Bard College: College of the Golden Fiddle

[The_Doctor]

Thanks to SonsOfSauron for much help, including the infernal dirge.

(This is inspired by The Golden Fiddle, a 3.5 prestige class by Kellus (found here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?68350-Fiddle-me-this-PrC-PEACH)), and by the song "The Devil Went Down to Georgia."
College of the Golden Fiddle
A long time ago, there was a fiddler named Johnny. Out of the blue he was challenged by a fiddler devil of the Nine Hells of Baator. The deal was that if Johnny won he would get the fiddler devil's golden fiddle, but if he lost, the devil would get his soul. Johnny won that contest. The College of the Golden Fiddle is not a traditional college, in that its only members are the ones who have completed similar contests. They don't join, but they gain their powers upon defeating the fiddler devil.

Bonus Proficiences: You gain proficiency with the fiddle musical instrument.
Fiddle of Hell: Starting from level 3, you have a golden fiddle that you won in a fiddling contest. You can carry this fiddle without penalties for weight. If it is stolen from you it returns as soon as whoever stole it takes his eyes off it and you instantly know who tried to steal it from you. You can also use the infernal dirge cantrip.
Dark Lexicon: You learn bane, inflict wounds, and one other spell of your choice that you can cast.
Forged in Fire: Starting at 14th level, you may start performing. This is ongoing and requires concentration. As long as you are concentrating, allies that can see and hear you gain resistance to fire and poison damage, and any attack against them that would cause such damage has disadvantage.

Infernal Dirge
Illusion cantrip

Casting Time: 1 Action
Range: Self (30-foot radius)
Components: V, S, M (a golden fiddle)
Duration: Instantaneous

You play an infernal tune that wracks creatures with pain. Choose a creature within range that you can see. That creature must make a Wisdom saving throw, taking 1d6 fire and 1d6 necrotic damage on a failed save. A deafened creature is immune to this effect.

The number of creatures affected by this spell increases to two at 5th level, three at 11th level, and four at 17th level.

What do you think? Overpowered? Underpowered? In-the-middlepowered?

[SonsOfSauron]

Opposite bless and cure wounds already exist: bane and inflict wounds, though the latter deals only necrotic damage and requires an attack roll.

I think Fiddle From Hell's attack would be cleaner if it was something like:


You can play an infernal stanza using your golden fiddle, inflicting pain upon a creature. Choose a creature you can see within 30 feet. That creature must make a Wisdom saving throw, taking 1d6 fire and 1d6 necrotic damage on a failed save. A deafened creature automatically makes this save.

You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum once). You regain expended uses of this ability after finishing a long rest.

[meltodowno]

Seconding SoS's suggestions.

Overall however, it looks a little weak. For the most part it looks weak, if I'm honest.

Fiddle from hell's damage is only slightly better than vicious mockery cantrip by lvl 5, and doesn't have the save or suck added onto it.

A couple of spells are useful, but the Lore bard learns more and gets to choose what they are.

Forged in fire - rather situational

[The_Doctor]

Wow, I really didn't read through the rest of the spells. Fixed. Also made it so they get one additional spell.

Fiddle from Hell: I'm changing the wording to what SoS suggested, but removing the uses/day limit.

Would changing Forged in Fire to immunity from fire damage and/or the poisoned condition help at all?

[SonsOfSauron]

The fiddle attack could probably work as a college-specific cantrip, too.

Infernal Dirge
Illusion cantrip

Casting Time: 1 Action
Range: Self (30-foot radius)
Components: V, S, M (a golden fiddle)
Duration: Instantaneous

You play an infernal tune that wracks creatures with pain. Choose a creature within range that you can see. That creature must make a Wisdom saving throw, taking 1d6 fire and 1d6 necrotic damage on a failed save. A deafened creature is immune to this effect.

The number of creatures affected by this spell increases to two at 5th level, three at 11th level, and four at 17th level.

2d6 on a cantrip is strong, but it's two commonly resisted damage types, and the damage itself doesn't scale as you level.

Might consider making the 14th-level ability an ongoing performance that requires concentration. Resistance to fire and poison?

[CantigThimble]

You could also make it a warlock-like subclass and give them an OP cantrip they specialized in using. Not as strong as eldritch blast of course but you could make it work.

[Scarce]

Love the flavor! It may still be on the weak side, as I think the capstone might need some more bite. Interesting, none of the features of this college make use of the Bardic Inspiration Dice mechanic. Those dice are your friend when designing bard stuff.