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 | Mass Barrier |
| 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 take 35% of the physical they would instead of them whenever they are attacked. 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. Cooldown: 30 seconds. 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 when the Warden is struck directly, charging their Aegis by 1 charge per level. 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
Aegis Slam: The Shield Warden slams their Aegis down, expending some of its charge to send a shockwave out to deal sonic and bludgeoning damage and knock down nearby enemies for 1 round. The damage dealt is equal to d20 base, plus their strength modifier added to the shield's charge, up to 5 per level.
Shape: Sphere
Range: 2.5 meters
DC: 10 + str mod + 20% of block skill
Save: Reflex 1/2
Cooldown: 30 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: 2 minutes
Mass Barrier: The Shield Warden splits the charge on their Aegis to create barriers on all nearby allies, excluding themself. Each barrier grants a temp HP shield equal to the divided Aegis charge, up to 20 per level each.
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, 20 DR (30 with Bulwark), and immunity to knockdown for the duration, or until the barrier collapses.
Duration: 5 rounds + 1 round per level
Cooldown: 10 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 10 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 +10 to the block skill.
Aegis: Power Slam: The Shield Warden's Aegis Slam becomes more powerful, dealing 2d20 base damage and now tripling its range and strength modifier damage.
Barrier: Augment Duration: The Shield Warden doubles the durations of all protective barriers.
Bonus feats unlocked at level 7:
Aegis: Recovery: The Shield Warden's Aegis is restored to full charge when they rest.
Barrier: Augment Shield: The Shield Warden empowers all of their shielding abilities to grant 50% 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 50%.