[D&D 4e] Rune Guard: Runepriest Defender Conversion (PEACH)

[Nuptup]

Runepriest Variant
A Runeguard can be chosen as a Variant of the Runepriest during character creation. By doing so, you lose the Rune of Mending class feature in exchange for the Battle Rune class feature. This changes your role in a party from Leader to Defender as well as modifying your starting stats and 1st level class feature effects as seen below.

Spoiler: Class Block

Show

Role: Defender. You use powerful runes to defend your comrades on the battlefield.
Power Source: Divine and Martial. You trust in the power held within runic sigils while also perfecting your combat prowess.
Key Abilities: Strength, Constitution, Wisdom
Armor Proficiencies: Cloth, Leather, Hide, Chainmail, Scale, Shield (Light), Shield (Heavy)
Weapon Proficiencies: Simple Melee, Simple Ranged
Bonus to Defense: +2 Will.
Hit Points at 1st Level : 15+ Constitution Score
Hit Points per Level Gained : 6
Healing Surges per Day : 9+ Constitution Modifier
Trained Skills : Religion. From the class skills list below, choose 3 more trained skills at 1st level.
Class Skills : Arcana (Int), Athletics (Str), Endurance (Con), Heal (Wis), History (Int), Insight (Wis), Religion (Int), Thievery (Dex)
Class features: Battle Rune, Rune Master, Runic Artistry

RUNEPRIEST CLASS FEATURES

Rune of Battle
Runeguards carry with them a Rune of Battle, often tattooed onto themselves or etched onto their equipment similar to a holy symbol. Through constant exposure to the rune’s power, the Runeguard becomes more resilient as a result. The Runeguard gains the following changes compared to a Runepriest, which are already applied to the values above:

• Role set to Defender
• Added Martial Power Source
• +3 Hit Points at 1st Level
• +1 Hit Point per Level Gained
• +2 Healing Surges per Day
• Proficiency with Shield (Heavy)

Lastly, any Runepriest Class or Runepriest Paragon Path power that causes a creature to be Marked causes them to be subject to your Runic Barrier instead.

Rune Master
Powers with the runic keyword have two possible added benefits, labeled Rune of Destruction and Rune of Protection. When a character uses a runic power, he or she chooses one of the two runes, and the power gains the corresponding benefit. When a character chooses a rune in this way, he or she enters the rune state associated with the chosen rune. A character’s rune state ends when he or she enters a different rune state or falls unconscious.
While a Runeguard has an active Rune State, the Rune State projects an aura 1 from them. Each Rune State has the ability to apply your Runic Barrier to enemies as described in the following sections.
For the purpose of other Marks and Defender Auras, treat any creature affected by your Rune State as if your Runic Barrier was a Defender Aura.

Spoiler: Runic Barrier

Show

Any enemy affected by your Runic Barrier takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls when it makes an attack that does not include among its targets either you or an ally of yours who has a defender aura active. Marked enemies are not subject to this aura.

Spoiler: Rune of Destruction

Show

While in the Rune State of Destruction, enemies inside the aura are subject to your Runic Barrier and allies receive a +1 bonus to attack rolls against them.
Enemies that leave your Rune State of Destruction aura are subject to your Runic Barrier until the start of your next turn.

Spoiler: Rune of Protection

Show

While in the Rune State of Protection, allies inside the aura gain resist 2 to all damage or increase any existing resistance by 2. The resistance increases to 4 at 11th level and 6 at 21st level. Any enemy that targets an ally that is inside your Rune State of Protection aura is subject to your Runic Barrier until the start of your next turn.

Runic Artistry
Runeguards with the Runic Artistry class feature choose one of the following rune magic traditions and gain the corresponding benefits:

Spoiler: Defiant Word

Show

The Runeguard gains implement proficiency with tomes. While conscious and in possession of a tome, a passage of protective runes leap from the pages and encircle you.
This passage provides a +2 shield bonus to AC and Reflex while you wield the tome and have your other hand free (not carrying a shield, an off-hand weapon, a two-handed weapon, or anything else) or when you possess the tome and have both hands free.
A tome wielded in this way counts as a simple melee weapon with a +3 proficiency bonus, dealing 1d6 damage and belonging to the mace weapon group.

Defiant Rune
As an Opportunity Action that you take when an enemy attacks an ally with an attack that doesn't include you as a target while subject to your Runic Barrier, deal 2 + your Strength modifier damage to the enemy. Increase the damage dealt by 3 at level 11, and again at level 21.

Spoiler: Serene Blade

Show

The Runeguard gains weapon proficiency with military heavy blades.
While not wearing heavy armor, the Runeguard can add his or her Wisdom modifier instead of his or her Dexterity or Intelligence modifier to AC.

Serene Respite
As an Immediate Interrupt that you take when an enemy hits an ally with an attack that doesn't include you as a target while subject to your Runic Barrier, reduce the damage dealt by the triggering attack to any one creature by an amount equal to 5 + your Wisdom modifier.
At 11th level, reduce the damage dealt by 10 + your Wisdom modifier.
At 21st level, reduce the damage dealt by 15 + your Wisdom modifier.

Spoiler: Wrathful Hammer

Show

The Runeguard gains weapon proficiency with military hammers and military maces.

Wrathful Beacon
As an Immediate Reaction that you take when an enemy targets an ally with an attack that doesn't include you as a target while subject to your Runic Barrier, cause the triggering enemy to grant Combat Advantage until the start of their next turn and the next attack against them from one of your allies deals extra damage equal to your Constitution modifier.

---

This has only been tested in a single one-shot, but it seemed pretty fun to play. Would like to hear what others have to say about it.