Sword and Shield Stances

The art of the Sword and Shield Stances have been passed down for decades among Stone Warriors. This technique have been mainly used by bodyguards and guardsmen. These stances contain mindsets as well as physical stance, the defensive stance is one known for the ability for nothing to get past you. The offensive has been used to defeat some of the planets biggest threats, such as the Gnolls in old. 

Steady Stance

Starting at 3rd level, whenever you are in Shield Stance you cannot be knocked prone, and you have advantage against saving throws that would render you incapacitated. 

Offensive Mark

Starting at 3rd level, you can menace your foes. When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can mark the creature until the end of your next turn. This effect ends early if you are incapacitated or you die, or if someone else marks the creature.

While it is within 5 feet of you, a creature marked by you has disadvantage on any attack roll that doesn’t target you.

In addition, if a creature marked by you deals damage to anyone other than you, you can make a special melee weapon attack against the marked creature as a bonus action on your next turn. You have advantage on the attack roll, and if it hits, the attack’s weapon deals extra damage to the target equal to half your fighter level.

Regardless of the number of creatures you mark, you can make this special attack a number of times equal to your Strength modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses of it when you finish a long rest.

Warding Defence

At 7th level, you learn to fend off strikes directed at you or other creatures nearby. While in defensive stance I f you or a creature you can see within 5 feet of you is hit by an attack, you can roll 1d8 as a reaction. Roll the die, and add the number rolled to the target’s AC against that attack. If the attack still hits, the target has resistance against the attack’s damage.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses of it when you finish a long rest.

Hold the Line

At 10th level, you become a master of locking down your enemies. Creatures provoke an opportunity attack from you when they move 5 feet or more while within your reach, and if you hit a creature with an opportunity attack, the target’s speed is reduced to 0 until the end of the current turn.

Great Slam

At 7th level, your weapon can create large slams in the ground while in offensive stance. When in offensive stance you may use a action to swing your weapon around you, this deals your normal weapon damage. If this hits you can swing around again dealing the same damage and slamming the enemy into the ground, this deals 3d8 + your Strength modifier. This renders the opponent prone unless they are a large or bigger creature. This can only be used as many times as your Strength modifier, this refreshes after a long rest.

Stance Weapon

At 15th level, while in Defensive Stance and a enemy misses an attack you make use a reaction to switch stance and attack as an opportunity attack.

Bodyguard’s True Stance

Starting at 18th level, you respond to danger with extraordinary vigilance. In combat, you get a special reaction that you can take once on every creature’s turn, except your turn. You can use this special reaction only to make an opportunity attack, and you can’t use it on the same turn that you take your normal reaction.