Bards of the College of Rhetoric see words as the sharpest blades and the firmest shields. They weave logic, poetry, and manipulation into an irresistible tapestry that bends hearts, sways crowds, and unravels minds. These bards thrive in courts, assemblies, and back-alley debates, where a single phrase can change the course of history.

Whereas some bards sing or dance, rhetoricians command. Their voices carry weight, their presence dominates, and their performance is not entertainment—it is persuasion weaponized.

 

Silver-Tongued

When you join the College of Rhetoric at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in Persuasion and Intimidation. If you already have proficiency, you instead gain expertise.

Additionally, when you expend a use of Bardic Inspiration, you may choose to deliver it through words of encouragement, sharp rebuke, or rhetorical flair. The creature who receives your Bardic Inspiration can immediately make a Charisma check (Persuasion, Deception, or Intimidation) with advantage.

You may use this feature a number equal to your proficiency bonus, which resets at dawn.

Cutting Retort

At 3rd level, as a reaction when a creature you can see within 60 feet makes an attack roll, ability check, or damage roll, you can use your reaction to expend one Bardic Inspiration die and unleash a rhetorical strike (a biting remark, rhetorical question, or scathing critique). Subtract the number rolled from the creature’s roll and deal half the roll as psychic damage to the creature.

If the creature fails as a result, they must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or become distracted until the start of their next turn (they cannot take reactions).

Word Duelist

At 6th level, your command of speech lets you dominate the battlefield of ideas. When you cast charm person or suggestion, you may choose to forgo any material, somatic, or verbal components, disguising the spell as normal speech.

In addition, whenever you or an ally within 30 feet makes a Charisma ability check, you can roll your Bardic Inspiration die and add it to the roll without expending a use of Bardic Inspiration. You can do this once per long rest (or more, by expending an actual Bardic Inspiration die).

Voice of Authority

At 14th level, your commanding words can seize the vitality of your foes and redistribute it to your allies.

When you use your action to speak a Word of Power (as part of a Bard spell, Cutting Words, or another Bardic Inspiration use), you can target one creature within 60 feet of you that can hear you. The target must make an Intelligence saving throw against your spell save DC.

On a failed save, the creature takes psychic damage equal to 3d8 + your Charisma modifier, and you choose an ally (other than yourself) within 30 feet of you. That ally gains temporary hit points equal to half the damage dealt.

On a successful save, the target takes half damage, and no temporary hit points are restored.

You may use this feature equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1). You regain all expended uses after you finish a long rest.