Roguish Archetype: College Dropout
Not everyone who attends bardic college has the necessary aptitude for turning the language of creation into magic – the hidden truth of such institutions is that for every graduate, there are two or three more prospective students who failed to master the college’s occult teachings. Of these “dropouts”, many were still successful in learning the practical lessons of flare and show business, and decided to take their talents in a new, nonmagical, more roguish direction.
| Rogue Level | College Dropout Features |
|---|---|
| 3rd | Jack of Some Trades, Roguish Inspiration (1) |
| 9th | Distracting Performance |
| 13th | Audience of One, Roguish Inspiration (2) |
| 17th | Drama Monarch, Distracting Performance improvement |
Jack of Some Trades
3rd-level College Dropout feature
You gain proficiency in one musical instrument and one artisan’s tool of your choice.
Additionally, you may choose one skill or tool with which you are proficient, and double your proficiency bonus for it. You cannot choose a skill or tool that is already benefiting from Expertise or a similar feature.
Roguish Inspiration
3rd-level College Dropout feature
You know how to create openings for your allies. When you deal your Sneak Attack damage, you may choose to gain a pool of d6s equal to your Sneak Attack dice. For each d6 in the pool, you may immediately gift it to a friendly creature of your choice within 60 feet of you that can see or hear you; you may gift multiple d6s to the same creature, and any un-gifted d6s are lost. Chosen creatures must add any gifted d6s to their next attack roll, saving throw, or ability check.
Once you have used this feature, you must complete a short or long rest before you may do so again. From 13th level, you may use this feature twice between rests.
Distracting Performance
9th-level College Dropout feature
You can use your bonus action to begin (or continue) a performance, which can take the form of an instrumental, song, oration, etc. Choose a creature within 10 feet of you that can see or hear you; until the start of your next turn, you cannot be Hidden from the chosen creature, and it has disadvantage on Perception and Investigation checks, and on Constitution saving throws to maintain concentration.
If a friendly creature hits the target of your Distracting Performance with a weapon or spell attack, you may choose to end the effects of the performance early. If you do so, it takes an additional 2d6 damage from the triggering attack – this damage is of the same type as the attack.
From 17th level, this feature affects all creatures of your choice within 10 feet of you that can see or hear you, rather than just one.
Audience of One
13th-level College Dropout feature
You can inspire yourself if not your allies. If you do not gift all the d6s with your Roguish Inspiration feature, you gain a bonus to the next attack roll, ability check, or saving throw you make; this bonus is +1 for each un-gifted die.
Drama Monarch
17th-level College Dropout feature
The centre of attention is not often where a rogue wishes to be, but you’ve learned to thrive in it. When a creature is slain while under the effects of your Distracting Performance, you regain a use of your Roguish Inspiration. This ability can trigger no more than once per combat.