Description

Bards of the College of the Crimson (often called "Red Mages") dedicate themselves to the balance between martial and magical arts. They do not specialize in a single school of magic but rather weave destructive elements and restorative prayers into a flurry of rapier strikes. Their signature technique, Dualcast, allows them to unleash rapid-fire spells that leave enemies reeling.

To a Crimson Bard, versatility is not a lack of focus; it is the mastery of every situation. A blade for the beast, a cure for the ally, and fire for the horde.

Crimson Disciple

3rd-Level College of the Crimson Feature

When you join the College of the Crimson at level 3, you gain the training required to weave steel and spell. You gain proficiency with medium armor and martial weapons.

Additionally, you can use a melee weapon you are holding as a Spellcasting Focus for your Bard spells.

Red Magic

3rd-Level College of the Crimson Feature

Your study of the Crimson Balance grants you access to spells normally reserved for other disciplines. You have the following spells prepared. These spells count as Bard spells for you, but they do not count against the number of Bard spells you can prepare.

Red Magic Spells

• 3rd Level: Shield, Thunderwave

• 3rd Level: Lesser Restoration, Scorching Ray

• 5th Level: Lightning Bolt, Revivify

• 7th Level: Ice Storm, Wall of Fire

• 9th Level: Cone of Cold, Flame Strike

Ver-Strike

3rd-Level College of the Crimson Feature

Also at level 3, you learn to channel magical potential through your blade to punish foes or protect yourself. You can use your Bardic Inspiration in the following ways:

Enchanted Riposte. When a creature you can see hits you with an attack, you can use your Reaction to expend one use of your Bardic Inspiration. Roll the Bardic Inspiration die and add the number rolled to your AC against that attack, potentially causing it to miss. If the attack misses, you can immediately make one melee weapon attack against the attacker as part of the same Reaction.

Scatter Burst. When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can expend one use of your Bardic Inspiration to deal additional Force damage to the target and all other creatures within 5 feet of it. The damage equals one roll of your Bardic Inspiration die + your Charisma modifier.

Extra Attack

6th-Level College of the Crimson Feature

Starting at 6th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

In addition, you can cast one of your Bard cantrips in place of one of those attacks.

Dualcast

14th-Level College of the Crimson Feature

At 14th level, you master the signature art of the Red Mage: casting two spells in the blink of an eye.

When you take the Magic Action to cast a Bard spell of 1st level or higher that has a casting time of 1 Action, you can expend two uses of your Bardic Inspiration to cast a second spell immediately as a Bonus Action.

The second spell must meet the following criteria:

1. Be a Bard spell of 1st through 5th level.

2. Have a casting time of 1 Action.

3. Target either the same creature or a different creature.

Note: You cannot concentrate on two spells at once; if both require concentration, the first spell ends immediately when the second is cast.

Level 3: Ver-Strike

You learn to channel magical potential through your blade to punish foes or protect yourself. You can use your Bardic Inspiration in the following ways:

Enchanted Riposte: When a creature you can see hits you with an attack, you can use your Reaction to expend one use of your Bardic Inspiration. Roll the Bardic Inspiration die and add the number rolled to your AC against that attack, potentially causing it to miss. If the attack misses, you can immediately make one melee weapon attack against the attacker as part of the same Reaction.

Scatter Burst: When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can expend one use of your Bardic Inspiration to deal additional Force damage to the target and all other creatures within 5 feet of it. The damage equals one roll of your Bardic Inspiration die + your Charisma modifier.

Level 3: Crimson Disciple

You gain proficiency with Martial weapons and training with Medium armor and Shields.

In addition, you can use a Simple or Martial weapon as a Spellcasting Focus to cast spells from your Bard spell list.

Red Magic

Your study of the Crimson Balance grants you access to spells normally reserved for other disciplines. You have the following spells prepared. These spells count as Bard spells for you, but they do not count against the number of Bard spells you can prepare.

Red Magic Spells

Bard Level	Spells
3rd	Shield, Thunderwave
3rd	Lesser Restoration, Scorching Ray
5th	Lightning Bolt, Revivify
7th	Ice Storm, Wall of Fire
9th	Cone of Cold, Flame Strike

Level 6: Extra Attack

You can attack twice instead of once whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

In addition, you can cast one of your cantrips that has a casting time of an action in place of one of those attacks.

Level 14: Dualcast

At 14th level, you master the signature art of the Red Mage: casting two spells in the blink of an eye.

When you take the Magic Action to cast a Bard spell of 1st level or higher that has a casting time of 1 Action, you can expend two uses of your Bardic Inspiration to cast a second spell immediately as a Bonus Action.

The second spell must:

1. Be a Bard spell of 1st through 5th level.
2. Have a casting time of 1 Action.
3. Target either the same creature or a different creature (it cannot be a self-range spell unless it affects an area).

Note: This feature bypasses the standard rule preventing you from casting two leveled spells in one turn, representing the Red Mage's unique limit break ability.