I'm working on a Jester College for the Bard. I've got the 3rd (roughly equivalent to the Lore Bard's third level ability) and 14th levels (roughly equal to the Valor Bard's 14th level ability) down, but I'm at a loss for a 6th level ability. Any suggestions?
Bonus Proficiency and Bonus Spells
When you join the College of Jesters at third level, you gain proficiency in Acrobatics. You also learn the Vicious Mockery cantrip and the Hideous Laughter spell. If you already are proficient in Acrobatics or already know these spells, you may substitute a skill, spell, or cantrip of your choice as appropriate.
Cutting Words
Also at 3rd level, you learn how to use your wit to distract, confuse, and otherwise sap the confidence and competence of others. When a creature that you can see within 60 feet of you makes an attack roll, an ability check, or a damage roll, you can use your reaction to expend one of your uses of Bardic Inspiration, rolling a Bardic Inspiration die and subtracting the number rolled from the creature’s roll. You can choose to use this feature after the creature makes its roll, but before the DM determines whether the attack roll or ability check succeeds or fails, or before the creature deals its damage. The creature is immune if it can’t hear you or if it’s immune to being charmed.
6th Level Ability
??????
Adding Insult to Injury
At 14th level, you have mastered the art of weaving weapon use and stinging verbal barbs into a single harmonious act. Whenever you hit with a weapon attack on your turn, you may use your bonus action to cast Vicious Mockery on the creature you hit. The target has disadvantage on the saving throw.
Not sure where to fit them, but the old Jester NPC class from 1st ed had some of the following:
Jesters get +1 init bonus due to their outlandish dress and behavior.
Immunity to insanity (maybe something like resistance to Psychic in 5e)
Something similar to the monk's ability to catch arrows (because of their juggling prowess)
Permanent (or at-will) Ventriloquism spell. That spell didn't make it to 5e, but you can easily search what it used to be online.
There was also a Dragon Magazine bardic ability called Diarmuid's Last Jest. It's a joke as a form of attack :) You can look that one up too--with a failed save, people will laugh themselves to death. With a save made, they can just become unable to act due to laughter :)
At sixth level, you mastery of the art of juggling allows you to deflect missile attacks against you.
You can use your reaction to deflect or catch the missile when you are hit by a ranged weapon attack. When you do so, the damage you take from the attack is reduced by 1d10 + your Dexterity modifier + your bard level.
If you reduce the damage to 0, you can catch the missile if it is small enough for you to hold in one hand and you have at least one hand free. If you catch a missile in this way, you can spend 1 Bardic Inspiration die to make a ranged attack with the weapon or piece of ammunition you just caught, as part of the same reaction. You make this attack with proficiency, regardless of your weapon proficiencies. When you make this attack, the missile is considered to have the finesse property. The missile has a normal range of 20 feet and a long range of 60 feet, and deals damage equal to your Bardic Inspiration die.
I guess another option would be to give them the Rogue's Slippery Mind (proficiency in Wisdom saving throws). That seems thematically appropriate for a Jester (but is kind of boring).
Here's a 6th level ability I saw online that I really like:
Hilarious Antics
At 6th level you have learned how to utilize failures for comical purposes, distracting and charming your enemies, or bolstering your allies.
As a reaction when you fail an Attack Roll, Saving Throw, or Ability Check, you can cast one of the following spells without expending a spell slot or requiring material components: tasha's hideous laughter,charm person, or healing word.
Once you cast a spell with this feature you must complete a short or long rest before you can cast one again.
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I'm working on a Jester College for the Bard. I've got the 3rd (roughly equivalent to the Lore Bard's third level ability) and 14th levels (roughly equal to the Valor Bard's 14th level ability) down, but I'm at a loss for a 6th level ability. Any suggestions?
Bonus Proficiency and Bonus Spells
When you join the College of Jesters at third level, you gain proficiency in Acrobatics. You also learn the Vicious Mockery cantrip and the Hideous Laughter spell. If you already are proficient in Acrobatics or already know these spells, you may substitute a skill, spell, or cantrip of your choice as appropriate.
Cutting Words
Also at 3rd level, you learn how to use your wit to distract, confuse, and otherwise sap the confidence and competence of others. When a creature that you can see within 60 feet of you makes an attack roll, an ability check, or a damage roll, you can use your reaction to expend one of your uses of Bardic Inspiration, rolling a Bardic Inspiration die and subtracting the number rolled from the creature’s roll. You can choose to use this feature after the creature makes its roll, but before the DM determines whether the attack roll or ability check succeeds or fails, or before the creature deals its damage. The creature is immune if it can’t hear you or if it’s immune to being charmed.
6th Level Ability
??????
Adding Insult to Injury
At 14th level, you have mastered the art of weaving weapon use and stinging verbal barbs into a single harmonious act. Whenever you hit with a weapon attack on your turn, you may use your bonus action to cast Vicious Mockery on the creature you hit. The target has disadvantage on the saving throw.
I've always liked the jester as a class/subclass.
Not sure where to fit them, but the old Jester NPC class from 1st ed had some of the following:
There was also a Dragon Magazine bardic ability called Diarmuid's Last Jest. It's a joke as a form of attack :) You can look that one up too--with a failed save, people will laugh themselves to death. With a save made, they can just become unable to act due to laughter :)
Looking for new subclasses, spells, magic items, feats, and races? Opinions welcome :)
Good suggestions. How about this for level 6?:
Master Juggler
At sixth level, you mastery of the art of juggling allows you to deflect missile attacks against you.
You can use your reaction to deflect or catch the missile when you are hit by a ranged weapon attack. When you do so, the damage you take from the attack is reduced by 1d10 + your Dexterity modifier + your bard level.
If you reduce the damage to 0, you can catch the missile if it is small enough for you to hold in one hand and you have at least one hand free. If you catch a missile in this way, you can spend 1 Bardic Inspiration die to make a ranged attack with the weapon or piece of ammunition you just caught, as part of the same reaction. You make this attack with proficiency, regardless of your weapon proficiencies. When you make this attack, the missile is considered to have the finesse property. The missile has a normal range of 20 feet and a long range of 60 feet, and deals damage equal to your Bardic Inspiration die.
I guess another option would be to give them the Rogue's Slippery Mind (proficiency in Wisdom saving throws). That seems thematically appropriate for a Jester (but is kind of boring).
You could just roll with the College of Satire Unearthed Arcana.
i like linguistics and, well, d&d, obviously. this bio hadn't been updated for 3 years so i figured i'd do that.
Not a fan of that overall, though I guess "Tumbling Fool" would make an OK 6th level ability.
Here's a 6th level ability I saw online that I really like:
Hilarious Antics
At 6th level you have learned how to utilize
failures for comical purposes,
distracting and charming your enemies, or
bolstering your allies.
As a reaction when you fail an Attack Roll,
Saving Throw, or Ability Check, you can cast one
of the following spells without expending a spell slot
or requiring material components: tasha's hideous
laughter, charm person, or healing word.
Once you cast a spell with this feature you must
complete a short or long rest before you can cast
one again.