Shield Warden

Shield Warden's are specialized combatants that utilize powerful shields called Aegises to absorb the physical damage from incoming attacks. They typically act as supportive protectors that work best in conjunction with another front-line warrior. As Wardens absorb damage and defend their allies from attacks, their shields gain charges that may then be utilized through their abilities to create protective barriers for themselves or allies.

Requirements

Feats: Shield Block, Bodyguard

Skills: Block 9 ranks

Hit Die: d12

Proficiencies: Shield Wardens gain no additional proficiencies

Skill Points: 2 + INT

Class Skills: Block, Concentration, Craft, Discipline, Heal, Listen, Intimidate, Knowledge (all), Lore, Parry, Profession, Sense Motive, Spot, Taunt

Level Progression

Lvl	BAB	Fort	Ref	Will	Class Features
1st	+0	+2	+0	+2	Aegis of the Warden
2nd	+1	+3	+0	+3	Warden's Barrier
3rd	+2	+3	+1	+3	Bonus Feat
4th	+3	+4	+1	+4	Aegis Slam
5th	+3	+4	+1	+4	Bonus Feat
6th	+4	+5	+2	+5	Guardian Shroud
7th	+5	+5	+2	+5	Bonus Feat
8th	+6/+1	+6	+2	+6	Revitalizing Defense
9th	+6/+1	+6	+3	+6	Bonus Feat
10th	+7/+2	+7	+3	+7	Invincible

Shield Block: Requires 4 BAB. You gain a percent chance equal to your modified block skill to block an attack, reducing the damage taken (after other sources of damage reduction) by 15%. This only functions with light or large shields, tower shields are too heavy to maneuver.

Bodyguard: The character can tether to an ally to act as their guardian. While within 3 meters of that ally, the bodyguard takes 35% of the inflicted physical damage from any successful attack. If cast on the owner of the feat, the tether is broken. Casting it on someone else will renew the tether with a new target. Requirements: Shield Block.

Abilities

Aegis of the Warden: A Shield Warden's Aegis is not just the most important tool for their survival, but the key to all of their abilities. Each ability draws from a pool of energy stored within their Aegis, and there are two ways in which charges may be gained. The primary way is through the Bodyguard feat as the Aegis absorbs the physical damage of blows that the Warden takes for an ally. The secondary way is passive charging over time, which restores 1 charge per Warden level every round. The maximum charge of an Aegis is equal to 50 per level, and half the charge is slowly restored while resting. The Warden's barriers do not stack and they cannot be dispelled.

Warden's Barrier: The Shield Warden creates a barrier on themself or an ally that grants a temp HP shield equal to their shield's charge, up to 20 per level.

Duration: 5 rounds + 1 round per level
Range: 8 meters
Cooldown: 60 seconds unique to target

Aegis Slam: The Shield Warden slams their Aegis down, expending some of its charge to send a shockwave out towards enemies to deal sonic and bludgeoning damage, apply -5 AB for 4 rounds, and knockdown for 1 round. The damage dealt is equal to d10 base, plus their strength modifier added to the shield's charge, up to 5 per level.

Shape: Sphere
Range: 3.5 meters
DC: 10 + str mod + 25% of block skill
Save: Reflex 1/2
Cooldown: 45 seconds

Guardian Shroud: When the Shield Warden drops below 15% health, a protective shroud envelops them. The shroud grants temp HP shield equal to 50 plus their shield's charge, up to 20 per level.

Duration: 5 rounds + 1 round per level
Cooldown: 5 minutes

Revitalizing Defense: The Shield Warden expends 200 charge from their Aegis to create barriers on all nearby allies, excluding themself. Each barrier grants a 100 temp HP shield. While the barrier persists, it provides 5 regeneration each round.

Duration: 5 rounds + 1 round per level
Radius: Huge
Cooldown: 2 minutes

Invincible: The Shield Warden expends 300 charge from their Aegis to project the ultimate barrier around themself. They gain a 300 temp HP barrier, 25% immunity to physical damage, 15 DR (23 with Bulwark), and immunity to knockdown for the duration, or until the barrier collapses.

Duration: 5 rounds + 1 round per level
Cooldown: 15 minutes

Bonus feats unlocked at level 3:

Aegis: Reconstitution: The Shield Warden empowers their Aegis, giving it a permanent +4 to regeneration.

Aegis: Shield Mastery: The Shield Warden has gained true mastery over shields. They may use tower shields with the shield block feat and their Aegis transforms into a tower shield with +5 AC.

Barrier: Bulwark: The Shield Warden empowers all of their shielding abilities to grant 8 DR for their durations, or until the barrier collapses.

Barrier: Safeguard: The Shield Warden empowers all of their shielding abilities to grant +4 AC for their durations, or until the barrier collapses.

Barrier: Spellward: The Shield Warden empowers all of their shielding abilities to grant +4 to saves for their durations, or until the barrier collapses.

Bonus feats unlocked at level 5:

Aegis: Bastion: The Shield Warden empowers their Aegis, giving it a permanent 10% physical damage immunity.

Aegis: Enhance Block: The Shield Warden empowers their Aegis, giving it a permanent +12 to the block skill.

Aegis: Power Slam: The Shield Warden's Aegis Slam becomes more powerful, now tripling its range and strength modifier damage while adding 3 to the DC and increasing the charge damage cap by 25.

Barrier: Augment Duration: The Shield Warden doubles the durations of all protective barriers and the knockdown and AB decrease from Aegis Slam.

Bonus feats unlocked at level 7:

Aegis: Recovery: The Shield Warden's Aegis is restored to full charge when they rest. It also gains an additional 5 to its passive charge every round.

Barrier: Augment Shield: The Shield Warden empowers all of their shielding abilities to grant 25% more temp HP.

Barrier: Vigilance: While a Shield Warden's barrier is on an ally that they are Bodyguarding, physical damage absorbed with Bodyguard is counted as double for their Aegis charge.

Superior Shield Block: The Shield Warden's block damage reduction now increases to 40%.