This is pretty much a perfect class. You can fill every role in a party except for tank. I love subclasses that give me tons of options, so this is right up my alley.
I had an idea for a character using this subclass but throwing out the flavor they propose, basically the idea was be a Child of Prophecy, but in a sense where you have so many bloody ancestors (in this case, 4 major Ancestral lineages) that they all fight for control over you in such a way that in effect they all cancel out to be an annoying time You've got "Evil like Me" from Descendants, "Mother Knows Best" from Tangled, "Waiting in the Wings" from Tangled: The Animated Series, and "One Last Hope" from Hercules all blaring at max volume inside of your mind as all of your families try to control what you're going to do You get a lot of help/training from them and magical lineage but since they all cancel each other out, you don't end up taking the narrative spotlight as often You can also pick up some Warlock levels with a subclass representing your Family's collective shenanigans (maybe Undead), or The Reincarnated Hero Sorcerer from this book because even the potentially villainous side of your blood could have warriors in it. It just seems like a SUPER fun concept to play
It would be nice to wear all 4 mask at once on each side of your head. I can picture having your head spin around between faces depending on which mask you activated last.
This is fascinating that the prestige class from 3.5e Master of Masks which required lots of parallels in the SHADOW dancer prestige class to be turned into a bars subclass. I think the only thing is that the masks are ultimately weaker because they changed your presented alignment.
I really like this college of masks. That said, I wish that it was slightly different. I don't know if it would make it overpowered or not, but I wish you could change up to one mask upon completion of a long rest. It would basically be worded that during your long rest you worked on and altered your mask to change it into this. That would allow you to pay attention to what you're doing in your campaign and adjust accordingly. As it is now, I can't come up with a logical role-play reason why you can't change a mask throughout your adventures except when you level up. I know it's probably there for the mechanical balancing, but it just doesn't feel right for the role play. I wish it was either you could change it on a long rest, or you just can't change it.
Having all 10 masks at one time could end up being OP so limiting to 4 masks max per level is a good idea but kinda making it harder to choose which ones to have on at all times because you'll come upon a time when you need a mask that you don't have at the time but it'd help lots if you did have it but depending on how your dm handles levels it could take many sessions before you could switch up what masks you have.
Great now apart from having to choose magical sectrers we have another tough choice :). Still love that there can be 4 people having this subclass and play it completely differently... i wish there were more options for monks 🙄
Not a fan of how some masks are really, REALLY powerful, and some just give you worse things to use BI on, namely Angel, Devil and Dragon. I think Lord is fine, but I'm not as impressed as Jameson and Alex. Eloquence's BI uses are much, much better. Gladiator makes you meh at melee, and I don't like how you don't get any other class features to make you a more interesting melee character, including extra attack. I'd be most tempted to use this on a PalaBard or HexBard. The added spell lists you can swap out situationally are insanely good. Since you only get two masks at once at 14, I'd take the Spell List masks as I level up, with Fool and Lord later.
High priest and Archmage masks are so overpowered that I hardly see any reason not to choose them both at level 3. No other mask is even half as useful as those two. The most powerful thing you will ever get from this subclass as you level up are additional spells granted by Archmage and High priest. And you can just swap between them in combat as a bonus action...
The only big downside I see with this class is that 3 of the masks use up your inspiration dice (which already has limited uses) to do a little extra damage. The concept is very cool and The other 7 masks are unique and interesting!
I love this subclass, except for the bonus proficiency in performance. Personally I think that it's a redundant misfire on their part. Any self-respecting bard will already be taking a proficiency in performance. It would have been much more helpful and flavorful if they gave you proficiency in one or two craftsman's tools. Because you actually have to MAKE the masks. If I had the chance to play this subclass I'd ask my DM to switch the bonus proficiency gained by this feature.
I feel like this subclass is trying to be too many things at once. I wish players could keep more than 4 masks at higher levels. If I were to DM, I would definitely allow players to swap mask every long rest instead of every level. Nevertheless, this bard subclass sure is interesting and unique.
Yeah I think being able to switch at a long rest would make this subclass a lot better. Then the 4 mask limit kinda of acts like a variation of prepped spells. Still limiting but in a balanced way I feel. My proposal that no one asked for: Level 3: You get 2 masks. 2 masks can be “prepped” at a time. Level 5: You get 3 masks. 2 masks can be “prepped” at a time. 1 mask can be swapped on a long rest. Level 7: You get 4 masks. 2 masks can be “prepped” at a time. 1 mask can be swapped on a long rest. Level 9: You get 5 masks. 3 masks can be “prepped” at a time. 1 mask can be swapped on a long rest. Level 11: You get 6 masks. 3 masks can be “prepped” at a time. 1 mask can be swapped on a long rest. Level 13: You get 7 masks. 3 masks can be “prepped” at a time. 2 masks can be swapped on a long rest. Level 14: You get 7 masks. 3 masks can be “prepped” at a time. 2 masks can be swapped on a long rest. “Master of Many Faces” can now let you layer up to 2 masks. Level 15: You get 8 masks. 4 masks can be “prepped” at a time. 2 masks can be swapped on a long rest. Level 17: You get 9 masks. 4 masks can be “prepped” at a time. 2 masks can be swapped on a long rest. Level 19: You get all 10 masks. 4 masks can be “prepped” at a time. 3 masks can be swapped on a long rest. Level 20: You get all 10 masks. 5 masks can be “prepped” at a time. 4 masks can be swapped on a long rest. “Master of Many Faces” can now let you layer up to 3 masks.
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This is pretty much a perfect class. You can fill every role in a party except for tank. I love subclasses that give me tons of options, so this is right up my alley.
You even can be a bit of a tank with the Gladiator
Great job, boys. I really like it when you review homebrew subclasses; not many other channels do that. Keep up the good work!
I want to cram as many references into the masks as I can and see how many my group can catch!
Just love the concept of a bard based on masks. I used to play a swords bard whose mask were part of its spells somatic components.
I like that this subclass just adds to the base ...It makes it even more bardy.
Jack of all trades intensifies
Happy Hands! More give away stuffs. Always nice time watching your hands while you talk.
Y'all explained this so well! I was a little confused when I was reading the description
I had an idea for a character using this subclass but throwing out the flavor they propose, basically the idea was be a Child of Prophecy, but in a sense where you have so many bloody ancestors (in this case, 4 major Ancestral lineages) that they all fight for control over you in such a way that in effect they all cancel out to be an annoying time
You've got "Evil like Me" from Descendants, "Mother Knows Best" from Tangled, "Waiting in the Wings" from Tangled: The Animated Series, and "One Last Hope" from Hercules all blaring at max volume inside of your mind as all of your families try to control what you're going to do
You get a lot of help/training from them and magical lineage but since they all cancel each other out, you don't end up taking the narrative spotlight as often
You can also pick up some Warlock levels with a subclass representing your Family's collective shenanigans (maybe Undead), or The Reincarnated Hero Sorcerer from this book because even the potentially villainous side of your blood could have warriors in it.
It just seems like a SUPER fun concept to play
The Mask Bard- All the classes in one.
That’s a sweet subclasses
This one looks great
ohh man with this and maybe a multiclass I can totally RP as jack of blades ❤
Really like the gladiator, archmage and the cleric one
That freaking mask seller frim majoras mask is so creepy
It could be interesting to cross class this with the college of spirits bard.
Jesus this is phenomenal
When he said persona masks all my brain did was block everything out and blare the persona 5 theme
It would be nice to wear all 4 mask at once on each side of your head. I can picture having your head spin around between faces depending on which mask you activated last.
True subclass fot teater actor
This is fascinating that the prestige class from 3.5e Master of Masks which required lots of parallels in the SHADOW dancer prestige class to be turned into a bars subclass. I think the only thing is that the masks are ultimately weaker because they changed your presented alignment.
looks really fun to goof around in rp
I really like this college of masks. That said, I wish that it was slightly different. I don't know if it would make it overpowered or not, but I wish you could change up to one mask upon completion of a long rest. It would basically be worded that during your long rest you worked on and altered your mask to change it into this. That would allow you to pay attention to what you're doing in your campaign and adjust accordingly. As it is now, I can't come up with a logical role-play reason why you can't change a mask throughout your adventures except when you level up. I know it's probably there for the mechanical balancing, but it just doesn't feel right for the role play. I wish it was either you could change it on a long rest, or you just can't change it.
Having all 10 masks at one time could end up being OP so limiting to 4 masks max per level is a good idea but kinda making it harder to choose which ones to have on at all times because you'll come upon a time when you need a mask that you don't have at the time but it'd help lots if you did have it but depending on how your dm handles levels it could take many sessions before you could switch up what masks you have.
I think it has a bit of an artificer flavor, like - do your own magic item kind of thing.
Great now apart from having to choose magical sectrers we have another tough choice :). Still love that there can be 4 people having this subclass and play it completely differently... i wish there were more options for monks 🙄
Not a fan of how some masks are really, REALLY powerful, and some just give you worse things to use BI on, namely Angel, Devil and Dragon. I think Lord is fine, but I'm not as impressed as Jameson and Alex. Eloquence's BI uses are much, much better.
Gladiator makes you meh at melee, and I don't like how you don't get any other class features to make you a more interesting melee character, including extra attack. I'd be most tempted to use this on a PalaBard or HexBard.
The added spell lists you can swap out situationally are insanely good. Since you only get two masks at once at 14, I'd take the Spell List masks as I level up, with Fool and Lord later.
Where do i find this subclass
High priest and Archmage masks are so overpowered that I hardly see any reason not to choose them both at level 3. No other mask is even half as useful as those two. The most powerful thing you will ever get from this subclass as you level up are additional spells granted by Archmage and High priest. And you can just swap between them in combat as a bonus action...
The only big downside I see with this class is that 3 of the masks use up your inspiration dice (which already has limited uses) to do a little extra damage. The concept is very cool and The other 7 masks are unique and interesting!
I love this subclass, except for the bonus proficiency in performance. Personally I think that it's a redundant misfire on their part. Any self-respecting bard will already be taking a proficiency in performance. It would have been much more helpful and flavorful if they gave you proficiency in one or two craftsman's tools. Because you actually have to MAKE the masks.
If I had the chance to play this subclass I'd ask my DM to switch the bonus proficiency gained by this feature.
Love u guys would love to win
I feel like this subclass is trying to be too many things at once. I wish players could keep more than 4 masks at higher levels. If
I were to DM, I would definitely allow players to swap mask every long rest instead of every level. Nevertheless, this bard subclass sure is interesting and unique.
Yeah I think being able to switch at a long rest would make this subclass a lot better. Then the 4 mask limit kinda of acts like a variation of prepped spells. Still limiting but in a balanced way I feel.
My proposal that no one asked for:
Level 3: You get 2 masks. 2 masks can be “prepped” at a time.
Level 5: You get 3 masks. 2 masks can be “prepped” at a time. 1 mask can be swapped on a long rest.
Level 7: You get 4 masks. 2 masks can be “prepped” at a time. 1 mask can be swapped on a long rest.
Level 9: You get 5 masks. 3 masks can be “prepped” at a time. 1 mask can be swapped on a long rest.
Level 11: You get 6 masks. 3 masks can be “prepped” at a time. 1 mask can be swapped on a long rest.
Level 13: You get 7 masks. 3 masks can be “prepped” at a time. 2 masks can be swapped on a long rest.
Level 14: You get 7 masks. 3 masks can be “prepped” at a time. 2 masks can be swapped on a long rest. “Master of Many Faces” can now let you layer up to 2 masks.
Level 15: You get 8 masks. 4 masks can be “prepped” at a time. 2 masks can be swapped on a long rest.
Level 17: You get 9 masks. 4 masks can be “prepped” at a time. 2 masks can be swapped on a long rest.
Level 19: You get all 10 masks. 4 masks can be “prepped” at a time. 3 masks can be swapped on a long rest.
Level 20: You get all 10 masks. 5 masks can be “prepped” at a time. 4 masks can be swapped on a long rest. “Master of Many Faces” can now let you layer up to 3 masks.