The Spartan subclass for fighter

[Bannan_mantis]

As the title suggests I am trying to make a spartan subclass for fighter specifically, this is more for simple fun and for a character idea I have. This subclass will mostly specialise around the idea of using shields and using shields very well as I feel that holds somewhat true to most spartans, so as you could tell by that this will be more of a defender rather than a high damage type. (also, some of the abilities are similar to how spartans acted in history, the 7th level ability is a example of that)

Shield Martial Arts
Starting at 3rd level, you gain the ability to use your shield very effectively in combat from protecting yourself, protecting your allies and even using it as a form of attack. The AC bonus granted to you by shields is increased by 1, any two allies within 5 feet of you gain a +1 bonus to AC and you can perform a bonus action to attack with your shield, you have proficiency with the attack and it deals 1d4 bludgeoning damage.

Quick Witted
Starting at 7th level, you are always proficient in saving throws against the frightened condition. In addition, whenever you are in combat and reduce a hostile creature to 0 hit points. Every ally of that creature that witnessed this and is within 10 feet of you must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be frightened. The target can repeat this save at the end of its turns, DC is equal to 8 + your constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus

Unbreakable warrior
Starting at 10th level, your body and mind have become durable and near indestructible. You now have advantage on all saves against being frightened and can no longer be knocked prone while wielding a shield

Defensive Line
Starting at 15th level, your AC bonus to allies is given to any ally within 5 feet of you and the extra AC bonus you gain from using shields becomes 2 and you can grant half cover to any allies adjacent to you

Battle Focused
Starting at 18th level, you can stop and focus on defending yourself and stopping enemies from attacking you. When you perform the dodge action any ally within 5 feet of you gains the effect of dodge as well

(these abilities might be too op or maybe not very powerful or plain bad so please if anyone has a suggestion for changes please say)

[GalacticAxekick]

Shield Martial Arts
Starting at 3rd level, you gain the ability to use your shield very effectively in combat from protecting yourself, protecting your allies and even using it as a form of attack. The AC bonus granted to you by shields is increased by 1, any ally that stands to your sides gains a +1 bonus to AC and you can perform a bonus action to perform one attack with the shield, you have proficiency with the attack and it deals 1d4 damage.A pretty solid feature!


Quick Witted
Starting at 7th level, you gain proficiency in charisma saving throws and you can add your strength modifier to intimidation checksCharisma saves are very rare, and players can already use whatever ability is appropriate for an ability check. Even if you meant the spartan uses strength on top of charisma, intimidation is one of the weaker skills, and so this feature doesn't offer much.

Resistance to fear effects and the ability to cause fear might be more appropriate.

"Starting at 7th level, you are always proficient in saving throws against the frightened condition. In addition, whenever you reduce a hostile creature to 0 hit points. Every ally of that creature that witnessed this must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be frightened. The target can repeat this save at the end of its turns"


Unbreakable warrior
Starting at 10th level, your body and mind have become durable and near indestructible. You now have advantage on all saves against being frightened and resisting pain and can no longer be knocked prone while wielding a shield"Saves against resisting pain" is pretty vague. Otherwise a fair feature.


Defensive Line
Starting at 15th level, your AC bonus to allies is given to any ally within 5 feet of you and the extra AC bonus you gain from using shields become 2 also you gain a +1 bonus for each ally 5 feet adjacent to youExcessive. Plate, a shield, and defense fighting style us already 21 AC. The 3rd level feature pushes this to an incredible 22. 23 + 1 per adjacent ally is easily 26 AC in the typical party. 5e wasn't designed for growth like this.

Instead if improving AC, why not improve dexterity saving throws? Maybe the shield can improve your saves and grant allies cover!


Battle Focused
Starting at 18th level, you can stop and focus on defending yourself and stopping enemies from attacking you. You can perform a action to increase your AC by 6 until the start of your next turn.This wouldn't e so bad if not for Action Surge, which would let a fighter with at least 29 AC make a full set of attacks.

I'd instead focus on the existing defense action: Dodge.

Maybe when you dodge, all the allies with 5 feet also gain the benefits of dodging!

[Bannan_mantis]

Okay I have done some changes similar to like the ones you suggested but different, the max AC the spartan can get with plate, shield and the abilities is now 25...is that too big or okay? this is meant to be a defender class after all

[GalacticAxekick]

Quick Witted
Starting at 7th level, you are always proficient in saving throws against the frightened condition. In addition, whenever you are in combat and reduce a hostile creature to 0 hit points. Every ally of that creature that witnessed this must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be frightened. The target can repeat this save at the end of its turns, DC is equal to 10 + your strength modifier + your constitution modifierLooks good, except the DC. Why not the usual 8 + Stat + Proficiency system?


Unbreakable warrior
Starting at 10th level, your body and mind have become durable and near indestructible. You now have advantage on all saves against being frightened and automatically succeed on any throws to resist pain and can no longer be knocked prone while wielding a shieldWhat are "saving throws to resist pain"? There's a frightened condition, but no "pained" condition.

If I don't make any assumptions, automatically succeeding "saving throws to resist pain" means nothing at all. If I make a terrible assumption, it means automatically succeeding saving throws to resist damage. Why don't we make a medium assumption and say the Spartan is resistant to psychic damage?


Defensive Line
Starting at 15th level, your AC bonus to allies is given to any ally within 5 feet of you and the extra AC bonus you gain from using shields becomes 2 and you can grant half cover to any allies adjacent to youMuch better! Effective without room for abuse.


Battle Focused
Starting at 18th level, you can stop and focus on defending yourself and stopping enemies from attacking you. When you perform the dodge action any ally within 5 feet of you gains the effect of dodge as wellWorks for me!

[Bannan_mantis]

I have changed the 7th and 10th level abilities but I am not sure about the additions to the 10th level ability...resistance to nonmagical bludgeoning, slashing and piercing may be too op or may not

[GalacticAxekick]

I think it might be too OP. Those are the most common damage types, which mean that the few times this fighter is hit by weapon attacks, they'll be grazed.

[Calen]

Shield Martial Arts
Starting at 3rd level, you gain the ability to use your shield very effectively in combat from protecting yourself, protecting your allies and even using it as a form of attack. The AC bonus granted to you by shields is increased by 1, any ally that stands to your sides gains a +1 bonus to AC and you can perform a bonus action to perform one attack with the shield, you have proficiency with the attack and it deals 1d4 damage.

The phrasing "You can use a bonus action to make 1 melee attack with your shield.." would probably flow better. Also define it as (Bludgeoning) damage. The "standing to your sides" is vague. Maybe 1 ally within 5 feet of you.


Quick Witted
Starting at 7th level, you are always proficient in saving throws against the frightened condition. In addition, whenever you are in combat and reduce a hostile creature to 0 hit points. Every ally of that creature that witnessed this must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be frightened. The target can repeat this save at the end of its turns, DC is equal to 8 + your constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus

Possibly some cap on the number of times or number of enemies that you can do this to. Short rest based or enemies within 10 feet strike me as good balances.


Unbreakable warrior
Starting at 10th level, your body and mind have become durable and near indestructible. You now have advantage on all saves against being frightened, gain resistance to nonmagical bludgeoning, slashing and piercing damage while wielding a shield and can no longer be knocked prone while wielding a shield

I would reduce that to advantage on saving throws to resist being knocked prone.


Defensive Line
Starting at 15th level, your AC bonus to allies is given to any ally within 5 feet of you and the extra AC bonus you gain from using shields becomes 2 and you can grant half cover to any allies adjacent to you.

The half cover overlaps with the AC bonus you are already granting. Simply granting half cover to all allies within 5 feet is effective and probably not OP. The earlier shield bonus could still apply to one specific creature you are specifically trying to protect.


Battle Focused
Starting at 18th level, you can stop and focus on defending yourself and stopping enemies from attacking you. When you perform the dodge action any ally within 5 feet of you gains the effect of dodge as well

Very fair, if anything it is underpowered.

Overall very nice. I think some NPC's of mine might end up with this archetype.

[Bannan_mantis]

I personally feel that your suggestion for the 10th level ability would make it underpowered as compared to the other 10th level abilities fighters get just a advantage on resistance to being knocked prone so I changed it to that and a advantage on frightened saving throws, I also do agree with you that the 15th level ability may need a change as well, maybe a +2 bonus to AC instead or maybe you can grant the bonus to more than one ally?. Other than that I do like your suggestions and I appreciate your help

[Calen]

I'm not sure what immunity to prone is worth but it strikes me as rather powerful in comparison to a fighting style or better maneuver dice. Have you considered some other smaller benefits?

Bump shield damage up to a D6 or maybe an out of combat skill bonus like using strength instead of charisma for Intimidation or Persuasion.

Just my thoughts, feel free to disagree.

[sengmeng]

You really can't be a Spartan without using a longspear one handed...