Dwarven Defender (3.5e Prestige Class)

Author: Eiji-kun (talk) Date Created: 12-11-14 Status: Complete Editing: Mechanical changes on Talk

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A fix to the Dwarven Defender class. Now with features that don't render you a useless lump. 10 5 Good Good Poor Good Other Other

This is homebrew, you may be looking for the lackluster SRD:Dwarven Defender instead.

Dwarven Defender

“	Looks like you've hit a wall.	”
—Wallace, Dwarven Dwarven Defender, Adventures of Stonewall Wallstone

When orcs rush for your women and children, what keeps them at bay?

A Wall.

When rushing water must be held back, and a fertile riverbed lays out before you, what do you need?

A wall.

What survives the passage of time beyond all else, standing like a mountain long after its people have left and the desert has consumed the city?

A wall.

You are a survivor. You are a barricade. You are that which prevents, that which denies, that which protects. You are the reason the glorious dwarven race endures to this day and shall endure for a million years more. You are one of the best, a Dwarven Defender, and you are THE WALL.

Becoming a Dwarven Defender

Dwarven defenders, being the generally melee heavy brutes they are, do benefit from Strength as well as Constitution to keep up the good work on the front lines. However, some may still benefit from strong Dexterity, both enabling ranged options to take advantage of their extended threatened area and to fuel attacks of opportunity with Combat Reflexes. They simply need to find an armor light enough to gain the full benefits of their Dexterity to match, or focus entirely on a sturdy shield. Mental ability scores fall by the wayside, but its important not to have them too low lest you find a weakness in your otherwise full-proof armor.

Entry Requirements

Alignment:	Non-chaotic.
Base Attack Bonus:	+5.
Race:	Dwarf.
Feats:	Endurance, Toughness.

Table: The Dwarven Defender

Hit Die: d12

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+1	+2	+0	+2	Defensive Stance 1/day, Improved Stability, Shield Feat
2nd	+2	+3	+0	+3	Damage Reduction, Ranged Threat +5 ft, Uncanny Dodge
3rd	+3	+3	+1	+3	Blockade, Defensive Stance 2/day, Shield Push
4th	+4	+4	+1	+4	Mobile Defense 1, Ranged Threat +10 ft
5th	+5	+4	+1	+4	Defensive Spell Resistance, Defensive Stance 3/day, Improved Defensive Stance, Unmoveable Object
6th	+6	+5	+2	+5	Improved Blockade, Improved Uncanny Dodge, Ranged Threat +15 ft
7th	+7	+5	+2	+5	Defensive Stance 4/day, Improved Shield Push
8th	+8	+6	+2	+6	Mobile Defense 2, Ranged Threat +20 ft
9th	+9	+6	+3	+6	Defensive Stance 5/day, Greater Blockade
10th	+10	+7	+3	+7	Greater Defensive Stance, Ranged Threat +25 ft, Universal Damage Reduction
Class Skills (2 + Int modifier per level. Balance (Dex), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (engineering) (Int), Listen (Wis), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis).

Table: The Epic Dwarven Defender

Level	Special
11th	Defensive Stance (Unlimited)
12th	Ranged Threat +30 ft
13th	Bonus Feat
14th	Ranged Threat +35 ft
15th
16th	Bonus Feat, Ranged Threat +40 ft
17th
18th	Ranged Threat +45 ft
19th	Bonus Feat
20th	Ranged Threat +50 ft

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Dwarven Defender.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A dwarven defender is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, all types of armor, and shields.

Defensive Stance (Ex): When he adopts a defensive stance, a defender gains phenomenal strength and durability, but he cannot easily move from the spot he is defending. He gains +2 to Strength, +4 to Constitution, a +2 resistance bonus on all saves, and a +4 dodge bonus to AC. The increase in Constitution increases the defender’s hit points by 2 points per level, but these hit points go away at the end of the defensive stance when the Constitution score drops back 4 points. These extra hit points are not lost first the way temporary hit points are. While in a defensive stance, a defender cannot use skills or abilities that would require him to shift his position greater than the amount he is allowed. A defensive stance lasts for a number of rounds equal to 3 + the character’s (newly improved) Constitution modifier. A defender may end his defensive stance voluntarily prior to this limit. At the end of the defensive stance, the defender is winded and takes a -2 penalty to Strength for the duration of that encounter. A defender can only use his defensive stance 1/day at 1st level and an additional time per day every odd level beyond. Using the defensive stance takes no time itself, but a defender can only do so during his action.

At first, the defensive stance ends of the dwarven defender moves more than 5 ft a round for any reason, but when they pick up mobile defense they are able to move much farther.

Improved Stability (Ex): The dwarven defender is very hard to topple. They gain a +2 bonus plus their class level on ability checks made to resist being bull rushed or tripped when standing on the ground (but not when climbing, flying, riding, or otherwise not standing firmly on the ground). This stacks with the dwarven racial feature.

Shield Feat: A dwarven defender often has to use a lot of shields, and gains a bonus feat related to shields from the following list: Active Shield Defense^PBHII, Agile Shield Fighter^PBHII, Block Arrow^HoB, Divine Shield^CW, Improved Shield Bash, Parrying Shield^LoM, Shield Charge^CW, Shield Slam^CW, Shield Specialization^PBHII, Shield Wall^HoB, Shield Ward^PBHII, Tower Bash. They must qualify for the feat as normal.

Damage Reduction (Ex): A 2nd level dwarven defender is as tough as the walls he mimics. As long as they are not helpless, they gain DR/- equal to half their class level, or equal to their class level if in a defensive stance.

Ranged Threat (Ex): You are no threat if you simply stand there and wait for opponents to come to you. At 2nd level and every even level beyond, the dwarven defender's threatened range increases by 5 ft. The dwarven defender may not be able to reach those he threatens with mere melee, but this allows him to used ranged attacks and throwing weapons against those who provoke in this extended radius.

Uncanny Dodge (Ex): Starting at 2nd level, a dwarven defender retains his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) regardless of being caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. (He still loses any Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized.)

If a character gains uncanny dodge from a second class, the character automatically gains improved uncanny dodge (see below).

Blockade (Ex): The 3rd level dwarven defender can't be a good wall if he doesn't protect those behind him. He may treat his space as a solid object that can provide total cover, and cannot be tumbled through, as a free action.

Shield Push (Ex): At 3rd level, if the dwarven defender makes a shield bash, they may start a bull rush attempt as a free action without provoking attacks of opportunity. They get a +2 on the check if they are using a tower shield.

On a confirmed critical hit with a shield bash, or a natural 20 on the bull rush roll, the creature also falls prone at the end of the movement.

Mobile Defense (Ex): At 4th level, a dwarven defender can adjust his position while maintaining a defensive stance. While in a defensive stance, he can move up to 1/4th his movement speed (round down, minimum 5 ft) without breaking his stance, and his stance is not broken if he is forcefully moved beyond his allowed limit.

At 8th level, he can move up to 1/2 his speed without breaking his stance.

If you possess Stone Dragon maneuvers (or other abilities where your speed is limited), they benefit from your mobile defense as well.

Defensive Spell Resistance (Ex): At 5th level, whenever the dwarven defender enters a defensive stance they gain spell resistance equal to their HD + 11. If they already possess a better spell resistance, their pre-existing spell resistance rises by +3 when in defensive stance. The dwarven defender is free to allow harmless spells to bypass his spell resistance as a non-action.

Improved Defensive Stance (Ex): At 5th level, the bonuses from defensive stance rise to +4 to Strength, +6 to Constitution, a +4 resistance bonus on all saves, and a +5 dodge bonus to AC.

Unmovable Object (Ex) and (Su): Nothing moves the dwarven defender. At 5th level, whenever the dwarven defender enters a defensive stance they cannot be moved at all, automatically succeeding on balance checks, opposing bull rushes, and other abilities which would force him to move. He can even stop himself in mid-air, though this use is a supernatural ability. Treat this as the unmovable armor enhancement for purposes of interacting with the unstoppable weapon enhancement.

Improved Blockade (Ex): Though the 6th level dwarven defender doesn't move very much, they can move enough to leap in the way of danger briefly and causing trouble. They treat an area within their allowable movement space in defensive stance as difficult terrain as they push and jostle the opponents (so a 4th level dwarven defender with a 40 ft move speed would have 10 ft of difficult terrain, and an 8th level one would have 20 ft). In addition this area counts as providing soft cover for allies (+4 AC for allies).

Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 6th level, a dwarven defender can no longer be flanked. This defense denies rogues the ability to use flank attacks to sneak attack the dwarven defender.

The exception to this defense is that a rogue at least four levels higher than the dwarven defender can flank him (and thus sneak attack him).

If a character gains uncanny dodge (see above) from a second class the character automatically gains improved uncanny dodge, and the levels from those classes stack to determine the minimum rogue level required to flank the character.

Improved Shield Push (Ex): At 7th level, the dwarven defender does not need to move with the creature on the bull rush when they use shield push. They gain a +2 bonus to the check, and tower shields bonus rises to +4.

As an immediate action, they may attempt a shield bash or bull rush attempt on a character which charges them. If they are successful at moving the opponent, they stop their charge.

Greater Blockade (Ex): When in defensive stance, the 9th level dwarven defender may as be a moving wall of force. When they move, they automatically make a bull rush attempt at creatures and objects in the way. This does not provoke attacks of opportunity. If successful they can either push them back to the limit of the check result or their movement, or push them aside and out of the way.

Greater Defensive Stance (Ex): At 10th level, the bonuses from defensive stance rise to +6 to Strength, +8 to Constitution, a +6 resistance bonus on all saves, and a +6 dodge bonus to AC.

Universal Damage Reduction (Ex): At 10th level, a dwarven defender is so tough it matters not if its sword, flame, or mystic life force. Their damage reduction applies to all sources of damage, even energy damage.

The epic Dwarven Defender gains a bonus feat (selected from the list of epic Dwarven Defender feats) at 13th and every three levels beyond.

Epic Dwarven Defender Bonus Feat List: PENDING.

Ex-Dwarven Defenders

Nothing at all, though chaotic dwarven defenders can't continue leveling in this class until they become non-chaotic.

Campaign Information

Playing a Dwarven Defender

Combat: You may be what most consider a traditional tank, but in truth you are area denial. You ensure that the place you stand is untouched, the area around you is threatened, and movement through is difficult to impossible. You are best in tight spaces, and may pack ranged weapons to take advantage of ranged threatening, or those who simply won't draw close and who you can't catch up with.

Advancement: Typically born from fighters, melee classes continue to benefit you. Consider martial maneuvers of the Stone Dragon discipline.

Resources: Dwarven defenders are rarely alone. The origins of the style have a long rich history in dwarven lore and continue to protect their forts to this day. Within endless halls of cramped corridors to their inner sanctums, these living walls patrol and keep out opposition.

Dwarven Defenders in the World

“	I will outlast you. My weapon is time, and it eats away your strength as I stand here.	”
—Gon, Dwarven Dwarven Defender

NPC Reactions: Few classes are more dwarfy than this, and when commoners think of dwarves, they think of their defenders ever watching.

Dwarven Defender Lore

Characters with ranks in Knowledge Nobility can research dwarven defenders to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

Knowledge Nobility

DC	Result
10	Dwarven defenders are tough as nails and heavy as lead. You may be able to out-run them, but you are not safe from them even out of arm's reach.
15	Dwarven defenders can quickly slam their shields in your way, making passing through them as difficult as passing through a solid wall; impossible. They can even barricade the path of spells.
20	Powerful dwarven defenders glide along the ground and retain their iron walls of shield and armor. They can bowl over creatures in their way, and absorb damage with the best of them.
30	Those that reach this level of success can research specific dwarven defenders, their whereabouts, lore about them, and other trivia.

Dwarven Defenders in the Game

Adaptation: Intended as a replacement to the original Dwarven Defender, they match up nicely with the [[]].

Though dwarf flavored, consider relaxing the racial requirement for anyone who wants to be tanky.

Sample Encounter: There is no way you can invade the fortress city of evil Queen Aym, the dwarf who plans to rule the world. Not with her sentinels in the way...

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