College of the Campfire Bard

Bards are story tellers, right? Maybe through songs. Maybe through dance. But what if through campfire stories? The special feeling around a fire that feels primal is a powerful environment that I didn’t think was properly represented in D&D 5e so far. I think it’s fair to draw a little comparison to the College of Spirits in that both get options of stories with mechanical capabilities, but I’m very comfortable in the distance between them. I’m interested in the tactical aspect of placing the campfire and staying within a certain radius. Are you able to keep the fight in the right area? Eventually, you’re able to summon an easily moveable campfire in the form of an animated bonfire that enables even stronger effects. I also really like the idea of playing a caveman bard - doesn’t that just seem fun?

Will you join me around the fire?

It’s available now in the shop and is free to the Spud Club during the month of August.

Overview

Bards of the College of the Campfire are powerful storytellers who draw on the primal magic of flame and companionship. Through a series of stories empowered by a magical campfire, these bards weave together incredible tales of inspiration and fear.

Often found amongst adventurers and pioneers, those of the College of the Campfire tend to prefer the company of the wilds, where the majestic howl of a wolf or the eerie silence of midnight provide a natural backdrop for their stories.

Feature Preview

Campfire Stories

3rd-level College of the Campfire feature

Your ability to control the ancient power of the campfire manifests both as a magical flame and as harrowing stories. As an action, you can create a magical medium-sized campfire on the ground or floor in an area that you can see within 30 feet of you.

The campfire produces bright light in a 10-foot radius and dim light for an additional 10 feet. The magical flames cause no damage, and creatures within the campfire’s light become comfortably warm. The campfire lasts for 1 hour or until dismissed (no action required). If you use this feature while you already have a campfire active, the previous campfire ceases to exist.

While in the campfire’s light, you can use a bonus action to tell a campfire story. Other creatures must be within the campfire’s light and be able to see or hear you when you use this bonus action to be affected by this feature.

Ghost Story. A number of creatures of up to your Charisma modifier must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be frightened of the campfire until the start of your next turn.

Heroic Story. A number of creatures of up to your Charisma modifier have advantage on saving throws against the charmed and frightened conditions until the start of your next turn.

Love Story. A number of creatures of up to your Charisma modifier gain temporary hit points equal to your proficiency bonus until the start of your next turn.

Painful Story. A number of creatures of up to your Charisma modifier must succeed on a Charisma saving throw or take psychic damage equal to a roll of your Bardic Inspiration die.

You can use this feature to create a campfire a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses of it when you finish a long rest, unless you expend a spell slot of 2nd level or higher to create another campfire.