Bard: College of Direction (Patreon)

“Upon the battlefield, there is sweet music to be found.” 

While many of the Bardic persuasion subtly influence the flow of battle, the presence of a bard from the College of Direction is impossible to ignore. Through a myriad of curious tactics and stratagems, these bards deftly tip any fight in their favor by conducting their allies like an orchestra of death. Through their music and methods they lead the battlefield until a veritable symphony is at their command.

Flawless Technique

3rd level College of Direction feature.

When you choose this subclass at 3rd level, you learn cues that allow you to conduct your allies in combat by utilizing your Bardic Inspiration.

Cues. You learn 3 cues of your choice, which are detailed under “Cues” below. You must spend a use of your Bardic Inspiration to use a cue. The target of a cue must be within 60 feet of you and must be able to see you.

You learn 2 additional cues of your choice at 6th and 14th level. Each time you learn new cues, you can also replace one cue you know with a different one.

Cues:

• Solo: As an action you can direct an ally to make an attack. That creature can immediately use its reaction to make one weapon attack or unarmed strike, adding the Bardic Inspiration die to the attack roll.
• Accent: As an action you can increase a creature’s defenses. Roll the Bardic Inspiration die, and add the number rolled to the target’s AC until the start of your next turn.
• Coda: As an action you can rally an afflicted creature. The target can immediately repeat a saving throw to end one condition affecting it, adding the Bardic Inspiration die to the saving throw.
• Segue: As an action you can have an ally reposition themselves. Roll the Bardic Inspiration die, and the ally can move up to a number of feet equal to 5 times the number rolled. This movement does not provoke opportunity attacks.
• Trill: As a bonus action you can instruct a creature to immediately take the Help, Hide, Search, or Use an Object action. If it makes an ability check as part of this action, roll the Bardic Inspiration die and add the number rolled to the result.
• Rest: As a bonus action you can bestow temporary relief upon a creature. Roll the Bardic Inspiration die, and the creature gains a number of temporary hit points equal to the number rolled.
• Crescendo: As a bonus action you can target an unconscious creature at 0 hit points to enhance its vitality. The creature immediately makes a death saving throw. Roll the Bardic Inspiration die and add the number rolled to the result. If the total number rolled is 20 or higher, the creature regains 1 hit point.
• Harmony: When a creature makes a spell attack roll, you can use your reaction to amplify the magic. Roll the Bardic Inspiration die and add the number rolled to the spell attack roll.
• Forte: When a creature hits with a weapon attack or unarmed strike, you can use your reaction to empower the strike. Roll the Bardic Inspiration die and add the result to the damage roll.
• Flourish: When a creature makes a saving throw, you can use your reaction to bolster their mind and body. Roll the Bardic Inspiration die and add the number rolled to the saving throw. You can use this cue after the creature has rolled, but you must decide before the DM says whether the roll succeeds or fails.
• Staccato: When a creature takes damage, you can use your reaction to cushion the blow. Roll your Bardic Inspiration die and reduce the damage by the number rolled.

Conductive Influence

3rd level College of Direction feature.

Additionally at 3rd level, you have honed your own expertise in the performing arts to ensure the success of other performers. When you use the Help action to aid another creature’s Charisma (Performance) or Charisma (Deception) check, you can add your Charisma bonus to the creature’s roll.

Ensemble

6th level College of Direction feature.

You conduct the battlefield as though it were your orchestra, allowing you to choose the pace of combat. When you roll initiative, you can spend one use of your Bardic Inspiration as long as you are not surprised or incapacitated. When you do so, roll the Bardic Inspiration die and add the number rolled to the initiative of a number of creatures within 60 feet of yourself that can see you (you can choose yourself) up to your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1).

Maestro

14th level College of Direction feature.

You have become a master of direction, inspiring your troupe to unlock their potential. Whenever you use a cue, you may have the affected creature gain a Bardic Inspiration die without expending a use of your Bardic Inspiration.