[3.x] Defensive Class Features

[rogueboy]

I'm looking at trying to put together a homebrewed class focused on protecting others, but am having trouble coming up with ideas for reasonable features to grant the class. I am looking primarily for conceptual ideas or examples from other classes (PrC or base) at the moment.

What I have come up with so far is a couple of the features from each of Tactical Soldier [MH] (Interpose, Defensive Shield, and Reciprocal Strike) and Knight Protector [CW] (Defensive Stance, Retributive Attack), along with some possible ideas from Marshal auras, such as DR or bonuses to AC, and the Knight class [PH2], such as Knight's Challenge and Shield Ally.

Does anyone know of other classes/features I may have missed that provide an ability for a character to protect their allies or have ideas for homebrewed features?

[jokey665]

I don't know how much it will help but you could take a look at my homebrewed Defender class and see if anything looks good to you.

[SurlySeraph]

Paladin's Aura of Courage, of course.

[Cedrass]

Mettle is something nice too, and I guess you could look into the Crusader class in Tome of Battle. It's got some nice abilities like Furious Counterstrike.

[Tyndmyr]

Damage sharing is also nice...there's a spell for that somewhere. Likewise, I know spell compendium has an arcane 3rd level necro spell(can't recall the name offhand, but should be easy enough to find) that heals another while putting damage on you(only half as much).

I think that might lead toward some interesting builds.

[Thurbane]

There's a two feat chain in Drow of the Underdark that focus on protecting others (name escapes me at the moment).

Also, the Outcast Champion from RoD has some features that you might like.

[Curmudgeon]

There are spells, of course. If you're rolling your own you might want to consider making some SLAs that will take the place of things like

• Benign Transposition
• Baleful Transposition
• Knight's Move

These are all short-distance teleportation spells that let you swap places with an ally or enemy, or close to flank an enemy.

[wackodraco]

I'm not really sure how you enter it, because the requirements are mind boggling, but the Survivor prestige class from Savage Species may be of use to you.

[Ozymandias9]

Master Specialist from Complete Mage gets Moderate School Esoterica at level 7. The feature depends on their school of specialization. The Abjuration version is essentially Evasion for all saves instead of just reflex.

If you are subject to a spell that has a partial or half effect on a successful save, you suffer no adverse effect if you successfully save.