Bard - College of Word Play (Patreon)

We've all seen stories about players casting "Cone of Cod," "Cause Bear," or "Hideous Daughter." If you're a punny person, why not take your one-liner game up to the next level? This bard subclass lets you mess with words to your heart's content!

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This is the first homebrew subclass I designed. I love puns and can't help dropping at least one in every session, so I looked for a way to make every one count. This is the result: a bard subclass that can modify spells at will and somehow make puns stick! If you're the joker of the group, this will be extremely fun to play at your sessions.

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Unlike the College of Satire, which focuses primarily on dexterity and thievery, bards in the College of Word Play focus on the magic behind altering words. As a result, this subclass' kit thematically includes some unique abilities that relies on a spry DM's adjudication. Always consult with your DM and make sure they understand this!

Bards always receive extra proficiencies from Level 3 (be it in skills or weapons), so of course the Word Play bard to receive some for Deception and Persuasion.

The 3rd level feature typically defines the subclass' playstyle. Like College of Whispers, this bard can deal extra damage (but at a slower progression). The fun bit is the damage scales based on your friends' reactions. You should know your table because the one-liner could be funny or bad-ass! Imposing disadvantage may feel strong at first, but eventually levels out.

An extra 3rd level feature lets you create some magical roleplay moments. Its usage is very situational, but a single letter can drastically change a social outcome.

The 6th level feature allows the bard to change spells - a feature whose effect depends on the DM's ruling. You're also restricted from changing a spell in the same way within a week. Mechanically, this prevents players from taking advantage of certain changes (like creating lots of bears). This also makes sense thematically because re-using the same puns get stale very quickly.

Lastly, the 14th level feature provides a nice buff to the Word Slay feature so its offensive capabilities can be maintained.

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Disclaimer: This is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved or endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of the Wizards of the Coast.