College of Stardom

Bards of the College of Stardom captivate audiences, whether on a tavern stage, royal court, or battlefield. Their charm doesn’t just enchant - it compels. Stardom bards use their overwhelming presence and practiced perfection to dazzle enemies and inspire allies. Their performances shape perception itself, and their fame carries mystical weight.

Center of Attention (3rd Level)

Your fame is more than social, it's magical.

Glamourous Entrance. When you roll initiative, you can choose to emit a dazzling aura of charisma. Until the end of your next turn:

  • Enemies within 10 feet of you must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (DC = your Spell Save DC) or have disadvantage on their first attack roll or ability check made before the end of their next turn.

  • Allies within 10 feet gain temporary hit points equal to your Charisma modifier.

Encore Inspiration. When a creature uses a Bardic Inspiration die and rolls a 1, they retain the die and can roll it again on a future use. This can occur once per creature per Long Rest.

Spotlight (3rd Level)

You’ve mastered commanding attention with a flourish.

When you give a creature Bardic Inspiration, you can choose to mark them as being in your Spotlight until the end of your next turn. While in the Spotlight:

  • The creature glows faintly (your choice of visual effect).

  • When the creature hits with an attack or succeeds on a saving throw while using your Inspiration die, it gains a bonus equal to your Charisma modifier to the damage or healing roll (once per Spotlight duration).

  • Only one creature can be in your Spotlight at a time. Giving Bardic Inspiration to another creature moves the Spotlight.

Fan Service (6th Level)

Your admirers shield you and raise your reputation.

  • Star Power. When you take damage from a creature you can see within 60 feet, you can use your reaction to force that creature to make a Charisma saving throw (DC = your Spell Save DC). On a failed save, it is charmed by you until the end of its next turn and can’t willingly target you with attacks or harmful abilities during that time. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier per Long Rest.

  • Viral Moment. When you succeed on a Performance check in a social encounter or earn a critical hit in combat, you can immediately regain one use of Bardic Inspiration (no action required). This can occur once per Short or Long Rest.

Larger than Life (10th Level)

Your Spotlight feature now grants the chosen ally one of the following benefits (your choice) until the end of your next turn:

  • Stage Confidence. They can’t be frightened or charmed.

  • Star Struck. They impose disadvantage on one attack made against them (once).

  • Burst of Brilliance. If they reduce a creature to 0 HP while in the Spotlight, they can immediately move up to half their speed without provoking opportunity attacks

Encore Performance (14th Level)

Legends never fade. You push past failure with flair. When a creature within 60 feet uses your Bardic Inspiration die and fails the associated roll (attack, save, check), you can use your reaction to turn the result into a partial success:

  • Attack: The attack still deals half damage.

  • Save: The creature takes half effect.

  • Ability Check: The creature rolls again with advantage.

You can use this feature once per Long Rest unless you expend a spell slot of 3rd level or higher to use it again.