Prestige Class: Dwarven Defender
Stern defenders of dwarven cities, and decorated heroes of their militaries, dwarven defenders are the last, and best, line a defense an organization or civilization can have. The dwarves have maintained the steady output of dwarven defends for centuries, though only the strongest dwarves ever get the chance to train as a defender, and only the best actually succeed in completing that training.
While a dwarven defender might not be the rarest skill set in the world, they are lower in numbers than the likes of paladin and fighters, and for good reason. it takes a lot of effort to produce a dwarven defender, and not every person is born with the capability to become one, and that is not including the limitation of only dwarves becoming successful defenders. If a dwarf shows promise, a regiment of defenders will always be willing to train them, and adding even one more number to their ranks, means that something out there is just that much safer.
Dwarven Defender
| Level | Features | Strong Guard Bonus | Defensive Stance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Defensive Stance, Strong Guard | +1 | 1 |
| 2nd | Stationary Guard | +1 | 1 |
| 3rd | Fighting Style | +1 | 2 |
| 4th | Ability Score Increase | +2 | 2 |
| 5th | Improved Stance | +2 | 3 |
Prerequisites
In order to advance as a dwarven defender, you must meet the following prerequisites (in addition to the multiclassing prerequisites for your existing class):
- Strength 13. Dwarven defenders must maintain the strength to hold against the strongest of onslaughts.
- Constitution 16. Dwarven defenders must be the sturdiest of their dwarven bretheren.
- Member of the Dwarven Race. Only highly skilled members of the dwarf race are ever offered the opportunity to become a trained and skilled dwarven defender.
- Character level 5th. Dwarven defenders will not train an unskilled warrior of the dwarven race, and only seek out the best they can. You must be a 5th-level character before you can gain levels in the dwarven defender prestige class.
- Complete a special task. You must find an NPC dwarven defender and convince them to take you under their tutelage. This may involve the act of completing serial tasks for the NPC, or if the DM so chooses, could be as easy as a free reward for the character from a dwarven kingdom. You might need to seek out more skilled dwarven defenders in order to reach 5th level in this prestige class.
Class Features
As a dwarven defender you gain the following class features.
Hit Points
Hit Dice: 1d12 per dwarven defender level
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d12 (or 7) + your Constitution modifier per dwarven defender level
Proficiencies
Armor: Heavy armor, shields
Weapons: None
Tools: None
Saving Throws: None
Skills: None
Equipment
The dwarven defender prestige class does not grant any special equipment.
Defensive Stance
Starting at 1st, your training as a dwarven defender grants you a special stance that allows you to hold your ground firmly, at the cost of your movement. As long as you are wearing heavy armor, wielding a shield, and not incapacitated, you can use your bonus action to enter a Defensive Stance, granting you the following properties:
- You gain a +2 bonus to all saving throws.
- You're Strong Guard bonus is doubled.
- You gain temporary hit points equal to double your level (including levels from other classes)
- You're movement is reduced to 0 ft.
- You can wield your shield as a melee weapon, whith which you are proficient. On a hit, the shield deals 1d6 + your Strength modifier of bludgeoning damage.
This stance lasts a number of rounds equal to 3 + your Constitution modifier. A dwarven defender may end his Defensive Stance voluntarily prior to this limit. A dwarven defender can only use his Defensive Stance a number of times long rest as shown under the Defensive Stance column of the Dwarven Defender table. All expended uses of the Defensive Stance feature are regained after the completion of a long rest.
Strong Guard
Also starting at 1st level, you learn to manifest your dwarven hardiness into your defense. You gain an additional bonus to your AC as shown in the Strong Guard Bonus column of the Dwarven Defender table.
Stationary Guard
When you reach 2nd level, you are surprisingly resilient against outer force to move you out of your space. As long as you are not incapacitated, you are considered one size larger for the purpose of avoiding or resisting being shoved or grappled, and creatures smaller than you have disadvantage on Strength (Athletics) checks when attempting to shove or grapple you.
Fighting Style
At 3rd level, you gain your choice of the Defense or Protection option for the Fighting Style feature, if you do not have it already. If you already have both Fighting Style options, you can choose a third option from the Fighting Style class feature.
- Defense. While you are wearing armor, you gain a +1 bonus to your Armor Class.
- Protection. When a creature you can see attacks a target other than you that is within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll. You must be wielding a shield.
Ability Score Increase
When you reach 4th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
Improved Stance
At 5th level, you have learned to fully master the defensive abilities of a dwarven defender. Whenever you use your Defensive Stance feature, you gain the following properties:
- You subtract a number of points of damage from attacks against your equal to your proficiency bonus.
- you bonus to saving throws is increased to +3
- You can move up to 5 ft. per turn without loosing the benefits of your Defensive Stance.
Additionally when you hit a creature with your shield on your turn, you can use a bonus action to goad the target, compelling it to attack you. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier). On a failed save, the target has disadvantage on all attack rolls against targets other than you until the end of your next turn.
Credits
Created by Nicholas H.Jory C.
Contributors: Nicholas H.
Proofreaders/Balancers: /u/lidanma, Nicholas H.Art in Order of Appearance
"rpg character illustration" by Daniel Henningsson