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mockingbyrd7
2007-03-03, 10:33 PM
Hiya all, this is my first homebrew here. Lemme start by saying that I love D&D and I love OotS, but I actually have only played 1st Edition. I've played DDO (Dungeons and Dragons Online) which uses revised 3.5 rules, and read through most of the junk in the handbook and Complete Warrior. But I am not clear on everything, and as such some things may be unintentionally overpowered or break the rules of 3.5, for example I have no idea what (Ex) and (Su) mean, or how to make a table. Nonetheless, I hope you find the Dwarven Shield Master a fun and intruiging class. Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Dwarven Shield Master

A dwarven shield master is a dwarf who has trained endlessly with the use of dual-wield shields and is nigh-unstoppable while using them. The character gains many offensive abilities with shields, too. This class best lends itself to dwarven fighters, though dwarven clerics and paladins may also find the class intruiging.

Hit Die: d10
Requirements
To become a dwarven shield master, a character must fulfill the following criteria.
Race: Dwarf
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Feats: Shield Proficiency, Improved Shield Bash, Two-Weapon Fighting

Class Features

Two-Shield Fighting: A dwarven shield master can wield one shield in each hand and wield them as with the Two-Weapon Fighting feat. (Tower Shields can't be dual-wielded, a small shield is a light weapon and a large shield is a one-handed weapon.) One of the shields is now considered a primary-hand weapon. He gets the bonuses and armor from both shields.

Damaging Bash +1d4: All shield bash attacks automatically deal an additional 1d4 damage. This increases by an additional 1d4 every odd level.

Two Shields as One: The armor check penalties only apply for one of the shield master's two shields; use the greater penalty.

Shield Bonus: While wielding 2 shields, the shield master's AC goes up by +1, and this bonus increases every odd level.

Protect: At level two, dwarven shield master can, for one round, give up all of the armor class given by his shields (including shield bonus) to a single ally.

Stunning Bash: Starting at level 3, 25% chance when struck by a shield master's shields that the opponent becomes stunned for 1 round.

Shield Throw: Starting at level 3, a dwarven shield master can throw one of his shields up to 20 feet as if it were a thrown weapon. The shield must be retrieved after being thrown, though.

Shield Charge: At level 3, a shield master gets the feat Shield Charge for free.

(NOTE: Shield Charge is in complete warrior, it allows for a free trip attack with a shield during a charge. I don't know the specifics because the page was ripped out of my book. :smallmad:)

Take Cover: (3rd level) The dwarven shield master may be barely medium-sized, but if one of his shields is a large shield, he's small enough to completely cover his body with his shields. Taking cover causes the shield master to become prone, but does not take the penalty against incoming melee attacks, and becomes immune to non-magical ranged attacks until he decides to come out of his cover. Also, he gains the effects of Evasion while taking cover.

Improved Two-Shield Fighting: At level 4, the shield master can use twin shields as if he had improved two-weapon fighting.

Shield Slide: Starting at level four, the shield master can drop one of his shields (free action) and then leap on it and skid across a slick or smooth surface (i.e. a dungeon corridor) as if on a modern-day skateboard. Basically, he gets a really nifty Tumble without the armor check penalty of either of his shields. He has to pick up his shield afterwards. Movement speed is increased by 10 (liable to change) while shield sliding, and if on an incline or slope, this bonus increases to 15. Note that you can continue a shield slide into the next round, and until you pick your shield up, you are still considered "sliding". For each round sliding down an incline or slope, you gain another +5 to movement speed. This is usable twice per day at 4th level, thrice per day at 6th level, four times a day at 8th, and five times a day at 10th level.

Enchant Shield: Starting at level 5, a shield-master's shields can be enchanted as if they were both weapons AND shields. For instance, it could be enchanted as a +1 shield and then as a +1 weapon (for a total of +2 for the item). They can also be given qualities such as Returning. Also, if a bonus is given to the weapon, it will also apply to shield throws.

EXAMPLE: +1 Large Shield/+1 Keen Returning Weapon, it would be considered a +1 Shield, a +1 Keen One-handed weapon, and a +1 Keen Returning throwing weapon.

Greater Two-Shield Fighting: At level 8... well, you get the picture.

Shield Perfection: By level 10, the dwarven shield master is a juggernaut on both offense and defense while wielding twin shields. He's, like, awesome. (I have no idea what this skill is going to be. But it'll be something.)

There ya go! Hope you enjoyed the dwarven shield master!

Vaynor
2007-03-03, 10:41 PM
If I'm not mistaken, this prestige class already exists. See the Dwarven Defender (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/prestigeClasses/dwarvenDefender.htm).

Thomix
2007-03-03, 11:40 PM
If I'm not mistaken, this prestige class already exists. See the Dwarven Defender (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/prestigeClasses/dwarvenDefender.htm).

That's totaly different from the dwarven defender

Vaynor
2007-03-03, 11:42 PM
That's totaly different from the dwarven defender

Well, I didn't read the whole thing. Just looked at the basic description. I don't know... just kind of seemed similar. They're both dwarves with shields. :smallbiggrin:

EDIT: I know look at it.. wow, that's a pretty cool thought. :smallwink:

crazedloon
2007-03-04, 12:41 AM
I like the class and actualy would have liked to see this class a few months ago I would have played it in a recent campaign.

I believe you should get rid of keen shield and returning shield and replace it with the ability to enchant sheilds as if they were weapons and when you gain the shield throw ability they can enchant it like it was a ranged weapon.

Also I could see the shield slide alowing faster movment and even faster when on an incline.

mockingbyrd7
2007-03-04, 08:37 PM
I like the class and actualy would have liked to see this class a few months ago I would have played it in a recent campaign.

I believe you should get rid of keen shield and returning shield and replace it with the ability to enchant sheilds as if they were weapons and when you gain the shield throw ability they can enchant it like it was a ranged weapon.

Also I could see the shield slide alowing faster movment and even faster when on an incline.

Thanks for the feedback! I agree with the bonuses to shield slide, but I don't know how much to increase it by. Also, I like the idea of enchanting the shields like weapons, it would also render Returning Shield obsolete since you could imbue it with Returning (I was thinking about Captain America when I designed that ability :smallbiggrin:). I'll have to think about getting rid of Keen Shields.

mockingbyrd7

Matthew
2007-03-04, 08:40 PM
Dazing Bash seems kind of powerful, and also misleading, since a character is likely to be stunned, rather than dazed.

Have you got access to the Shield Charge and Shield Slam Feats from The Complete Warrior? They might be worth a look, as might Arrow Block.

mockingbyrd7
2007-03-06, 10:36 AM
Dazing Bash seems kind of powerful, and also misleading, since a character is likely to be stunned, rather than dazed.

Have you got access to the Shield Charge and Shield Slam Feats from The Complete Warrior? They might be worth a look, as might Arrow Block.

Hmm... I don't really know the difference between a daze and a stun. :smallconfused: Hehe.

Also, what makes Dazing Bash too powerful?

Thanks for your input, I'll go check Shield Charge and Shield Slam right now.

EDIT: Changed it to Stunning Bash, for whatever it's worth. :smalltongue:

EDIT 2: Also, any ideas on what to make the final skill? I know there should be one, but I'm drawing a blank.

EDIT 3: Fantastic! The ONE page that is ripped out of my Complete Warrior happens to be page 105 - a.k.a. the page with the shield skills on it. Sigh...

EDIT 4: Just removed Returning Shield and Keen Shield and replaced with Enchant Shield.

EDIT 5: Just added "Shield Charge" to level 3, since I got enough info from the table of all the feats in complete warrior on page 94-95 to include it.

EDIT 6: BTW (hopefully my last edit :smalltongue:) do you think he should be able to enchant the shields or should the shields simply be able to be enchanted that way by other people?

crazedloon
2007-03-06, 07:26 PM
EDIT 6: BTW (hopefully my last edit :smalltongue:) do you think he should be able to enchant the shields or should the shields simply be able to be enchanted that way by other people?

I think it should be kept as others enchanting it. However you do run into a snag how would a flameburst shield with flameburst shield spikes work?

Well as far as a cap (I dont think this is proper but perhapse it is a goo ability for another level)

As a swift action a shield master may add any number of the enchantments to his shield AC until his next turn. However these enchantments have no effect for a number of rounds equal to the total enchantment bonus added to the shield.

then at a higher level reduce that time by half.

just a thought.

Matthew
2007-03-06, 08:28 PM
Hmm... I don't really know the difference between a daze and a stun. :smallconfused: Hehe.

Also, what makes Dazing Bash too powerful?

Ah well, that's the problem. Stunning an opponent is a pretty powerful attack form and certainly shouldn't have a fixed 1 in 4 chance, as that could equally apply to a Kobold as to a Dragon. Check out the Feat Stunning Fist (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/feats.htm#stunningFist) for a comparison (or, indeed, Shield Slam, which uses a similar mechanism, but induces Daze)

Conditions: Dazed (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/conditionSummary.htm#dazed) and Stunned (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/conditionSummary.htm#stunned)

There are a number of other Feats you might consider, such as Shield Snare (Disarm with Shield), Shield Ward (Add Shield AC against Touch attacks), Shield Wall (increases AC in formation)and Shield Mate (An AC boost for non Shielded allies when in formation).



Thanks for your input, I'll go check Shield Charge and Shield Slam right now.

EDIT: Changed it to Stunning Bash, for whatever it's worth. :smalltongue:

EDIT 2: Also, any ideas on what to make the final skill? I know there should be one, but I'm drawing a blank.

EDIT 3: Fantastic! The ONE page that is ripped out of my Complete Warrior happens to be page 105 - a.k.a. the page with the shield skills on it. Sigh...

EDIT 4: Just removed Returning Shield and Keen Shield and replaced with Enchant Shield.

EDIT 5: Just added "Shield Charge" to level 3, since I got enough info from the table of all the feats in complete warrior on page 94-95 to include it.


Okay, here's how I see it. This PrC should have a +6 BAB entry level. You don't need the Two Shield Fighting thing, as Two Weapon Fighting already covers it.

Fighter 1: Two Weapon Fighting, Oversized Two Weapon Fighting,
Fighter 2: Improved Shield Bash,
Fighter 3: Weapon Focus (Heavy Shield)
Fighter 4: Weapon Specialisation (Heavy Shield)
Fighter 5:

DWARVEN SHIELD MASTER
{table=head]Level|Base Attack[br]Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special
1st|
+1|
+2|
+0|
+0|Improved Two Weapon Fighting
2nd|
+2|
+3|
+0|
+0|Class Ability
3rd|
+3|
+3|
+1|
+1|Class Ability
4th|
+4|
+4|
+1|
+1|Class Ability
5th|
+5|
+4|
+1|
+1|Class Ability
6th|
+6|
+5|
+2|
+2|Greater Two Weapon Fighting
7th|
+7|
+5|
+2|
+2|Class Ability
8th|
+8|
+6|
+2|
+2|Class Ability
9th|
+9|
+6|
+3|
+3|Class Ability
10th|
+10|
+7|
+3|
+3|Class Ability[/table]


EDIT 6: BTW (hopefully my last edit :smalltongue:) do you think he should be able to enchant the shields or should the shields simply be able to be enchanted that way by other people?

To be honest, I don't really think he needs to have this Enchant thing, since Shield Spikes can already be enchanted as though weapons.

brian c
2007-03-06, 11:12 PM
Stunning Bash: Starting at level 3, 25% chance when struck by a shield master's shields that the opponent becomes stunned for 1 round.

This should be a fort save instead; percentile rolls aren't usually used for this sort of thing. Say the DC of the fort save is 10 + strength modifier + half shieldmaster level? For a fighter 5/shieldmaster 3 with 18 strength, that's a DC of 15, 25% chance of failure if the opponent has +0 fort save. For a fighter 5/shieldmaster 10, 20 str, DC = 20. Maybe you could add the whole shieldmaster level instead of half, giving DCs of 18 and 25 in those examples.

Draz74
2007-03-07, 12:43 AM
This should be a fort save instead; percentile rolls aren't usually used for this sort of thing. Say the DC of the fort save is 10 + strength modifier + half shieldmaster level? For a fighter 5/shieldmaster 3 with 18 strength, that's a DC of 15, 25% chance of failure if the opponent has +0 fort save. For a fighter 5/shieldmaster 10, 20 str, DC = 20. Maybe you could add the whole shieldmaster level instead of half, giving DCs of 18 and 25 in those examples.

Yeah, PrC's usually use full class level to determine save DCs. Base classes use half class level.

Shield Perfection could be ... a hefty boost to AC? The ability to parry magical Rays with your shields?

Cool PrC idea, by the way -- although a bit more specialized than even most PrC's!

brian c
2007-03-07, 01:02 AM
Yeah, PrC's usually use full class level to determine save DCs. Base classes use half class level.

Shield Perfection could be ... a hefty boost to AC? The ability to parry magical Rays with your shields?

Cool PrC idea, by the way -- although a bit more specialized than even most PrC's!

Yeah, I kinda figured that, I'm more used to dealing with base classes though.

I like your idea for Shield Perfection, what if it gave an effect like carapace? Would that be too strong? It should only be when you're not flat-footed, if it is that.

Matthew
2007-03-08, 05:22 PM
Gah! Hmmn. It is quite difficult to think of an appropriate Cap for this Prestige Class. I have a feeling it ought to be offensive rather than defensive. I'm thinking some kind of Super Shield Rush...