College of Element

Bards of the College of Element delight in the affects their music has over their audience as well as the elements of the physical world. When not using the enchanting tunes already innate in their practice to ease the weary souls of tavern goers, they are punctuating their performances with thrilling displays of raw power. Well contained and controlled, of course.

Learners of this college are rare, as the strange and sometimes at odds combination of elemental manipulation with the bard's enchantment abilities lends itself to few situations that a bard may find themselves in. The popularity of this school of bardic practices is known to rise during wartime, however, as the skill set available to the practitioners is well suited for battle. When not bolstering their allies or causing discordance among their enemies with their enchantments, bards of this college often serve as competent warriors in their own right with their unusual study of more destructive magic. Through their charisma and battle prowess, they are able to bolster and direct large groups of soldiers and often rise in the ranks of militant leadership.

When not employed on the battlefield, bards of the College of Element are known to wander the road as traveling entertainers. Some have even joined circuses, where they wow the audience with their displays of fire and wind magic. Due to its usually small number of learners and adventuring life style, the members of this college do not often meet in large groups, and the teaching of its practices are generally done through that of a master and apprentice relationship.

This subclass grants a custom spell list of "elemental" spells in addition to the spells already on the bard spell list. This mostly includes spells that produce an affect with fire, water, ice, wind, stone, earth, or lightning, though it excludes certain spells, such as Stoneskin, that involve transmutation, or extremely class exclusive spells, such as Hellish Rebuke.

Elemental Expertise

When you join this bardic college at level 3, new spells with elemental affects become available in your bard spell list.

Power Surge

Also at 3rd level, you learn how to use your words to boost or mitigate the attacks of others. When a creature you can see within 60 feet of you makes a damage roll dealing fire, cold, acid, or lightning damage, you can use your reaction to expend one of your uses of Bardic Inspiration, rolling a Bardic Inspiration die and adding or 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 creature deals its damage.

Crowd Favorites

At 6th level, you learn two extra spells from the list of elemental spells. A spell you choose must be of a level you can cast, as shown on the Bard table, or a cantrip. The chosen spells count as bard spells for you but don’t count against the number of bard spells you know.

Resist the Elements

Starting at the 14 level, you gain resistances to cold, fire, and lightning damage.