Dungeons & Dragons: How To Build A College Of The Road Bard

Jump Links

• College Of The Road Bard Subclass Overview

• Best Ability Scores For A College Of The Road Bard

• Best Species For A College Of The Road Bard

• Best Backgrounds For A College Of The Road Bard

The college of the road bard is a fun and engaging subclass for Dungeons & Dragons that comes from the Humblewood campaign setting, an adventure module in which players take on the roles of cute and cuddly woodland creatures. However, while this subclass is great for this setting, there's nothing saying you can't port this subclass into any campaign of yours.

Dungeons & Dragons: All Species In The Humblewood Campaign Setting

Humblewood is a charming and endearing campaign setting for 5e. Here are all the playable species in Humblewood.

But if you've never heard of this subclass before, you might be wondering where to start. That's why we've created this comprehensive guide. Here's everything you need to know about creating the perfect college of the road bard in Dungeons & Dragons.

College Of The Road Bard Subclass Overview

As implied by the name, college of the road bards are all about learning things as you go, and playing things by ear.

Rather than study at a formal school, college of the road bards are students of the world, and learn their skills from traveling.

Here's an overview of the college of the road bard's features and abilities, as well as which level you get each ability at.

Feature/Ability

Level

Details

Bonus Proficiencies

3

When you join this college at level three, you gain three proficiencies of your choice.

These proficiencies can be with a type of martial weapon, one from a variety of tools and kits, or skill/language proficiencies.

Wanderer's Lore

3

At third level, whenever you grant an ally inspiration, they may make either an Arcana, History, Nature, or Religion check with advantage if they so desire.

Traveler's Tricks

3

You learn two Traveler's Tricks of your choice from a list of special tricks and abilities, used instead of a Bardic Inspiration.

These tricks represent useful tidbits you've picked up from your life on the road. You also gain more of these tricks at sixth and 14th levels.

Favorite Trick

6

You gain mastery over one of your tricks to the point where you can use it whenever needed.

If you roll initiative and no longer have any Bardic Inspiration left, you gain one usage and can use it to perform your favorite trick, which you must designate at this level.

Improved Tricks

6 and 14

At sixth and 14th levels, your tricks become improved.

Each trick has its own level-up rules at sixth and 14th levels, detailed in the trick description.

You may also select a second favorite trick.

Best Ability Scores For A College Of The Road Bard

Like all bards, Charisma is going to be your primary stat, as this dictates the amount of Bardic Inspiration you have on hand.

Ability Score

Details

Charisma

Because this subclass gains more usages of tricks through Bardic Inspiration, you'll want to place your highest stat in Charisma.

Dexterity

Dexterity determines your initiative rolls and the strength of any of your ranged or simple weapon attacks (provided they have the finesse property), so make Dexterity your second-highest stat.

Bards are also proficient in Dexterity saving throws, so you'll want to capitalize on this.

Constitution

While bards are by no means squishy, having a decent HP pool is important, so place a decently high stat in Constitution.

Strength

Depending on the tricks you take with this subclass, you might want a decently high Strength score, so place a mid-range stat in Strength.

Intelligence

Intelligence ultimately isn't that important to a bard, but as arcane magic users, it can prove useful; however, you can place a low stat in Intelligence.

Wisdom

Wisdom is often counterintuitive to the roleplay of a bard, and isn't that important for their build, so place your lowest stat in Wisdom.

Take a look at the trick list in the Humblewood campaign setting ahead of assigning your stats.

Some of these tricks require you to rely on different stats, so adjust your stats based on the tricks you want to learn.

Best Species For A College Of The Road Bard

If you're playing in the Humblewood setting, there are a few species that work best with bards and college of the road bards in particular.

Species

Details

Luma

Luma are dove-like birdfolk from the Humblewood setting. They gain a +2 to their Charisma score, making them ideal bards.

Hedge

Hedges are hedgehog-like creatures from the Humblewood setting. They gain a +2 to their Charisma and a +1 to their Wisdom, evening out a low stat for bards.

Gnome

If you're playing outside of the Humblewood setting, gnomes also make for great college of the road bards as you'll gain advantage on Charisma saving throws, optimizing an already powerful stat.

Species in the Humblewood campaign setting are technically legacy content. Talk to your DM about balancing these abilities with a non-legacy campaign.

Best Backgrounds For A College Of The Road Bard

Lastly, there is one Humblewood-specific background that's great for this subclass, as well as two from the 2024 Player's Handbook that work well.

Background

Details

Bandit Defector

As this background is legacy content, you gain no ability score improvements. However, you gain proficiency in a Disguise Kit, which is helpful for bards and their deceptive ways.

Entertainer

Entertainers are always going to make a great background for bards, not just for roleplay, but thanks to ability score improvements in Strength, Dexterity, and Charisma.

Wayfarer

Similarly, wayfarers make great bards thanks to their ability score improvements in Dexterity and Charisma.

Plus, having proficiency with Thieves' Tools can make for some unique roleplay opportunities for bards.

When blending legacy and non-legacy content as a Dungeon Master, make sure you're only using ability score improvements from either a player's background or species, not both.

Dungeons & Dragons: How To Build A Reanimator Artificer

The reanimator artificer subclass is a fun and unique horror build for DND. Here's how to build one.