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Legoman
2007-02-16, 01:49 AM
Stalwart Defender: Taking back the sword and board.

Pre-requisites:

Feats: Great Fortitude, Shield Specialization (PHBII), Tower Shield Proficiency, Endurance.
Base Fortitude Save Bonus: +5
Skills: Intimidation: 9 Ranks.

Class Features:
Hit Die: d12
Skill points: 2 + Int.

The Stalwart Defender’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), and Swim (Str).

Table: The Stalwart Defender

{table]Level | Base Attack Bonus | Fort Save | Ref Save | Will Save | Special
1st | +0 | +2 | + 0 | +0 | Challenging Shout, Defensive Stance 1/ Day, DR 1/-
2nd | +1 | +3 | +1 | +1 | Intercession (5 ft), Shield Mastery ( + 2 )
3rd | +2 | +3 | + 1 | +1 | Mettle, DR 2/-
4th | +3 | +4 | + 1 | +1 | Intercession (10 ft), Defensive Stance 2/ Day
5th | +3 | +4 | + 2 | +2 | Shield Block, DR 3/-
6th | +4 | +5 | + 2 | +2 | Intercession (20 ft), Greater Intercession
7th | +5 | +5 | + 2 | +2 | Shield Wall, Defensive Stance 3/ Day, DR 4/-
8th | +6 / +1 | +6 | + 3 | +3 | Intercession (30 ft), Furious Counterattack
9th | +6 / +1 | +6 | + 3 | +3 | Shield Mastery ( +4 ), Overpower, DR 5/-
10th | +7 / +2 | +7 | + 3 | +3 | Last Stand, Defensive Stance 4/ Day[/table]

Challenging Shout: (Su) As a swift action, the Stalwart Defender may make an intimidate check, with a bonus equal to their class level. All enemies within 30 feet must make a will save. On a failed save, the enemy takes a -1 / class level penalty on all attack and damage rolls against the Stalwart Defender's allies. Anyone attempting to attack the Stalwart defender does not incur this penalty.

Defensive Stance (Ex) : Once per day, the Stalwart Defender may enter a defensive stance as a swift action, that lasts a number of rounds equal to his class level + Con modifier. While in this stance, he gains +4 Constitution, and +2 to all saves, but is stationary, except for his intercession ability. The Stalwart Defender may use this ability more times per day, as noted on the above table. He may dismiss this ability at will, but the ability is still considered used.

Damage Reduction (Ex) : The Stalwart defender gains damage reduction, that increases with level.

Intercession (Ex) : While in a Defensive Stance, as an immediate action, the Stalwart Defender may move to intercept a blow meant for an ally. He may move a distance noted on the table as part of this action. If he is adjacent to an ally at the end of this movement, he may take the attack meant for his ally. The distance that he can move increases with level. The Stalwart Defender must have a shield equipped and held to use this ability.

Shield Mastery (Ex) : While using a shield, the Stalwart Defender's shield bonus increases by 2. At 9th level, this bonus increases to 4. An animated shield does not allow this ability.

Mettle (Ex) : If the Stalwart Defender succeeds on a fortitude or will save that has a partial effect, that effect is instead negated.

Shield Block (Ex) : Whenever the Stalwart defender takes physical damage, he may make a fortitude save, with a DC equal to the damage taken. If he succeeds, that damage is reduced by an amount equal to the defender's current shield bonus (including enhancement bonus). If the Stalwart Defender is not using a shield, she cannot use this ability.

Greater Intercession (Ex) : When using the Intercession ability, the Stalwart Defender takes all attacks meant for the ally that was the target of that ability until the beginning of his next turn.

Shield Wall (Ex) : Once per encounter as an immediate action, the Stalwart Defender may gain DR 10/- that stacks with all other forms of damage reduction. This lasts for only a single round. This ability is only usable with a shield equipped and carried.

Furious Counterattack (Ex): Whenever the Stalwart Defender succeeds on a Shield Block fortitude save, the foe who caused the attack immediately provokes an attack of opportunity from the Stalwart Defender, and, if the Defender currently has an Intercession target, from that defender's ally as well.

Overpower (Ex): While taking an attack of opportunity provoked by his Furious Counterattack ability, the Stalwart Defender may will the attack to automatically hit. Doing so exhausts all further AoO's the Defender would take that round. In addition, the target of this attack must make a fortitude save, DC equal to damage dealt, or be stunned for one round.

Last Stand (Ex): While in the defensive stance, as an immediate action, the Stalwart Defender gains a number of temporary hit points equal to (10 + Con Mod) x Character Level. These hit points last a number of rounds equal to his Con Mod. His defensive stance does not expire until the end of this Last Stand. When this Last Stand ends, the Stalwart Defender is immediately reduced to 0 hp, and takes 10 subdual damage.

vanyell
2007-02-16, 01:56 AM
take the pain is rather overpowered, because of the high fort saves, and easy aquisition of for tave boosting itmes. the small stuff that slowly grinds away, would not hurt him

Legoman
2007-02-16, 02:06 AM
Changed - magics still work well against him, as do, say, hold person.

But yeah, you can bet this guy will be getting a Cloak of Resistance +5 ASAP.

Szatany
2007-02-16, 05:42 AM
Shield Block (Ex) : If the Stalwart defender takes physical damage, he may instead make a fortitude save, with a DC equal to the damage dealt. If he succeeds, that damage is reduced by an amount equal to the their current shield bonus. If the Stalwart Defender is not using a shield, she cannot use this ability.



A very nice PrC. One thing however is problematic. Shield block, as written, allows you to ignore damage if you decide to make make a save, regardless of the result (actually, you can voluntarily fail the save to take no damage - you take no damage because you opted to make a save instead :) ). It should go like this:

Shield Block (Ex) : Whenever the Stalwart defender takes physical damage, he may instead make a fortitude save, with a DC equal to the damage taken. If he succeeds, that damage is reduced by an amount equal to the defender's current shield bonus (including enhancement bonus). If the Stalwart Defender is not using a shield, she cannot use this ability.

Holocron Coder
2007-02-16, 07:37 AM
Furious Counterattack (Ex): Whenever the Stalwart Defender succeeds on a Take the Pain fortitude save, the foe who caused the attack immediately provokes an attack of opportunity from the Stalwart Defender, and, if the Defender currently has an Intercession target, from that defender's ally as well.


Just a note, but I don't see the Take the Pain anywhere, anymore :) you may have renamed it.

Additionally, does this have WoW written all over it or is it just me? :P

Anyway, very well done. It'd either be a great addition to a Knight character, or be completely useless to a Knight... I'm not sure how much the abilities overlap :)

Szatany
2007-02-16, 07:41 AM
I don't know about the knight, but prerequisites seem perfect for a fighter.

Legoman
2007-02-16, 01:27 PM
I'd think the knight would overlap too much... I tried to give him the taunting ability, and then just focus on soaking up damage.

And yes, this is pretty heavily inspired by WoW... Tanking, at least as far as I could tell, was fun! At least, interactive and rewarding, it could still be frustrating at times.

What do we think of Last Stand? With a big enough Con Mod, it'll last probably around 20 rounds, and grant an additional 200 temporary hit points. Maybe I've not played enough high-level stuff to get a gauge on that, but that seems like a lot.

Also, is 'overpower' overpowered? Looking at it again, with a big enough fortitude save, it's possible to stun an opponent for half of combat. Is the save = damage dealt not that bad?

UserClone
2007-12-04, 09:22 PM
Shield block seems a little overly strong to me- put a limit on it per day, perhaps?