly, it's a fine subclass, not very unique mechanically and the flavor isn't there. I like Songs for All Ears and may use it for my own homebrew bard subclass.
I don't know why the homebrew system doesn't like it, check your modifiers perhaps, make sure everything's the way it's supposed to be. What's the error you're getting?
Tooltips | Snippet Code | How to Homebrew on D&D Beyond | Subclass Guide | Feature Roadmap
Astromancer's Homebrew Assembly
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
Level 14 goes wild. Intensification is just ridiculous. It would be more balanced to target one creature affected by the spell. Taking a large AOE spell for your Magical Secrets and then combining it with this just gets insane. The rest of the subclass looks solid, though. Some interesting things here. A bardic take on metamagic, which I dig.
I appreciate your frankness. I can see why it doesn't seem very unique; the idea was based on combining 2 class features. But I'm glad you like Songs for All Ears.
The error is that the Bardic College is too similar to the College of Swords.
Yeah, looking at this again I wonder what I was thinking with that specific feature. Would you suggest swapping it out for a similar ability or simply discarding it?
And that's all I have to say about that.
College of Swords? Was that your template?
On the matter of Intensification, perhaps opt for 8 instead of 1. Not too low, but most creatures will have a hard time making up the difference.
Tooltips | Snippet Code | How to Homebrew on D&D Beyond | Subclass Guide | Feature Roadmap
Astromancer's Homebrew Assembly
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
It was. But it seems like my current iteration of the subclass is quite different.
8 seems like a good idea, but I think it may still be too powerful. Looking at monsters between CR 12-16, the majority might be able to hit your save DC 18 with their best save when you first get this. But if you cast, say, Fear on a few creatures and used Intensification, you'd most likely trivialize that encounter. So I'm thinking changing it to 8 and one single target (but maybe all of their saves, not just the first? - with abilities like legendary resistance and other save bonuses usable, of course) may be a good idea. Any thoughts on that? And thank you for your feedback so far. It's been quite helpful.
And that's all I have to say about that.
If you limit it to one target, you could probably get away with a 5 or an 8. But if you decide all targets, perhaps 10? I think limiting it to the first saving throw is the right idea. This feature might just need some playtesting to really test if it's too powerful.
Tooltips | Snippet Code | How to Homebrew on D&D Beyond | Subclass Guide | Feature Roadmap
Astromancer's Homebrew Assembly
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
I think you're right. Changes coming soon.
On another note, as I edit this, I hope to add more and more flavor, but that'll be a slow process for sure.
And that's all I have to say about that.