Armor Initiate

The idea here is that Shield Proficiency is now harder to get from certain Subclasses and other Feats. 

WotC has moved Shield Proficiency from the 2014 Moderately Armored Feat to the 2024 Lightly Armored Feat.  Effectively nerfing 2014 Moderately Armored was a good decision; and adding Shield Proficiency to Lightly Armored is certainly a buff.  However, I don't think many players will choose Lightly Armored as a General Feat even in spite of this improvement. 

Additionally, The Hexblade is not in the 2024 rules.  While it's still technically allowed as Legacy content, perhaps some GMs won't allow it at their tables.  This leaves a Pact of the Blade Warlock at a major defensive disadvantage.  RAW 2024 Blade Pact Warlocks will struggle to get an AC better than 15 while still wanting to be front-line fighters.  This allows them to optionally take a defensive Origin Feat to help boost their AC at low levels.  Players can of course then consider taking feats like 2024 Moderately or Heavily Armored at higher levels.

This avoids an overly powerful level 1 Hexblade, that can still attain higher ACs at higher levels.  I believe it will also be a fair boost to College of Dance Bards; while they get a similar AC bonus to Monks, I don't think they will struggle to get similar ACs and also lack other defensive features like Deflect Attacks.  Monks of course cannot wear Shields while benefiting from their Unarmored Defense Feature.