Bards of the College of Guile are experts at gathering information they should not have through deception, manipulation, stealth, and magic. They make excellent scouts and information brokers. They rely on their silver tongue and the element of surprise. They aim to be unassuming or unexpected THey tend to handle court politics as well as they do enemy armies, and often find themselves in the service of either lords and ladies of court or generals as spies.

The College of Guile is home to nearly as many actors and physical performers as musicians and poets, a rarity among the colleges. Those with the skill to inhabit another through imitation find themselves drawn to the college more than those who are attuned to music (though certainly, those with an affinity for music can find a way to make that a valuable resource as well). They use these skills primarily to acquire the information they seek.

There is no formal bardic college for the College of Guile. Those who seek to learn the skills must find another of the college to gather wisdom from. College of Guile Bards have clues they leave for one another so they can be found even when in disguise. Sometimes it's a symbol or a pattern that is a well-guarded secret of the college. Sometimes it's a string of words or phrases written or said aloud that appears innocuous but informs those in the know. 

Bonus Proficiencies

When you select this college at level 3, you gain proficiency with the disguise kit, thieves' tools, and forgery kit. 

Eavesdropper

Members of the College of Guile have picked up techniques that aid in long-distance reconnaissance. You can read lips. You can understand a conversation you cannot hear but can see up to 30 feet away and up to 60 feet away with a successful perception check. While performing, you can spend a bardic inspiration die to add its roll to any perception check.

Incognito

It is a great skill to be able to hide, but to be able to blend can open so many more doors. These bards have weaved their arcane magics to enable powerful illusions of the self. Once per short rest, the bard may cast Alter Self or Invisibility as a bonus action. Using this ability does not use a spell slot or require verbaL somatic, or material components, allowing the bard to cast it in a dire situation. 

Finder of Truths

You can expend one of your bardic inspiration uses, rolling a bardic inspiration die and adding it to the DC of any spell or ability that requires an opponent to make a wisdom saving throw to resist you. Additionally, you get advantage on persuasion and intimidation checks to learn a thing you don't already know.