College of Acoustics

While many bards are musical experts, few demonstrate the level of sonorous mastery exhibited by bards in the College of Acoustics. These bards have dedicated their lives to careful manipulation of sound waves. A bard trained in this college can make a single instrument sound like a whole orchestra, or bring the din of a large crowd to the volume of a low whisper. Many have even mastered the art of manipulating the sound waves around them to enhance their own performance, or detract from the performance of others. The most advanced learners of this college can sense the vibratory frequencies in the fabric of reality, manipulating them to traverse planes of existence. Be careful not to cross a bard such as this, or you may perhaps never utter another sound ever again…

Suppressive Pianissimo

3rd-level College of Acoustics feature

Your training allows you to selectively dampen sound waves in a small area. You learn the Silence spell. You can cast this spell at its base level once per day without expending a spell slot. When you cast this spell, creatures in the area gain resistance to Thunder damage instead of immunity to it. Whenever you cast this spell, designate a number of creatures equal to your proficiency bonus (minimum 1). These creatures are immune to the silencing effects of the spell and are immune to Thunder damage while in its area. 

When you cast the spell using a 4th, 5th, or 6th level spell slot, the effect’s area increases to a 30ft radius sphere and creatures gain neither resistance nor immunity to Thunder damage. When you cast the spell using a 7th level spell slot or higher, the effect’s area increases to a 40ft radius sphere and creatures gain vulnerability to Thunder damage.

Lyrics of Power

3rd-level College of Acoustics feature

Your mastery of intonation allows you to augment your spells that rely on magical words. Whenever you cast a spell that requires only verbal components, you may spend a bardic inspiration to gain a bonus to that spell's attack roll, healing roll, or your spell save DC equal to a roll of your bardic inspiration dice.

Raucous Fortissimo

6th-level College of Acoustics feature

The sound waves you create now ring with a concussive blast. You learn the Thunder Step spell. You can cast this spell at its base level once per day without spending a spell slot. Additionally, whenever you cast a spell that deals Thunder damage, you can add your Charisma modifier to one damage roll of that spell. At 14th level, you can also add half your proficiency bonus to one damage roll of a spell that deals Thunder damage.

Control Dynamics

6th-level College of Acoustics feature

You have mastered the art of controlling the intensity of sounds in your vicinity, allowing you to influence the performance of those around you. You gain resistance to Thunder damage. You can spend a bardic inspiration die to increase or decrease the volume of yours and other people's actions. When a creature you can see or hear makes an ability check that relies on sound, you may spend a use of your bardic inspiration as a reaction to augment the check favorably or unfavorably. First, roll your bardic inspiration die. If you are aiding the check, add the result to the creature’s roll. If you are opposing the check, subtract the result 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 ability check succeeds or fails. If you use this feature on yourself and the outcome is successful, you regain a use of bardic inspiration.

Planar Intonation

14th-level College of Acoustics feature

Your ability to sense sound waves and vibrations has become keen enough to recognize the harmonic frequencies unique to each plane of existence. You learn the Plane Shift Spell. You can cast this spell once per day without spending a spell slot. Additionally, you gain the ability to craft tuning forks required for the spell. You gain proficiency with Tinker’s tools. You can spend 12 hours crafting a tuning fork connected to a plane of existence you have previously visited. The process requires tinker’s tools, 25 platinum pieces, and a handful of solid matter native to that plane, such as dirt, metal, or certain monster parts.