dspeyer
2013-02-12, 12:32 AM
I've heard it said that D&D doesn't have a true tank class. I thought I'd try writing one.
The Praetorian
If you want him, you're going to need to get past me first.
Anyone can stand next to an important person, wait for someone to attack that person and then strike back. But that isn't good enough, if the attacker is swift and deadly or the protectee is particularly frail. Praetorians are specialists in guarding, who study techniques to keep their charges safe no matter what.
Prerequisites:
Base Attack: 4
Sense Motive: 8 ranks
Listen and Spot: 4 ranks each
BABFortRefWillSpecialProtectees
1220Intercept Attack; Taunt1
2330Intercept Arrows; Vigilance2
3331Intercept Danger; Multitaunt4
4441Intercept Rays; Devotion8
5441Intercept Magic; Taunt Fate16
Hit Die: d10
Class Skills: Balance, Bluff, Intimidate, Knowledge(any), Listen, Ride, Search, Sense Motive, Spellcraft, Spot, Tumble
Skills: 4+int
Proficiencies: Praetorians gain proficiency with all simple and martial weapons, all armors, and all shields except tower shields.
Protectees: Many of a praetorian's class features refer to his protectees. These are simply the people he is currently protecting. At first, he can only manage a single protectee, but as his skills improve, he can protect more than one person at a time. Changing protectees requires a significant reconsideration of the tactical landscape, so each person added to the set requires a standard action.
Intercept Attack(ex): When an enemy attempts a melee attack against a protectee within 10 ft of a praetorian, the praetorian may interpose himself as an immediate action. He moves directly in between the enemy and the protectee, and the attack is resolved against him, rather than the protectee.
Taunt(ex): Better than intercepting attacks is to draw them in the first place, so a praetorian learns to taunt enemies for exactly that purpose. To taunt an enemy is a standard action and requires a common language. The enemy must then make a dc 10 + 1/2 character level + cha mod will save or focus his attacks purely on the praetorian until one of them is dead or disabled.
Intercept Arrows(ex): When a ranged attack is made against a protectee within 5 ft, the praetorian can slap it out of the air as an immediate action.
Vigilance(ex): A praetorian gains a bonus equal to his class level on all spot, listen and sense motive checks related to his protectees' safety.
Intercept Danger(ex): When a dangerous circumstance (such as a fireball) forces a reflex save from a protectee within 30 ft, the praetorian can shove the protectee out of the way at the cost of his own safety. He rolls his reflex save for the protectee, but takes the full brunt of the danger himself.
Multitaunt(ex): An experienced praetorian can taunt multiple foes at once. This functions like taunt, except that the dc is decreased by 1 for each additional foe.
Intercept Rays(su): An experienced praetorian can deflect rays targetting a protectee in the same way as arrows.
Devotion(ex): A praetorian lives and dies for his charge. Any attempt to turn him from this with magic is extremely difficult. Abandoning his duty always counts as "against his nature" for purposes of new will saves, and directly endangering his protectees counts as "obviously self-destructive".
Intercept Magic(su): When someone attempts to cast a spell on a protectee within a praetorian's line of sight, the praetorian can attempt to force the spell to target him instead. The praetorian must be aware of the spell as it is being cast. He makes a character level + cha check opposed by the caster's caster level + casting stat check. If the praetorian's roll is equal or higher, he is now the target.
Taunt Fate(su): A truely determined praetorian can taunt fate itself for his protectees. Each designated protectee receives a +5 luck bonus to AC, saves, attacks, and all checks. Furthermore, the protectees do not experience random misfortune (they are not attacked by anyone who isn't specifically targetting them, the weather is good, etc.). This protection lasts until the end of the day or until the praetorian dies. For each protectee designated, the praetorian takes a -10 luck penalty on AC, saves, attacks, and all checks. Furthermore, any misfortune which could plausibly have befallen the protectees does befall the praetorian if it possibly can.
The Praetorian
If you want him, you're going to need to get past me first.
Anyone can stand next to an important person, wait for someone to attack that person and then strike back. But that isn't good enough, if the attacker is swift and deadly or the protectee is particularly frail. Praetorians are specialists in guarding, who study techniques to keep their charges safe no matter what.
Prerequisites:
Base Attack: 4
Sense Motive: 8 ranks
Listen and Spot: 4 ranks each
BABFortRefWillSpecialProtectees
1220Intercept Attack; Taunt1
2330Intercept Arrows; Vigilance2
3331Intercept Danger; Multitaunt4
4441Intercept Rays; Devotion8
5441Intercept Magic; Taunt Fate16
Hit Die: d10
Class Skills: Balance, Bluff, Intimidate, Knowledge(any), Listen, Ride, Search, Sense Motive, Spellcraft, Spot, Tumble
Skills: 4+int
Proficiencies: Praetorians gain proficiency with all simple and martial weapons, all armors, and all shields except tower shields.
Protectees: Many of a praetorian's class features refer to his protectees. These are simply the people he is currently protecting. At first, he can only manage a single protectee, but as his skills improve, he can protect more than one person at a time. Changing protectees requires a significant reconsideration of the tactical landscape, so each person added to the set requires a standard action.
Intercept Attack(ex): When an enemy attempts a melee attack against a protectee within 10 ft of a praetorian, the praetorian may interpose himself as an immediate action. He moves directly in between the enemy and the protectee, and the attack is resolved against him, rather than the protectee.
Taunt(ex): Better than intercepting attacks is to draw them in the first place, so a praetorian learns to taunt enemies for exactly that purpose. To taunt an enemy is a standard action and requires a common language. The enemy must then make a dc 10 + 1/2 character level + cha mod will save or focus his attacks purely on the praetorian until one of them is dead or disabled.
Intercept Arrows(ex): When a ranged attack is made against a protectee within 5 ft, the praetorian can slap it out of the air as an immediate action.
Vigilance(ex): A praetorian gains a bonus equal to his class level on all spot, listen and sense motive checks related to his protectees' safety.
Intercept Danger(ex): When a dangerous circumstance (such as a fireball) forces a reflex save from a protectee within 30 ft, the praetorian can shove the protectee out of the way at the cost of his own safety. He rolls his reflex save for the protectee, but takes the full brunt of the danger himself.
Multitaunt(ex): An experienced praetorian can taunt multiple foes at once. This functions like taunt, except that the dc is decreased by 1 for each additional foe.
Intercept Rays(su): An experienced praetorian can deflect rays targetting a protectee in the same way as arrows.
Devotion(ex): A praetorian lives and dies for his charge. Any attempt to turn him from this with magic is extremely difficult. Abandoning his duty always counts as "against his nature" for purposes of new will saves, and directly endangering his protectees counts as "obviously self-destructive".
Intercept Magic(su): When someone attempts to cast a spell on a protectee within a praetorian's line of sight, the praetorian can attempt to force the spell to target him instead. The praetorian must be aware of the spell as it is being cast. He makes a character level + cha check opposed by the caster's caster level + casting stat check. If the praetorian's roll is equal or higher, he is now the target.
Taunt Fate(su): A truely determined praetorian can taunt fate itself for his protectees. Each designated protectee receives a +5 luck bonus to AC, saves, attacks, and all checks. Furthermore, the protectees do not experience random misfortune (they are not attacked by anyone who isn't specifically targetting them, the weather is good, etc.). This protection lasts until the end of the day or until the praetorian dies. For each protectee designated, the praetorian takes a -10 luck penalty on AC, saves, attacks, and all checks. Furthermore, any misfortune which could plausibly have befallen the protectees does befall the praetorian if it possibly can.