Oh wait. U cant

The Troubadour

While I wait for some rounds of play testing before the next revision of my Shaman homebrew, I decided to clear my head by tackling a 'simple' half caster.

With the release of the Artificer, we have another official half caster in the ranks of 5E. This left me thinking - we have half casters of most of our full caster options at this point: Paladin (cleric), Ranger (druid), Artificer (wizard), and Warlock (warlock ;D ).

This leaves the sorcerer and the bard. I've always hated that the only musical class is charisma, and so many folks shoe horn them into sex crazed/ suave/ manipulators.

On top of that, most musicians I know are NOT incredibly charismatic. In fact many can be the exact opposite, and if you know music theory it's math with art on top. I think this excerpt sums it up well:

>Remember a troubadour may be a musical half-caster, but they are not to be confused with their full caster cousins. What they lack in charisma and high magic, they make up for with physical prowess and a tactical eye. If a bard is a band's glamorous lead singer, a troubadour is a first violinist with a sword or a prestigious symphony's conductor with a pension for warfare.

Because of this I also thought that Bards left a lot to be desired in the teamwork department. So I aimed for a half caster that operates more functionally like a Warlord than a Bard. Since we don't have a warlord in 5E I hoped this would keep Bards unique and give the creative space necessary to make something unique.

So here is my Troubadour, an intellect based martial half-caster with a buffet of aura options. Three subclasses include the Skald, Balladeer, and the Standard Bearer.

EDIT: I am reposting this update after this was up for just a few hours Friday before it was removed. I found the one missing citation for artwork (didn't realize a temporary unknown placeholder was against the rules!) I got some great feedback while it was up though, and made some changes to help simplify some things that could slow down combat. Thanks!

Ranged intelligence hero Support/Ganker/Utility/Buffs/Teamfight

Q: Timeless Melody

Cycles through three different modes with different effects:

Dissonant Melody (Red): Applies a damage over time and slowing debuff on an enemy.

Resounding Melody (Blue): Damages an enemy and reduces their armor.

Triumphant Melody (Green): Heals nearby allies.

Damage per second (Red): 10/20/30/40

Move speed slow (Red): 30%

Duration (Red): 8

Damage (Blue): 100/150/200/250

Armor reduction (Blue): 4/5/6/7

Heal (Green): 100/130/160/190

Radius (Green): 900

Cooldown: 10

Mana cost: 80/90/100/110

To clarify, the first time you cast this spell it is in "red" mode, then next time it will be blue, then green, then back to red. It cycles through the effects in the set order. The mode changes once the cooldown completes, not directly after the cast.

W: Last Resort

Alexandre readies his lute to use it as a melee weapon, gaining extra movement speed for the duration. His next auto attack is a melee attack with bonus physical damage that can strike both enemies and allies. Stuns and damages if striking an enemy. Applies a strong dispel and grants a movement speed and attack damage buff if striking an ally. Deals no damage to allies.

Buff duration (self): 4

Move speed bonus (self): 60/80/100/120

Stun duration: 1.25/1.5/1.75/2

Damage: 50/100/150/200 [plus your normal atk dmg]

Move speed bonus (allies): 60/80/100/120

Attack damage bonus (allies): 30/60/90/120

Buff duration (allies): 6

Cooldown: 20/18/16/14

Mana cost: 90

E: Inspire

Grants an ally hero bonus status resistance for a short time. Also resets the cool down of the Timeless Melody ability. Can not be cast on Alexandre himself.

Bonus status resistance: 35%/40%/45%/50%

Duration: 9

Cooldown: 40/34/28/22

Mana cost: 120

R: Crescendo

Alexandre frantically strums his lute for 3 seconds, granting bonus armor to allies with a bonus effect if the channel completes. The effect depends on the current mode of Timeless Melody. Red: Purges enemies and applies a powerful slow. Blue: Deals damage and applies a break status on enemies. Green: Regenerates allies' health and mana.

Bonus amor during channel: 15/20/25

Move speed slow (Red): 50%

Duration (Red): 8

Damage (Blue): 200/300/400

Break duration (Blue): 5

Max health and mana regen per second (Green): 10%

Duration (Green): 3

Radius: 1100

Recommended items - Blink Dagger, Force Staff, BKB, Ghost Scepter,

Man I just love this band. What a fantastic show. They played about 10 songs, which was followed by a Q&A with KROQ's Nicole Alvarez. They debuted a new single that will be coming out called "Into the Summer" (i think that's what it's called). Mike yelled it out to the crowd. The song had a very 80's vibe to it a la The 1975. I really dug it and had initially thought it was a cover of a song that I just didn't know. Let's just say, it felt very catchy. Great night

So, this is a catchy song, but I've never quite been able to figure out what it's about, beyond a disillusioned vet.

It shuffled through my playlist today, and the line about "Oklahoma City by the morning sun" caught my attention, and I started thinking it might be about the Oklahoma City Bombing, then a lot of other lines started to fall in line as well.

>Well I did a little something for the brave and free
Now you gonna make a law against a boy like me
Took a few too many liberties

After being discharged from the military, McVeigh became anti-government, and denounced the ATF for supposedly subverting the constitution

>Driving all night with a steady hand
Bringing heavy weight home from the promised land
Oklahoma City by the morning sun

He spent the night before in Kansas, and drove down to OKC the morning of the bombing

>Well I was riding high when the lights came on
I was 45 miles from the county line
Hit a jackpot once went back for more

He was pulled over about 45 miles from the Kansas state line for not having a license plate. Then the cop noticed McVeigh had a concealed weapon, and it turns out his permit wasn't legal in OK, so he was arrested.

Am I reading too much into the lyrics?

I grabbed a two night pass. Never seen them before but hear good things.

It’s kinda like going to a restaurant, ordering the Filet Mignon and the waiter saying “If you like that, you’ll love the turd duct taped to a cracker. “

2.7.20 • Los Angles, CA • The Troubadour

Set: Time to Flee, Creatures, Moving Out {1}, All I Need {2}, Don’t Do It {3}, Hot Tea

Coach’s Notes: {1} Billy Joel {2} Slow & melodic version of All I Need {3} The Band This was a sold out show Set Start time: 8:24pm - Set End Time: 9:32pm Next Show: 2.8.20 • Los Angles, CA • The Troubadour

Full set video FB https://www.facebook.com/groups/1545997535701971/permalink/2259028777732173/

“Making you an offer still runs great, looking for a brand new start, a special one time deal on a preowned heart”

The music on Gilmore Girls was always a huge part of the show and added so much to it, it always seemed the capture the mood and they used music that suited the characters very well but of all the music I loved it was that of The Troubadour.

He never seemed to be on that screen for more than 30 seconds at a time but I love his style and voice. One of the songs that always got to me is the song with the lyrics above. I have searched so hard but never was able to find the original song and looking for Grant-Lees music does not help.

But what is your take on him and his music? Were you a fan or did it feel like he was tacked in just for the sake of it?

Disclaimer: I do not own this content and just ripped the audio from SiriusXM so I can listen to it offline. I figured you would all enjoy this too.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1_m9vSAvdTFc75LGYmQVlADtJwz8F-Ree

Setlist:

bad guy

my strange addiction

you should see me in a crown

idontwannabeyouanymore

COPYCAT

WHEN I WAS OLDER

wish you were gay

xanny

all the good girls go to hell

ilomilo

bellyache

bitches broken hearts

i love you

ocean eyes

when the party's over

bury a friend

Had to update things mobile so they’re a little hard to find on the site, but here’s the links if you’re interested ~ https://www.suburbanavengerart.com/shop/rainbow-kitten-surprise-live-at-red-rocks https://www.suburbanavengerart.com/shop/rainbow-kitten-surprise-2019-spring-tour https://www.suburbanavengerart.com/shop/rainbow-kitten-surprise-at-the-troubadour

I've noticed some real disputes forming on the basis of the cancellations and I've got a few things to say.

There's no doubt the industry is unforgiving. I've seen so much hate forming over these cancellations and false promises and I cant help but get uneasy feelings. This is a band that we have all realized is something special. The Turnpike Troubadours have changed my life, and I'm sure have changed all of yours. This is a terrible situation and is unfortunately damaging the integrity of the band.

Can we all get together and understand what they have done for us? From the stories of Lorrie and Danny to the simplicity of going hunting with buddies. They get us. They're real people. I know that gets thrown around a lot with celebrities but these guys are genuine and down to earth.

Maybe it's the whiskey or maybe it's my real thoughts but I love this band more than anyone else. They changed me. Felker changed me.

They're more than deserving of our empathy right now and we gotta respect the fact that they go through ups and downs just like any of us. You all know this band is unique and truly special. Our support is what is going to affect the outcome of this.

Long live the Turnpike Troubadours.

(First, I’d like to say this was written on a whim. So this hasn’t gone through the normal editing I normally give to a actual piece. This just me wearing my heart on my sleeves. Needing to give thanks and encouragement to the band who changed my life.)

It was middle school. Either late spring or early fall, I can’t exactly remember. But I do remember it was hot, the sun blinding through the front seat as my grandmother drove me two hours from my small town to Oklahoma City to get my braces tightened.

But the only reason I remember anything from that day, was because of the song on the radio.

7&7 by The Turnpike Troubadours busted through the trucks speakers, hitting me in my chest, lighting up every circuit in my brain.

It never occurred to me that a song could tell so much of a story until then. Of course, there’s plenty of songs that tell a story. No matter what genre it is. But that’s when I realized it. And digging into the Turnpike Troubadours library only strengthened my belief in the power of storytelling through music.

I’m a sucker for a good story. And that’s what Turnpike has given us.

Weaving in and out of a characters life through ups and downs. Failures and triumphs. And all through a couple songs.

Fast forward a couple years to my seventeenth birthday. I’m bitter about mainstream country after being such a defender of it for years as a kid.

I still liked Turnpike, but at the time I’d only consider them maybe my fifth favorite country band. But I couldn’t shake how that first song of theirs made me feel.

I never really delved into the lore of their music. But there wasn’t exactly a lot to go off, since Lorrie would only make her second mentioned appearance in their self titled 2015 album, and I was still a year from that.

But I had a story in my head. In my heart. And it took me half a year to write a poorly written YA romance titled Life in Beckham. All inspired by the line “I had no clue I’d be the boy who your momma warned me about”.

While I wrote over a dozen drafts, Turnpike released their 2015 album when I was 18. I’ll admit between school and writing, I hadn’t had much of a chance to listen. I actually won a copy from a local radio station (fun fact: it was supposed to be a signed Stoney LaRue Album, But they ran out of copies).

And somewhere in between 2015’s album and A Long Way From Your Heart, I got possibly the biggest ounce of luck I’ve ever had. Me, a 20 year old repeat high school senior, unintentionally

That is all.

Ranged intelligence hero Support/Ganker/Utility/Buffs/Teamfight

Q: Timeless Melody

Cycles through three different modes with different effects:

Dissonant Melody (Red): Applies a damage over time and slowing debuff on an enemy.

Resounding Melody (Blue): Damages an enemy and reduces their armor.

Triumphant Melody (Green): Heals nearby allies.

Damage per second (Red): 10/20/30/40

Move speed slow (Red): 30%

Duration (Red): 8

Damage (Blue): 100/150/200/250

Armor reduction (Blue): 4/5/6/7

Heal (Green): 100/130/160/190

Radius (Green): 900

Cooldown: 10

Mana cost: 80/90/100/110

To clarify, the first time you cast this spell it is in "red" mode, then next time it will be blue, then green, then back to red. It cycles through the effects in the set order. The mode changes once the cooldown completes, not directly after the cast.

W: Last Resort

Alexandre readies his lute to use it as a melee weapon, gaining extra movement speed for the duration. His next auto attack is a melee attack with bonus physical damage that can strike both enemies and allies. Stuns and damages if striking an enemy. Applies a strong dispel and grants a movement speed and attack damage buff if striking an ally. Deals no damage to allies.

Buff duration (self): 4

Move speed bonus (self): 60/80/100/120

Stun duration: 1.25/1.5/1.75/2

Damage: 50/100/150/200 [plus your normal atk dmg]

Move speed bonus (allies): 60/80/100/120

Attack damage bonus (allies): 30/60/90/120

Buff duration (allies): 6

Cooldown: 20/18/16/14

Mana cost: 90

E: Inspire

Grants an ally hero bonus status resistance for a short time. Also resets the cool down of the Timeless Melody ability. Can not be cast on Alexandre himself.

Bonus status resistance: 35%/40%/45%/50%

Duration: 9

Cooldown: 40/34/28/22

Mana cost: 120

R: Crescendo

Alexandre frantically strums his lute for 3 seconds, granting bonus armor to allies with a bonus effect if the channel completes. The effect depends on the current mode of Timeless Melody. Red: Purges enemies and applies a powerful slow. Blue: Deals damage and applies a break status on enemies. Green: Regenerates allies' health and mana.

Bonus amor during channel: 15/20/25

Move speed slow (Red): 50%

Duration (Red): 8

Damage (Blue): 200/300/400

Break duration (Blue): 5

Max health and mana regen per second (Green): 10%

Duration (Green): 3

Radius: 1100

Recommended items - Blink Dagger, Force Staff, BKB, Ghost Scepter,