Merry Rascal

Not every rogue is destined to be a broody loner. Throughout history, ballads tell of merry companies of outlaws whose strength comes from their cheer and fellow aid. Examples include Will Scarlet, Little John, Alan-a-Dale, Lady Marian, and Robin Hood. These endearing rogues feel at home both at court and in outdoor traveling droves. They are not beyond fighting dirty, but there is more to their success than hit-and-run schemes. The merry outlaw carries a magical charm with them at all times, and while their aptitude for musical instruments might not be on par with that of a bard, you never know when inspiration might strike them.

Spellcasting

When you reach 3rd level, you gain the ability to cast spells. See Spells Rules for the general rules of spellcasting and the Spells Listing for the bard spell list.

Cantrips

You learn three cantrips: vicious mockery and two other cantrips of your choice from the bard spell list. You learn another bard cantrip of your choice at 10th level.

Spell Slots

The Merry Rascal Spellcasting table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your bard spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these spells, you must expend a slot of the spell’s level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest.

For example, if you know the 1st-level spell charm person and have a 1st-level and a 2nd-level spell slot available, you can cast charm person using either slot.

Spells Known of 1st-Level and Higher

You know three 1st-level bard spells of your choice.

The Spells Known column of the Merry Rascal Spellcasting table shows when you learn more bard spells of 1st level or higher. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots. For instance, when you reach 7th level in this class, you can learn one new spell of 1st or 2nd level.

Whenever you gain a level in this class, you can replace one of the bard spells you know with another spell of your choice from the bard spell list. The new spell must be of a level for which you have spell slots.

Spellcasting Ability

Charisma is your spellcasting ability for your bard spells. You use your Charisma whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Charisma modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a bard spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.

Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier

Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier

Merry Rascal Spellcasting

Rogue Level	Cantrips Known	Spells Known	— Spell Slots per Spell Level —
			1st	2nd	3rd	4th
3rd	3	3	2	—	—	—
4th	3	4	3	—	—	—
5th	3	4	3	—	—	—
6th	3	4	3	—	—	—
7th	3	5	4	2	—	—
8th	3	6	4	2	—	—
9th	3	6	4	2	—	—
10th	4	7	4	3	—	—
11th	4	8	4	3	—	—
12th	4	8	4	3	—	—
13th	4	9	4	3	2	—
14th	4	10	4	3	2	—
15th	4	10	4	3	2	—
16th	4	11	4	3	3	—
17th	4	11	4	3	3	—
18th	4	11	4	3	3	—
19th	4	12	4	3	3	1
20th	4	13	4	3	3	1

Merry Mockery

You’ve learned to include your allies when you pierce the insecurities of your enemies.

Starting at 3rd level, when you cast vicious mockery, you can choose to cast it as a bonus action instead of an action, provided you only cast this cantrip once per turn. If the target fails its Wisdom Saving Throw, you can choose to forgo the target having disadvantage on their next attack roll, and instead give the next attack on the target advantage.

If you cast vicious mockery on a target that took sneak attack damage from you during your action, they roll their saving throw with disadvantage.

Sneaky Caster

At 9th level, if you are out of combat or are successfully hidden while casting a spell, you can ignore the somatic and verbal requirements of the spell. You cannot pick a spell that will deal damage, either from an attack roll or a failed saving throw, during the duration of your current turn.

Casting spells in this manner allow you to remain hidden in combat provided the spell doesn’t produce a beam originating from your position or require you to verbally interact with your target (as for example, with the spell suggestion or the cantrip vicious mockery.) If you are hidden by the invisibility spell, it still dispels once you cast a spell as per usual.

Weaver of Lies

Starting at 13th level, you become better at intertwining your magic to conceal your roguish abilities. If you are required to make a deception or stealth check based on you interacting on one of your own spells from the School of Illusion, you can make that roll with advantage.

Inspired by the Merry Muse

At 17th level, you obtain an arcane folio of endless spell paper. At the end of every long rest, you can spend ten minutes writing down two spells from any class. You can cast either of these spells as you would from a scroll, and they count as Bard spells for you. For 5th level spells and lower, these are cast without a check, with the page being destroyed. For 6-9th level spells, you must roll a performance check (the DC is equal to 10 + the spell’s level). If the check succeeds, the spell is successfully cast. Whether the check succeeds or fails, the page is destroyed. Due to unreliability of an artist’s muse, this is the only ability check you may not use your rogue’s Reliable Talent class feature on.

You may only have two active spells in your folio at any given time. If you write more than two, your oldest spell in the folio is destroyed. Any spell that requires consumable materials to cast will still require the materials during the time of the casting.

If you cast a 7th-9th level spell, you may not cast a spell of an equal level until you finish a long rest. Conditions on the limitations and risk of using the Wish spell still apply to your ability to cast the spell.

If anyone else attempts to read the folio, they discern nothing more than half-witted artist’s notes.