Aphotic Arcana, 1. College of the Bargain This subclass was designed in October 2019, and was slated as the first release of specialty material for D&D 5e. College of the Bargain The Bard College of the Bargain is a unique subclass inspired by the legend of American blues artist Robert Leroy Johnson. An itinerant musician during the early days of the Delta Blues movement, Johnson's sudden emergence of talent was rumored to be a result of a bargain with the Devil in which he was said to have traded his immortal soul for the ability to play the blues. Much like the tale of the tale of Faust, this has since passed into myth and popular culture. In a familiar fashion to players who have experienced the Divine Soul subclass for the sorcerer, the College of the Bargain employs specific design meant to endow warlock mechanics to the bard at the cost of the player’s bard abilities gained as normal. Unlike other subclass options for the bard, this subclass may be chosen at level 1, forgoing the usual choice of a subclass at the level 3. The features and mechanics are as follows. The Bargain Much like a warlock's patron, your bard has entered into an agreement with an otherworldly or fiendish entity, offering their immortal soul for prowess and power beyond that of mortal ken. This roleplaying hook may manifest itself in many ways throughout your adventures and provides a flavorful opportunity for character and plot development. Your choice grants you features at 1st level, and again at 6th, 10th and 14th level. Bonus Proficiencies Starting at 1st level, your bargain endows you with skills beyond your grasp, but ultimately leads you to ruin. When you choose this subclass at 1st level, you gain proficiency in the Performance skill and any musical instrument if you don't already have it. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses either of those proficiencies. Power at a Price The bargain for your immortal soul allows you to learn spells from the warlock class. When your Spellcasting feature lets you learn or replace a bard cantrip or a bard spell of 1st level or higher, you can choose the new spell from the warlock spell list or the bard spell list. You must otherwise obey all the restrictions for selecting the spell, and it becomes a bard spell for you. Zack Sporen, October 2019 Aphotic Arcana, 1. College of the Bargain The Bargain’s Bane Starting at 6th level, you invoke the power of your Bargain to alter the fate of those who would oppose you. As an action, up to three creatures of your choice that you can see within range must make Charisma saving throws.Whenever a target that fails this saving throw makes an attack roll or a saving throw before the effect ends, the target must roll a d4 and subtract the number rolled from the attack roll or saving throw. This effect lasts for 1 minute and requires concentration. Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest. Bond of Damnation Starting at 10th level, the weight of your bargain begins to weigh heavy on your soul but your resolve strengthens. When you complete a long rest, roll 1d6. On a result of 6, you suffer one level of exhaustion. You make all Constitution saving throws (including concentration) and death saving throws at advantage. Fiendish Opus Starting at 14th level, you channel the power of your soul’s damnation into a spectacular show of devastating power. As an action, you can start a performance that lasts until the end of your next turn. You can expend all uses of your bardic inspiration to deal bonus necrotic damage to the target, in addition to the attack’s damage. The extra damage is equal to 30 + each of your Bardic Inspiration dice, rolled as damage for the attack. If this attack kills the target, you also die and cannot be resurrected. The performance ends early if you are incapacitated or silenced. Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest. Zack Sporen, October 2019