Bard College: College of Alchemy | New Subclass (v.1.2)

Bards of this college see alchemy as a dance between the elements of the world. It’s not bound by the rules of chemistry, and while it can be learned through dedication and study, it can also be felt and intuited by those with a knack for it. Some of these bards go so far as to sing to their alchemical projects, convincing the elements within to simply become something else of their own volition. While most of the College of Alchemy are alchemists by trade, many others are brewers, cooks, or pharmacists. Regardless of their trades, these unusual alchemical savants bend music, magic, and the elements to their will to convert one to another in seamless harmony.

• Become a savant with alchemical tools, or even brewer's supplies or cook's utensils!

• Create special alchemist's fires that explode upon impact! You can even convert these explosives to use other elements to unique effect, like air, earth, or water!

• Mix spellcraft with potion-making to share your magic on demand with your allies.

Since not all subclasses are tied to a specific setting in Saddlebag Year 5, consider the following pre-existing settings to align this with.

• Antronec

• Cards and Caravans

• Feasts, Festivals, and Taverns

• Orostead

Want to see what's next and join the playtesting sessions? Join the Discord to sign up for them each month!

As always, further revisions will be made here with published updates as they're released, as needed.

Credits

I was responsible for direction, design, and additional editing for this setting. However, this couldn't be possible without extra help. If you like this setting, consider supporting these other incredible creators:

TheArenaGuy — Editing

Damien Mammoliti — Subclass illustration

And all the passionate playtesters!

This release is also made especially possible by the extra generosity of $13+ Legendary Heroes! Thank you all so much for you support, and be proud of your place in the end credits! You've earned it!

Update to v1.2

Spell Potions now can use spells that don't target a creature or object. You just need to pour them out on the target or at the point you want. This helps balance the action economy of allowing another creature to deliver a spell, saving your action to do something else, at the cost of making that potion holder be within arm's length. Notable spells this now works with include:

• Minor Illusion

• Prestidigitation

• Sleep (have an elf deliver it)

• Blindness/Deafness (just need to pour it on the target instead)

• Pyrotechnics

• Zone of Truth

• Raulothim's Psychic Lance (pour it on, etc.)

• Mass Suggestion

• Programmed Illusion

...And others, I'm sure.

Update to v1.1

Added the option to make your own containers, rather than buying them:

You can magically create a suitable, clay-like container over the course of 10 minutes with sand or finely ground stone worth 2 cp, which is consumed as part of creating the container. If you use a set of alchemist’s supplies, it takes 1 minute to make each container instead.