Podcasters, influencers, and citizen journalists of the future, College of Influence Bards wield charm and technology as their instruments. Their words ripple across networks, their images captivate millions, and their performances sway crowds both digital and physical. Whether exposing corruption, rallying allies, or turning the mob against an enemy, these bards prove that the right message at the right moment is more powerful than any sword.

Followers

3rd-level College of Influence feature

At the end of a long rest, you can spend 10 minutes reaching out to your audience — posting, streaming, or broadcasting; convincing your Followers to aid you.

Choose one of the following options;

Credit. Your followers send you funding as a sign of appreciation. Roll your Bardic Inspiration die. You receive gold equal to the number rolled multiplied by 5 + your bard level. At level 11, this number is instead multiplied by 10.

Tech Support. Your followers stand at the ready to provide you with online research. Until you complete your next long rest you receive a bonus to Intelligence skill checks equal to a roll of your Bardic Inspiration die.

Virality. Your followers push your content viral. Until you complete your next long rest you receive a bonus to Influence skill checks equal to a roll of your Bardic Inspiration die.

Contacts. Your followers help you find the name of a friendly or sympathetic NPC in an area of your choice. The exact nature of the NPC available is at the DM’s discretion and is not necessarily powerful. They are at least willing to provide information, shelter, or minor aid appropriate to their station.

The DM may adapt results to fit the campaign’s setting or story.

 

Camera Drone

3rd-level College of Influence feature

You create a hovering camera drone that records and broadcasts your exploits. As a bonus action, you can deploy the drone in an unoccupied space within 30 feet of you. The drone uses the Camera Drone stat block (see below). The Camera Drone grants you the following special actions;

Reposition. As a bonus action, you can command the drone to move up to 30 feet. If you issue no commands, it hovers within 5 feet of you and takes the Dodge action.

Replay. You can take the Study action when the drone is within 5 feet of you to review footage that it has captured.

Arcane Relay. When you cast an Illusion or Enchantment spell, you can choose to cast it as though you were in the drone’s space, using its senses for targeting. You can do this a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.

The drone shuts down if you are incapacitated, if it is more than 300 feet from you, or if you dismiss it (no action required). You can reactivate it after a long rest, or by expending a spell slot of any level.

 

 

Flash Mob

6th-level College of Influence feature

 As a Magic action, you summon your fans to aid you. A number of CR 1/8 humanoids equal to double your proficiency bonus appear in unoccupied spaces within 60 feet of you. These creatures add your Charisma modifier to attack rolls and saving throws while they remain within 60ft of you.

• The fans roll initiative as a group and act on their own turn. They obey your verbal commands (no action required by you).
• If you don’t command them, they take the Dodge action. They may use their movement to attempt to interpose themselves between you and hostile creatures.
• They remain for 1 minute, until reduced to 0 hit points, or until your concentration ends (as if concentrating on a spell).

Once you use this feature, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest, unless you expend a 3rd-level or higher spell slot to use it again.

Cancellation

14th-level College of Influence feature

As a Magic action, you command your drone to broadcast a devastating exposé (potentially outright slander) against an enemy. Choose a creature you can see within 60 feet that speaks at least one language and has an Intelligence score of 6 or higher. The target must succeed on a Charisma saving throw against your spell save DC or take 10d6 psychic damage and each humanoid within 60 feet of the target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature becomes charmed by you and hostile to the target for 1 minute, attempting to harm or hinder them by whatever means are at their disposal. Affected creatures can repeat the saving throw whenever they inflict damage on the target, ending the effect on a success. The effect also ends if you lose concentration on it (as if concentrating on a spell). On a successful save, the target creature takes half damage only.

Once you use this feature, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest, unless you expend a 7th-level or higher spell slot to use it again.