Fighter Subclass: The Skald [5e]

As part of my "subclasses as multiclasses" series (see the multiclass label), this is a Fighter/Bard.

The Skald

 First note: Why isn’t this a Barbarian subclass?

1. I kinda hate the Barbarian class

2. I do not want the Skald to have the rage mechanic

3. If I’m going to make a Barbarian subclass that emulates the Bard, it will be called Gonagall, and based off Pratchett’s Nac Mac Feegles.

Current Version:

3 - Poetic Retort. The Skald learns the Bard cantrip Vicious Mockery. When they score, or are subjected to, a critical hit, they may use Vicious Mockery as a bonus action (if they scored the hit) or a reaction (if they received the hit). The saving throw for their Bard cantrips and spells is 8 + Proficiency Bonus + Charisma Bonus; attack bonuses with their bardic spells is Proficiency Bonus + Charisma Bonus.

Additionally, the Skald learns two bard cantrips of choice, and gains proficiency with two musical instruments or languages of choice.

7 - Exhortation. As an action, the Skald may encourage an ally (including themselves) in an ability check. This encouragement adds one-half the Skald’s proficiency bonus (rounded up) to a check made before the end of the Skald's next turn. If used during a short rest, the Skald’s proficiency bonus is added to each hit die rolled for healing.

10 - Bardic Secrets. The Skald learns some Bardic Magic. At 10th level, select a total of 6 Bard spells from spell levels one to three. Each time the skald gains a level in this class, they may change one of the spells, but they must always be of levels 1-3. These are cast as Bard spells, and require use of components as detailed in the spells themselves.

Each day, the Skald has spell levels equal to their Proficiency Bonus + their Charisma bonus. Casting a spell requires expending these spell levels equal to the spell slot to be used by the spell for that casting. At 10th level, this can be no higher than 2nd level spell slots; at levels 12, 14, 16, and 18, this limit increases by 1, so an 18th level skald may use a 6th level spell slot, expending 6 of their available spell levels. These spell levels return at the end of a long rest.

If feats are being used, and the Skald has the Magic Initiate: Bard feat, then the spell learned from that feat is a bonus to the spells known, and the feat adds 1 additional spell level per long rest. A Skald may take the Magic Initiate: Bard feat as many times as they wish, if feats are in use.

The Skald becomes proficient in Charisma saves.

15 - Greater Exhortation. As an action, the Skald may extend the benefit of Exhortation to all allies within a 30’ radius. Additionally, the bonus of Exhortation applies to attack rolls and saving throws. This bonus only lasts until the end of the Skald’s next turn, but the bonus may be maintained if the skald spends their bonus action each round to do so. This ability requires concentration, like a spell. If concentration is lost, then Greater Exhoration must be restarted as an action.

18 - Skaldic Curse. As a bonus action, a Skald may lay a curse (as bestow curse) on a target within 60'. The target is allowed a Wisdom saving throw to avoid the curse. The curse is not subject to Counterspelling, and requires only Verbal components (the laying of the curse). This curse will last for up to 1 minute, subject to concentration, but the skald can extend that duration to 10 minutes (with concentration) by expending 1 level of their Bardic Magic, 8 hours with 2 level of bardic magic, 24 hours with 4 levels, and until dispelled with 6 levels; these levels must be spent when the curse is laid, and are lost if the Wisdom saving throw is made. The Skald regains the use of this ability after a short or long rest.

Version 2:

3 - Poetic Retort. The Skald learns the Bard cantrip Vicious Mockery. When they score, or are subjected to, a critical hit, they may use Vicious Mockery as a bonus action (if they scored the hit) or a reaction (if they received the hit). The saving throw for their Bard cantrips and spells is 8 + Proficiency Bonus + Charisma Bonus; attack bonuses with their bardic spells is Proficiency Bonus + Charisma Bonus.

Additionally, the Skald learns two bard cantrips of choice, and gains proficiency with two musical instruments or languages of choice.

7 - Exhortation. As an action, the Skald may encourage an ally (including themselves) in an ability check that will take place this round or the next. This encouragement adds one-half the Skald’s proficiency bonus (rounded up) to the check. If used during a short rest, the Skald’s proficiency bonus is added to each hit die rolled for healing.

10 - Bardic Secrets. The Skald learns some Bardic Magic. At 10th level, select a total of 6 Bard spells from spell levels one to three. Each day, the Skald is able to use up to proficiency bonus + Charisma Bonus in spell levels of these 6 spells, using no more than 6 levels at a time. A Skald with Proficiency + Charisma Bonus of 7, for example, may cast a single Cure Wounds as with a 6th level spell slot, and then a single casting with a 1st level spell slot, or may cast a 3rd level spell, a 2nd level spell, and two 1st level spells. These are cast as Bard spells, and require use of components as detailed in the spells themselves. These spell levels return at the end of a long rest.

The Skald becomes proficient in Charisma saves.

15 - Greater Exhortation. As an action, the Skald may extend the benefit of Exhortation to all allies within a 30’ radius. Additionally, the bonus of Exhortation applies to attack rolls and saving throws. This bonus only lasts until the end of the Skald’s next turn, but the bonus may be maintained if the skald spends their bonus action each round to do so. This ability requires concentration, like a spell. If concentration is lost, then Greater Exhoration must be restarted as an action.

18 - Skaldic Curse. As the first attack of an attack action, a skald may lay a curse (as bestow curse) upon a target against whom the skald succeeds in touching. Each curse allows the victim a Wisdom saving throw to avoid that curse. This curse will last for up to 1 minute, subject to concentration, but the skald can extend that duration to 10 minutes (with concentration) by expending 1 level of their Bardic Magic, 8 hours with 2 level of bardic magic, 24 hours with 4 levels, and until dispelled with 6 levels; these levels must be spent before the touch attack is resolved, and are lost if the touch is unsuccessful, or if the Wisdom saving throw is made.

Original Version:

3 - Poetic Retort. The Skald learns the Bard cantrip Vicious Mockery, plus two other Bard cantrips of choice. When they score, or are subjected to, a critical hit, they may use Vicious Mockery as a bonus action (if they scored the hit) or a reaction (if they received the hit). The saving throw for their Bard cantrips and spells is 8 + Proficiency Bonus + Charisma Bonus; attack bonuses with their bardic spells is Proficiency Bonus + Charisma Bonus.

7 - Exhortation. As a standard action, the Skald may encourage an ally (including themselves) in an ability check that will take place this round or the next. This encouragement adds one-half the Skald’s proficiency bonus to the check. If used during a short rest, the Skald’s proficiency bonus is added to each hit die rolled for healing.

10 - Bardic Secrets. The Skald learns some Bardic Magic. At 10th level, select a total of 6 Bard spells from spell levels one to three. Each day, the Skald is able to use up to proficiency bonus + Charisma Bonus in spell levels of these 6 spells, using no more than 6 levels at a time. A Skald with Proficiency + Charisma Bonus of 7, for example, may cast a single Cure Wounds as with a 6th level spell slot, and then a single casting with a 1st level spell slot, or may cast a 3rd level spell, a 2nd level spell, and two 1st level spells. These are cast as Bard spells, and require use of components as detailed in the spells themselves. These spell levels return at the end of a long rest.

The Skald becomes proficient in Charisma saves.

15 - Greater Exhortation. As a standard action, the Skald may extend the benefit of Exhortation to all allies within a 30’ radius. Additionally, the bonus of Exhortation applies to attack rolls and saving throws. This bonus only lasts until the end of the Skald’s next turn, but the bonus may be maintained if the skald spends their bonus action each round to do so.

18 - Skaldic Curse. As the first attack of an attack action, a skald may lay a curse (as bestow curse) upon a target against whom the skald succeeds in touching. The skald may lay multiple curses, one per attack action. Each curse allows the victim a Wisdom saving throw to avoid that curse. This curse will last for 1 minute, without concentration, but the skald can extend that duration to 10 minutes by expending 1 level of their Bardic Magic, 8 hours with 2 level of bardic magic,  24 hours with 4 levels, and until dispelled with 6 levels; these levels must be spent before the touch attack is resolved, and are lost if the touch is unsuccessful, or if the Wisdom saving throw is made.