College of Horror
Spark of Fear
When you join the College of Horror at 3rd level, you
gain proficiency with the Intimidation skill. If you
already have proficiency in this skill, you instead double
your proficiency bonus when making Intimidation
checks.
As a bonus action, you can force one creature to
succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become
frightened for 1 minute. The DC for this saving throw is
equal to 8 + your Intimidation skill bonus. A creature
can repeat the saving throw at the end of each turn,
ending its effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s
saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the
creature is immune to your Spark of Fear for the next
24 hours. The target must be able to see your eyes and
be within 30 feet of you.
Frightful Guise
Also at 3rd level, you learn how to change your physical
form to both frighten and torment your foes. You can
use your action to expend a spell slot and magically
assume the shape of a creature from the Frightful Guise
Forms list (found on the next page).
The level of the spell slot used determines the
creatures you can transform into, as shown in the
Frightful Guise Forms table. With a 5th level spell slot,
for example, you can transform into certain creatures up
to CR 5. Using a 1st level spell slot in this way allows
you to also take the form of 1/8, 1/4, and 1/2 CR
creatures. You can take the form of a Rat, Raven,
Scorpion, or Spider at-will as an action.
You can stay in your frightful guise for a number of
minutes equal to half your bard level (rounded down).
You then revert to your normal form unless you expend
another spell slot of the required level or higher. You
can revert to your normal form earlier by using a bonus
action on your turn. You automatically revert if you fall
unconscious, drop to 0 hit points, or die.
While you are transformed, the following rules apply:
Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of
the creature, but you retain your alignment,
personality, hit points, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and
Charisma scores. You also retain all of your skill and
saving throw proficiencies, in addition to gaining
those of the creature. If the creature has the same
proficiency as you and the bonus in its stat block is
higher than yours, use the creature’s bonus instead
of yours. If the creature has any legendary or lair
actions, you can’t use them.
You can’t cast spells, and your ability to speak or
take any action that requires hands is limited to the
capabilities of your frightful form. Transforming
doesn’t break your concentration on a spell you’ve
already cast, however, or prevent you from taking
actions that are part of a spell, such as Call
Lightning, that you’ve already cast.
You retain the benefit of any features from your
class, race, or other source and can use them if the
new form is physically capable of doing so. However,
you can’t use any of your special senses, such as
darkvision, unless your new form also has that
sense.
You choose whether your equipment falls to the
ground in your space, merges into your new form, or
is worn by it. Worn equipment functions as normal,
but the DM decides whether it is practical for the
new form to wear a piece of equipment, based on the
creature’s shape and size. Your equipment doesn’t
change size or shape to match the new form, and any
equipment that the new form can’t wear must either
fall to the ground or merge with it. Equipment that
merges with the form has no effect until you leave
the form.
Spooky Presence
At 6th level, your very presence strikes fear into the
hearts of your enemies. When a creature within 30 feet
of you is forced to make a saving throw, you can use
your reaction to raise the DC by an amount equal to
your proficiency bonus.
Visage of Horror
Starting at 14th level, when you use your Frightful
Guise, you can force every creature within 60 feet of you
to make a saving throw against your Spark of Fear
feature.
Frightful Guise Forms
CR 0
Rat, Raven, Scorpion, Spider
CR 1
Giant Rat, Stirge, Giant Bat, Giant Centipede, Giant
Poisonous Snake, Giant Wolf Spider, Skeleton, Wolf,
Zombie, Giant Wasp, Jackalwere, Reef Shark, Shadow,
Warhorse Skeleton, Worg, Death Dog, Dire Wolf,
Ghoul, Giant Spider, Scarecrow, Specter
CR 2
Ankheg, Carrion Crawler, Ettercap, Gargoyle, Ghast,
Giant Constrictor Snake, Gibbering Mouther, Grick,
Hunter Shark, Intellect Devourer, Mimic, Minotaur
Skeleton, Nothic, Sea Hag, Spined Devil, Wererat
CR 3
Bearded Devil, Displacer Beast, Giant Scorpion, Green
Hag, Grell, Hell Hound, Hook Horror, Mummy,
Nightmare, Phase Spider, Werewolf, Winter Wolf
CR 4
Banshee, Bone Naga, Flameskull, Ghost, Shadow
Demon, Wereboar, Weretiger
CR 5
Barbed Devil, Giant Shark, Mezzoloth, Night Hag,
Shambling Mound, Vampire Spawn, Werebear, Wraith,
Xorn
CR 6
Chasme, Drider, Vrock
CR 7
Grick Alpha, Mind Flayer
CR 8
Chain Devil, Spirit Naga
CR 9
Bone Devil, Glabrezu