Base Class: Bard
The College of the Painter is a comfortable home for bards who have a lack of interest or no knowledge in the playing on instrument, instead having chosen to weave their performances and abilities through their painting and artwork.
Bards who are of this college and generally thought to be a lower form of bard due to their rejection of the other colleges and methods that their fellow bards employ. They are more antisocial and are more ragged and rough in terms of their appearances, their clothes, skin and hair generally stained with their constant use of paints and inks. It is told and rumored that through practice and determination, these bards can actually bring their artwork to life to serve them as familiars and followers.
Bonus Proficiencies
When you join the College of the Painter at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with the Painter's Supplies. If you are already proficient with painter’s supplies choose another skill proficiency for the proficiency you already have.
You may then use your Painter's Supplies as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells.
Living Artwork
Also at 3rd level, you have gained the ability to channel your magic into a piece of artwork you have created. As a Bonus Action and once per Short Rest you can with blinding fast speed, paint a creature with a CR of 1/4 or lower that you have seen in your adventurers.
On your next turn that creature appears anywhere within 20ft of you and is under your control for 1 minute or until dismissed, killed, or knocked unconscious. After the duration the creature is reduced into a puddle of paint.
At Higher Levels, you can paint more powerful creatures. At 6th Level you can paint up to CR 1 creatures. At 10th Level you paint up to CR 2 creatures. At 13th Level you can paint up to CR 3 creatures, and at 18th Level you can paint up to CR 4 creatures.
Painted Armor
At 6th level, you can paint a thick layer of paint on a willing creature that you can touch with your Painter's Supplies as a Bonus Action. Upon doing this, the creature you've painted on gets a +2 bonus to its AC for 1 minute. You may only do this once per Short rest.
Faux Appearance
Also at 6th level, you can paint features on yourself and change your appearance. Using your Painter's Supplies you can now cast the Alter Self spell at will and as many times as your Charisma modifier per rest.
Artistic Spray
Starting at 14th level you have now gained the ability to spray thick, blinding colourful paint and ink at up to three creatures in a 25ft cone. Any creature caught within the cone must make a Dexterity Saving Throw against your Spell DC. On a fail, a creature is Blinded for 1 minute.
As an Action, you can cause the paint and ink to start to boil violently on one of the creature's skin. Doing so causes the mixture to evaporate and remove the creature's Blindness, but deals 5d8 acid damage. You may do this as much as your Proficiency modifier per Long Rest.
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted May 16, 2023heyooo I've been playing a bard called Arty Marty for a while now and this will fit perfectly! thank you!
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Oct 31, 2021Finally, a subclass that allows me to unleash Doodlebob upon the world.
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Jan 13, 2019oh my god I'm making bard ross
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Aug 31, 2018I do really like the idea of expending Bardic Inspiration to allow the summoned creature to exist a tad longer up to 1 hour. I'd probably say this unlocks at 6th Level or something like that. And I might re-work Bonus Proficiency as you mentioned. I did mean an additional Tool, not skill.
I might say they become proficient in the Painter's Supplies, Deception, and the Performance skill. Deception mainly because they are using deception to make creatures out of paint that aren't exactly real.
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Aug 30, 2018Yup, I know it is 10 rounds.
In the official subclasses, the 3rd level ability scales hand in hand with the Bardic Inspiration die (Cutting Words, the Valor's ability to add the die to damage, Psychic Blades, etc.).
In this feature, it follows a similar progression, but it does not use the "common" resource of Bardic Inspiraton.
As you are not using the Bardic Inspiration for this, I can see your argument to keep the cap at 1 minute. You get to use those dice as they are intended, boosting your party!
Another approach would be to give the option to extend the duration of the creature's presence (from 1 minute to 10 minutes to 1 hour or something like that), or giving it extra HP, by burning Bardic Inspiration dices. Or paint a second creature by using Bardic Inspiration dices. Just some ideas.
This is the "summoner" Bard, so this feature has to shine by itself!
Another comment (on Bonus Proficiencies):
Having a second thought, this might be a bit weak, and worded wrongly.
Let's have a look at the official subclasses (from the PHB):
And you are giving Painter's supply or another skill (wording issue: I think you meant Tool here, not Skill?).
This is nice and defines the subclass, but in terms of game mechanics it is fluff, and a tad weak.
Giving the option of Painter's Supplies being the spellcasting focus is nice, but Bards usually use their instruments anyway (or weapons in case of College of Swords).
If the Living Artwork feature doesn't get a bump, I would argue this needs somethings else.
For instance giving additionally proficiency in the Performance skill (or any other of their choice, if already proficient in it).
-> Again, take all of this as constructive criticism, as I think you have something nice going on here. I am very excited about non-musical Bard options!
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Aug 29, 20181 minute is still 10 rounds! I've yet to have it play-tested though, so let me know how it goes :)
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Aug 29, 2018I really like this subclass. Probably will make it available to my players in my next (experienced) campaign :-)
My only comment: should Living Artwork's duration of 1 minute be increased as you level up? For instance increasing to 2 minutes at 10th level?
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Jun 3, 2018Living Artwork: Yeah, I agree. Oops!
Faux Appearance: Ah, as many times per your Charisma modifier. Thanks for pointing that out.
Artistic Spray: Alright, that makes more sense, thanks!
I'm glad you enjoy the subclass :)
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted May 28, 2018I like this subclass. But there are a few bones I'd like to pick.
Living Artwork. The phrase "As a Bonus Action and once per Short Rest" made me pause and re-read that sentence. I suggest "Once per short. rest, as a bonus action,".
Faux Appearance. Is it at will or a number of times equal to your charisma modifier?
Artistic Spray. The first ability should be an action and should simply be a 25 foot cone. The boiling should happen after 1 minute or if you use your action to cause it to boil. Because this is the 14th level ability, I think this can be an on going ability.