Frontier Previews: The Border Road and College of Wands Bard!

Chapter 2 of Frontiers of Eberron is 52 pages in length. It is a gazetteer of the region that explores the major settlements of the Western Frontier, along with landmarks, famous and infamous people, faiths, and more. Both locations and individuals include lists of interesting details and ideas that could be used for character connections or story hooks—addressing the ongoing question of why does this matter?

But Frontiers of Eberron isn't just lore. It includes new subclasses, species, backgrounds, feats, magic items, monsters, and more. Here's a peek at one of those subclasses, as chosen by poll on the Patreon! Wandslingers are tied to the idea of everyday magic in Eberron. When the setting first came out, there wasn't a good way to model an arcane gunslinger. The introduction of cantrips provides a way for any character to perform a little magic, and Frontiers explores this with subclasses, feats, and items, along with special rules for arcane duels. I've always seen the Bard class as an excellent foundation for a wandslinger—a dashing, charismatic scoundrel or spy. As designed by Imogen Gingell, the College of Wands embraces this—giving the bard a chance to choose a cantrip that fits the image of the wandslinger a little better than vicious mockery, and giving them speed, flair, and a chance to hit hard with an inspired blast.

BARD: COLLEGE OF WANDS

Wield Deadly Magic with Style and Panache!

For a Bard of the College of Wands, spellcasting is an art and every duel is a symphony. Whether they use their skills as Entertainers, Smugglers, or Spies, a Bard can draw applause from an audience even as they lay an enemy low with a distracting word, a perfect gesture, and a surge of arcane power.

Level 3: Bonus Cantrip

You know one cantrip of your choice from the Sorcerer spell list (see the Sorcerer class’s section of the Player’s Handbook for a list of Sorcerer spells). Fire Bolt is recommended. The cantrip counts as a Bard cantrip for you, but it doesn’t count against the number of Bard cantrips you know.

Additionally, you can use a Wand, Rod, or Orb as a Spellcasting Focus for your Bard spells.

Level 3: Wandslinger’s Presence

You know how to talk yourself up and tear your opponents down. If you speak to a creature for at least 1 minute, you can attempt to distract and rattle them when the call to action finally comes. If the creature rolls an Initiative count equal to or higher than your own, it must make a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, the creature’s Initiative is reduced to be equal to yours, and it acts immediately after you in the Initiative order.

Level 3: At Your Fingertips

When you hit a creature with a Bard cantrip or when a creature fails a saving throw against one of your Bard cantrips, you can expend one use of your Bardic Inspiration to deal an extra 2d6 damage to that creature. You can do so only once per round, on your turn. The extra damage increases when you reach Bard levels 5 (3d6), 10 (5d6) and 15 (8d6).

Level 6: Got Your Back

You know how to cast with style, and your allies can take heart from your displays of grit or showmanship. If you expend a use of your Bardic Inspiration to improve the damage of a cantrip with your At Your Fingertips feature, you can use your Bonus Action on the same turn to grant a creature you can see within 60 feet of yourself Advantage on the next saving throw it makes for 1 minute.

Level 14: Ain’t Big Enough for the Both of Us

Your wandplay is legendary, and your territory is assured. Whenever you expend a use of your Bardic Inspiration or when a creature within 60 feet of you adds one of your Bardic Inspiration dice to a D20 Test, one creature of your choice that can see you within 60 feet of yourself must make a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, the target has the Frightened condition until the end of its next turn. If the target already has the Frightened condition, it must immediately use its Reaction, if available, to move as far as away from you as it can, using the safest route.

Thanks for your support! Frontiers of Eberron: Quickstone is coming to the DM's Guild in September.