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Message: <blockquote data-quote="CM" data-source="post: 6558638" data-attributes="member: 18340">This is an idea that I've been mulling for a while, and a couple of quick searches here didn't turn up any matches. I really like the 5e bard, but I also wish there was a nonmagical option. To that end, I've put together this rough draft. It combines most aspects of the college of lore and college of valor bards, with the exclusion of all spellcasting ability. It also adds in a few new toys as well.Exemplar(Non-magical bard variant, temporary name)Class FeaturesAs a bard, you gain the following class features.Hit PointsHit Dice: 1d8 per bard level Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per bard level after 1st.ProficienciesArmor: Light and medium armor and shields Weapons: Simple and martial weapons Tools: Three musical instruments of your choice Saving Throws: Wisdom, Charisma Skills: Choose any threeEquipmentYou start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">(a) a rapier, (b) a longsword and heavy shield, or (c) a shortbow and quiver of arrows</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">(a) a diplomat’s pack or (b) an entertainer’s pack</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">(a) a lute or (b) any other portable musical instrument</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">(a) a chain shirt (b) scale mail or (c) studded leather</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Two daggers</li> </ul>Level / Prof. / Features1st      +2      Bardic Inspiration (d6), Stirring Words2nd     +2      Jack of All Trades, Song of Rest (d6)3rd     +2       Bonus Proficiency, Expertise (2 skills)4th     +2       ASI, Cutting Words5th     +3       Bardic Inspiration (d8), Font of Inspiration6th     +3       ASI, Countercharm, Join the Chorus7th     +3       Extra Attack, Stirring Words (2 dice)8th     +3       ASI9th     +4       Bonus Proficiency (2nd), Song of Rest (d8)10th   +4       Bardic Inspiration (d10), Expertise (2 skills)11th   +4       ASI12th   +4       Bonus Proficiency (3rd)13th   +5       Song of Rest (d10), Peerless Skill14th   +5       ASI15th   +5       Bardic Inspiration (d12), Extra Attack (2)16th   +5       ASI17th   +6       Song of Rest (d12), Stirring Words (3 dice)18th   +6       Bonus Proficiency (4th), Mass Inspiration19th   +6       ASI20th   +6       Expertise (2 skills), Superior InspirationExisting Class Features:Named class features are identical to the PHB versions (although level acquired may vary slightly) except for the following:Ability Score Improvement: Receives a total of seven, as opposed to the standard bard's five.Bardic Inspiration: Includes the college of valor's Combat Inspiration (able to use Bardic Inspiration die with reaction to add to your AC against one attack, or add to a weapon damage roll) baseline at level 1.Bonus Proficiencies: Receives a total of four, which can be skills, tools, or languages, vs. the college of lore's three skills at 3rd level.Expertise: Receives a total of six, instead of four.Extra Attack: Earns extra attacks at 7th and 15th.New Class Features:Stirring Words: You can deliver an inspiring message to your allies, bolstering their will to press on. As a bonus action, spend one use of your Bardic Inspiration. You and each ally within 60 feet who can hear you receives temporary hit points equal to a roll from your Bardic Inspiration die. When you reach 7th level, each time you use Stirring Words those affected roll two dice and receive that many temporary hit points. When you reach 17th level, the benefit increases to three dice.Join the Chorus: Beginning at 6th level, your allies who have one of your d8 or larger Bardic Inspiration dice can use a bonus action to lower their Bardic Inspiration die size by one and grant a Bardic Inspiration die of the same (reduced) size to you or to another ally within 60 feet of them who can hear them. Mass Inspiration: When you reach 18th level, any time you use Bardic Inspiration to grant a Bardic Inspiration die, you can grant a number of dice equal to your Charisma bonus at no additional cost. Each ally can still have no more than one die at a time (of any size).Stirring Words helps out the exemplar in the buffer/healer role, after the loss of curing spell slots. I'm wondering if there needs to be a more powerful single-target version added at around 4th or 5th level.Join the Chorus seemed like a fun way to increase intra-party teamwork cooperation & participation, without being too exploitative. Mass Inspiration is pretty powerful, but at that level it's competing with the regular bard's 9th level spell slot. I'm wondering if it should be earned earlier, say level 10, but start at two targets, and rise to 3, 4, and 5 targets over the next ten levels.</blockquote>

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