A review copy of “College of Celebrity” was provided by the publisher. Find more DMs Guild Reviews on my website and YouTube channel.

Support my work by using my affiliate links and pledging via Patreon.

Designed by: Sebastian Yūe, Walter Srebalus

The College of Celebrity is a single subclass supplement that adds a new Bard college based around fame (or infamy), along with a new fame-based background.

The College of Celebrity isn’t just for divas and stars, though it lends itself well to those whose reputation precedes them, and they always attract attention. In gameplay, the Celebrity bard is more effective at using Bardic Inspiration to help their allies and themselves, and mentally assault their enemies.

At third level, once per short rest, they can choose to maximize the dice value of a Bardic Inspiration roll, even after it’s rolled. At sixth level they can expend a use of Bardic Inspiration to force a WIS save on an enemy target, dealing ongoing psychic damage with only a single bonus action, and at 14th level they can auto-revive themselves and their allies by rolling their Bardic Inspiration die in the face of an attack that would otherwise down them. Nice!

At third and sixth level the Celebrity gets additional abilities, including extra castings of Disguise Self and Enthrall (to blend in or show off), and using their CHA modifier in place of CON for concentration checks. Limits to these abilities include short rests, CHA modifier per day, and Bardic Inspiration uses, which all feels pretty well balanced.

The new background is Living Legend, which seemingly combines Entertainer and Folk Hero from the Player’s Handbook. It’s not just for famous bards; the Living Legend could be a well-known adventurer, criminal, inventor, or warrior. Tables are provided for the usual traits, bonds, and flaws, as well as unique tables for their fame and trinket from a fan.

The supplement also includes a sample NPC in Miralex Famastri, the founder of the Bard college. Miralex has a detailed biography that showcases a bard who did not necessarily seek fame. But fame found them when they wrote a scathingly satirical play about a corrupt noble house. A full statblock is provided, along with some sample plot hooks.

The final page is dedicated to a Vicious Mockery insult generator, which is a hilariously awesome tool. I would argue that if you’re not using the Vicious Mockery cantrip on the regular, you’re not Bard-ing correctly! The generator provides three columns of 20 insults that combine to mock your foes: “You’re a talentless, badly-dressed troglodyte!” Valravn, the Bard College of Eloquence in our Rime of the Frostmaiden campaign, would certainly appreciate this fun list, and any Bard looking to make a name for themselves would appreciate this subclass.

Pros:

  • Celebrity effectively expands on Bardic Inspiration.
  • Living Legend Background combines folk hero with entertainer.
  • Sample NPC is the founder of the college, with a detailed backstory.
  • Vicious Mockery Insult Generator!

Cons:

  • No interior art.

The Verdict: By maximizing bardic inspiration and striking fear and hope in those around them, The College of Celebrity transforms fame (and infamy) into a solidly designed subclass.

A review copy of “College of Celebrity” was provided by the publisher. Find more DMs Guild Reviews on my website and YouTube channel.

Support my work by using my affiliate links and pledging via Patreon.