College of Writer's Block

Bards rely on their creativity as much as their music and writing in order to effectively cast spells and engage in their chosen field. Occasionally, some bards are cut off from their creative flow. This block can exist permanently or temporarily, even intermittently and leads to the Writer's Block.

Effectively, these bards still have access to all of the abilities possessed by other bards, but may have difficulty in areas where creativity is required.

You may use this College as a punishment or a  result of a specific failure by following these suggestions (any or all): 

* Each time your bard uses a charge of Bardic Inspiration, roll percentile dice, d100. On a result of 4%, the Bard suffers from Writer's Block and all of his College abilities granted at 3rd level, 6th level, and 14th level will change to reflect this College. In order to earn back your original College, you must roll percentile dice, d100, each time you use Bardic Inspiration. On a result of 85% or higher, your writer's block has been broken and you have earned back your College abilities. The Writer's Block lasts a maximum of one month of game time.

* Your bard is not following the tenets of his college. The dungeon master may impose these restrictions (with the PCs permission) until such time as the party and dungeon master agree that the bard has regained his creativity. This is not meant to hurt the player's feelings or to be used as a blunt hammer, but truly is intended to ignite good role playing from those involved. Each level ability is still just as powerful as the other colleges; they just work in a slightly different way.

* Each time the bard casts a spell or uses an ability that results in a skill roll, roll percentile dice, d100. On a result of 2% or below, the Writer's Block is imposed on a character as detailed above. Each time subsequently that the bard casts a spell or uses an ability, roll percentile dice, d100, and on a roll of 75% or higher, the writer's block is broken.

* Each time a bard is required to make an Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma saving throw, roll percentile dice, d100. On a roll of 5% or less, impose the Writer's Block. This Block lasts until the bard can roll 90% or higher after any Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma saving throw. This lasts a maximum of one game week.

 

Inspirational Woes

When you are forced into Writer's Block at level 3, you gain the ability to apply Bardic Inspiration as a reaction. However, you must use the next smaller die size when using this feature (i.e. a d6 would become a d4 instead).

My Left Foot

Also at 3rd level, the bard gains the ability to add their Charisma modifier to the damage of a cantrip. However, this damage increase is only available if the bard does not or has not taken a bonus action this turn and cannot have taken or be allowed to take a reaction this turn.

Bored to Tears

At 6th level, your Song of Rest has become cumbersome and a bother to every member of your party. They have heard your stirring words of encouragement and rousing songs of valor one too many times. The party gains only half of the die roll at the end of a short rest. The other half may only be used if a character is reduced to 0 HP before the next long rest. You use a command word as a reaction to bestow these hit points to a character. May only be used on each character once per long rest. 

Practice, Practice, Practice

Starting at 14th level, when you make a Saving Throw and miss succeeding by 6 or less, the bard can expend one use of Bardic Inspiration and succeed instead. After using this ability, the bard may then add 1 to every ability check they make until the end of your next long rest.