D&D General Steampunkette's Bard Redesign

[doctorbadwolf]

While
different from the direction i want to go with the Bard, this is the best homebrew Bard rewrite i have seen this far. Well done.

 

[Horwath]

I like the 2/3rd caster approach, and honestly I would turn most casters into 2/3rd casters except wizards and cleric.
buff up EK and AT to 1/2 casters(1/3rd casting really sucks)
the you would have:

full casters: wizard, cleric
2/3rd casters: Artificer, Bard, Druid, Sorcerer, Warlock
1/2 casters: Paladin, Ranger, EK, AT, +any future subclass that gives spells to basic spell less class.


as for cantrips, after 5 of them, you could have them all known. later on it's just a magic flavor.


also, what is with all extra spell slots? Is it to replace lost Spell points for missing 8th and 9th level spell slots?
if that, just bite the bullet and have it use SP by default with limit of only one 6th and 7th spell slot per Long rest.

 

[Steampunkette]

Here's my detailed constructive feedback. That it with a grain of salt, just my opinion.

Having seen D&D 2014 Bards in player, and having player a similar character myself with some adjustments to the class, I think they work okay as is with full spell casting progression.

They do work fine, it just isn't my preferred idea of a bard as someone who can play in multiple spaces. They wind up just being another full-caster with Bardic Inspiration instead of Metamagic.

Giving Bard extra attack is nice, but for most builds probably suboptimal vs. casting more effective higher level spells. You'd need to allow Bards to use their spell casting ability modifier for weapon attack/damage modifiers to make this more viable. Could work well at higher levels with good choice of spells from Magical Secrets.

Yup! Suboptimal melee compared to high end spellcasting. Combined with more consistent buffing through bardsongs. Including at least one military march adding to the damage of them and their companions, is my plan.

More cantrips and more 1st level spells are nice, but not that important. The loss of higher level spell slots and the slowed spell casting progress is a big deal. Countersong is very situational - not useful in that many battles. Vicious Mockery as a bonus action is good, but seems like something that works better as an archetype in that regard., The problem would be if someone wants to play a Bard that doesn't make heavy use of Vicious Mockery.

Countersong is one example of the proposed list of 15-18 bardsongs. And it's meant to be available at level 2, giving bards access to what is essentially Counterspell before wizards get Scorching Ray. I think that's nothing to sneeze at...

Cantrips are just flavor, though, yes. Making sure the bards have access to lots of cute little utility magics like prestidigitation and mage hand alongside their damaging cantrips.

The Words of Creation capstone doesn't fit well, though I know it is standard for the 5.5E Bard. I assume that by Power Word: Death you mean Power Word: Kill. You're giving them 9th level spells, even though they're a 3/4 spell casting progression class. Something like the A5E Viruoso capstone for Bard might make more sense.

It might work better, sure. I just based the design on the 5.5e Bard rather than doing a from the ground build, so I tried to keep their capstone. And yup. That would be equivalent to two 9th level spells known with one 9th level spell slot...

I don't see the problem, there. It's a capstone power, not their spellcasting progression.

I don't think you see a problem with it, either, since you just suggested giving them both 9th level "Charm Crowd" with a 6 day duration and a hit-or-miss method of casting 9th level Mass Suggestion on top of it.

 

[bedir than]

I'm hoping the Bardsong can be inspired by some of the following

• battle hymns (you already mentioned damage buffing)
• marches (these are for long movements, exploration)
• shanties (helping the group work together)
• inspirationals (charms)
• rallies (crowd control)

Just a few of the things I hope to see

 

[Lidgar]

This is great. Bardsongs remind me of the Chanter class from Pillars of Eterny, which I really like.

I’ve tinkered around with a Bard that is more of a reskin of the 1e Bard, where the subclasses focuses on the tutelage they receive (Nature, Divine, or Arcane). Was trying to get more of a theme around their spellcasting. But love your approach as well.

 

[Steampunkette]

So let's see... definitely thinking a level 7 required military march. I can call it Battle Hymn, sure.

Battle Hymn
Prerequisite: Level 7
So long as you maintain concentration on this song, you and all allies within 30ft gain a bonus to your weapon and spell attacks equal to your proficiency bonus.
Flourish: When an ally rolls a 17 or higher on a weapon or spell attack roll you may use your reaction to instead treat that roll as a natural 20, and a critical hit.

That way it specifically and especially favors Paladins who drop a smite on a crit, and rogues. And then a nice shanty...

Shanty of Cooperation
Prerequisite: Level 5
So long as you maintain concentration on this song, you and all allies within 30ft may take the Help action as a bonus action with a verbal component.
Flourish: As a reaction to one of your allies using the Help action as a bonus action, you may grant two creatures within 10ft of each other a single weapon attack against any target they can reach.

Adding in the verbal component to the help action essentially makes it a "Call and Response" shanty, kinda!

Unstoppable March
So long as you maintain concentration on this song, you and all allies within 30ft ignore nonmagical difficult terrain and gain a 5ft movement speed increase.
Flourish: You may expend your reaction at any time to allow up to five creatures within the area the ability to move 20ft without provoking opportunity attacks.

Good old repositioning music. The next one -kinda- fits the inspirational... But it's really more of a Rally as outlined...

Epic of the Lightfinger
Prerequisite: Level 5
So long as you maintain concentration on this song, creatures you choose within 20ft of you have disadvantage on Perception and Investigation checks, and they must make a Wisdom saving throw to target you with spells or attacks.
Flourish: When an ally within 30ft of you makes a weapon or spell attack against a creature under the effects of this song, you may use your reaction to grant up to 5 creatures within 20ft of you a bonus to their first attack on their next turn equal to your Bardic Inspiration die.

With a little bit of prep-time for your allies to sneak into position (while the baddies are focused on your music) you give everyone the drop on the baddies... Or you can keep the song going in a tavern while your party's rogue goes all lightfingered on folks. And so can you! Just do yourself up like a sexy loungesinger flirting with your audience while you pick their pockets.

How are those, @bedir than?

 

[Indagare Nogitsune]

I'm really loving this! I like it better than both 5e and LL's. I've played a Bard and, honestly, I much prefer the idea of magical, musical scores like Bardsong to make it feel like you're doing your job properly rather than just singing out spells.

They definitely do not need to be full casters (I actually once toyed with making their spell list closer to a Warlock's).

Spoiler: Possible Subclasses

Possible Name (Class Concept it incorporates): A little bit about it.
Wandering Artists (Artificer): Creative types searching for inspiration for their masterpieces.
Skald (Barbarian): The type some consider mad: their war songs are all merry and their peace songs are all sad.
Keener (Blood Hunter): Blood music for the blood god. (Possibly linked to Banshees, El Silbón, or similar.)
Cantor (Cleric): A holy singer often preached to as part of a choir.
Ovate (Druid): I sing for the trees!
Swashbuckler (Fighter): The flashiest of all duelists who is, somehow, always a Fighter or Rogue variant instead.
Tracer (Monk): From Parkour Brothers.
Herald (Paladin): I come with tidings.
Vagabond (Ranger): I roam around around around.....
Spy (Rogue): There's a spy in the castle? I'm shocked! Shocked I tell you!
Glamourist (Sorcerer): Give 'em the old razzle dazzle.
Musician (Warlock): Is not amused when dealing with creative block due to their Muse being on break.
Spellsinger (Wizard): Treguna Mekoides Trecorum Satis Dee