College of Angst

The College of Angst stems from a need to let out one's emotions through music. Finding popularity amongst younger Bards of a particular generation, those who practice the craft are seen as edgy, moody, and introverted, but once they perform, people realize they are more than just eyeliner, bangs, and tight pants, they are visionaries. Their music, often somber in lyrics yet punchy in beat, stirs raw emotions in those who hear it, empowering them with a confidence and passion they may not have known they possessed.

Level 3: Bright Side

You always have the Dissonant Whispers spell prepared.

When you cast Dissonant Whispers and the target fails the Wisdom saving throw and lives, the target is racked by a sudden paranoia. The target has the Frightened condition of all creatures for 1 minute. The target may repeat the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.

Once you use this ability successfully, you cannot use it again until you finish a Long Rest, but you can continue to cast Dissonant Whispers as normal.

At Levels 6 and 14, the number of creatures you can have under this effect per Long Rest increases by 1 (max of 3 at Level 14).

Level 3: Sins, Not Tragedies

Your music helps your allies gather their poise and rationality. If an ally uses one of your Bardic Inspirations on a Dexterity, Wisdom, or Charisma saving throw, they roll the save with Advantage. 

This ability can only be used once per ally each Short Rest.

Level 6: Miserable Business

You always have the Crown of Madness spell prepared.

A creature under the effect of your Crown of Madness spell can be controlled as a Bonus Action instead of a Magic Action.

You cannot cast the spell this way again until the creature successfully saves or dies. Subsequent castings of Crown of Madness before the creature saves/dies will cause the spell to operate as normal on the additional creature(s).

If you have any creatures under the effect of Crown of Madness after the first creature saves/dies, the effect will immediately transfer to your choice of one such creature.

Level 14: The Black Parade

You always have the Mass Suggestion spell prepared.

Become their conductor! Your number of Bardic Inspirations now equal your Charisma Modifier + half your Proficiency Bonus (rounded down).

After you cast Mass Suggestion, as a Magic Action, you can expend any number of your Bardic Inspirations and allow that number of Charmed creatures under the spell's influence to make a melee or ranged attack against another creature without breaking the effect of the spell. If you have a Charmed creature attack another Charmed that is also being controlled by the spell, the spell's effect ends on both creatures.

At Level 18, any time you use this ability, roll the Bardic Inspiration Dice that you expend for a creature and add the number rolled to the damage dealt by their attack.