Dwarven Defender
Dwarven Defender
Description:
The defender is a sponsored champion of a dwarven cause, a dwarven aristocrat, a dwarven deity, or the dwarven way of life. As the name might imply, this character is a skilled combatant trained in the arts of defense. A line of dwarven defenders is a far better defense than a 10-foot-thick wall of stone, and much more dangerous.
Most dwarven defenders are fighters, paladins, rangers, or clerics, although sorcerers, wizards, and druids can certainly all benefit from the defensive capabilities of this prestige class. Rogues, bards, and monks usually depend too heavily on mobility to really use the abilities of the dwarven defender class to their fullest.
Dwarven defenders are usually soldiers in a dwarven citadel, segregated into their own units separate from regular warriors or fighters. Occasionally a lone, wandering dwarven defender can be encountered on some mission, although he usually guards his words so closely that it's difficult to learn what his quest actually entails.
Requirements
Class feature progression
| Hit die: 12 |
| Proficiencies: Weapons (simple, martial), armor (light, medium, heavy), as well as shields (except for tower shields) |
| Skill points: 2 + Int modifier |
| Class skills: Craft alchemy, Craft armor, Craft weapon, Listen, Parry, Spot |
| Base attack bonus progression: High |
| Saving throws | high: | Fortitude, Will |
| low: | Reflex |
Additional progressions
| Level | Features Gained |
|---|---|
| 1 | Defensive stance x1, improved defense I |
| 2 | Uncanny dodge |
| 3 | Defensive stance x2 |
| 4 | improved defense II, trap sense I |
| 5 | Defensive stance x3 |
| 6 | Dwarven Defender damage reduction I, improved uncanny dodge |
| 7 | Defensive stance x4, improved defense III |
| 8 | |
| 9 | Defensive stance x5, trap sense II |
| 10 | Dwarven Defender damage reduction II, improved defense IV |
Defensive stance
The dwarven defender can become a bastion of defense. They cannot move from the spot they're defending, but they gain +2 enhancement bonus to Strength and +4 to Constitution, a +4 Dodge bonus to AC, and a +2 bonus to all saves. A 1st-level dwarven defender can use this ability once per day. They gain an additional use every two levels beyond 1st.
A dwarven defender with a ranged weapon equipped cannot activate defensive stance. Defensive Stance disables CE/ICE.
Improved defense
The Dwarven Defender receives a +1 dodge bonus to AC at 1st level. This bonus improves by an additional +1 at 4th, 7th, and 10th level.
Uncanny dodge
At 2nd level the dwarven defender retains their Dexterity bonus even when caught flat-footed.
Trap sense
At 4th level the dwarven defender gets a +1 reflex bonus against all traps. At 9th level this bonus increases by an additional +1.
Damage reduction
At 6th level, the dwarven defender gains DR 3/-. This increases to DR 6/- at 10th level.
Improved uncanny dodge
At 6th level, the dwarven defender can no longer be sneak attacked except by a character with 4 or more total levels in classes that grant sneak attack than the character levels of the dwarven defender.
Gameplay Notes
- The Dwarven Defender can achieve high damage resistance in fewer levels than other classes. Barbarians, and Warlocks must take at least 19-22 levels to achieve similar results to a level 17 Defender.