[Legendary Games] Legendary Bard Playtest (Closed)

[Psyren]

That just... isn't how the spell works. It can't sink boats, and it only floods things until the duration ends.

It can explicitly create whirlpools in open water, which "puts ships at risk" It's a 4th-level spell.

How often do enemies stack vertically before 5th level? How often do enemies vertically stack ever? There are exactly two edge-cases where you can hit multiple enemies with call lightning: Two creatures sharing a space (Large+ creature and Small- creature, or a mount and a rider), which rarely happens before 5th level, and a flying creature flying directly above another creature, which also rarely happens before 5th level because flying creatures tend to be horrifically unbalanced at low levels.

Greatswords can also crit, can be buffed actively by class features, and target AC compared to Saving Throws, which is usually a better option at low levels.
The 16 Str Fighter at 1st level has +4 to hit before any class features, and is targeting an average AC of 14 for a CR1 foe, with a rough DPR of 6.655 (55% chance to hit, 5.5% adjusted crit chance, 11 average damage)

The 16 Cha Bard at 1st level has a DC of 13, and is targetting an average Reflex bonus of +4 for a CR 1 foe, with a rough DPR of 4.2 (40% chance the foe fails, average damage of 10.5). This also costs them a daily resource.

I can't say I agree that mount and rider doesn't happen before 5th level. And even removing the "vertical AoE" potential, this is still a 100ft. blast with competitive damage at 1st-level on a non-blasting class.

Charming Performance: Its just....it should be a more social ability than Charm Person, not a LESS social one. After all, you sing/Dance/Rap/Whatever for it instead of just firing off a spell.
I would increase the duration, but (if thats considered too strong) add in a few actions that, if executed by the performer, immedeately end the effect?
Would make it more of a way to prepare social encounters/sing for peace than Charm person (which,m they also get anyway).

The Call Lightning Variant: Granted, it is worse than done by a Druid. Still, a Bard is NOT a Blaster CLass, so does he need it at level 1?

Indeed.