The Shield Master

I've been inspired by so many different Warrior types throughout fiction and real life. I've always been personally drawn to the sword and board type play style in any game I come into, but never before have I felt more invested in a game as I have with D&D. The Story, the human condition, emotions, love, betrayal, political intrigue, we get to play out those epic tales we've got to only read about. Its a drama, mixed with some insane classic fantasies, and if we're lucky - we get to find a group of amazing friends to play it with. 

I created this because I felt there was a great void not filling out that fantasy of that Warrior type that I've been most in love with and have had a great desire to play. That primarily focus' on the sword and board play style - granted - there are builds, and general things, within the base game to aid in it, but nothing that screams "this is my purpose," that "this is ******* awesome!" when someone is feeling deeply inspired to play such a type of character. 

I created this for myself, and for anyone out there that felt like this was missing in your life for class options. I feel its fairly balanced, however I am still balancing this out, so please be patient with me! Will be making a video and posting a link here to that on my Youtube channel to go into a deep dive of it there. Hope you enjoy, and have a great time gaming!

Spellcasting

When you reach 3rd level, you augment your martial prowess with the ability to cast spells.

Cantrips

You learn two cantrips of your choice from the Bard spell list. You learn an additional Bard cantrip of your choice at 10th level.

Spell Slots

The Shield Master's Spellcasting table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your Bard spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these spells, you must expend a slot of the spell’s level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest.

For example, if you know the 1st-level spell shield and have a 1st-level and a 2nd-level spell slot available, you can cast shield using either slot.

Spells Known of 1st-Level and Higher

You know three 1st-level Bard spells of your choice.

Whenever you gain a level in this class, you can replace one of the Bard spells you know with another spell of your choice from the Bard spell list. The new spell must be of a level for which you have spell slots.

Spellcasting Ability

Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for your Bard spells, since you learn your spells through study and memorization. You use your charisma whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your charisma modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a Bard spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.

Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your charisma modifier

Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your charisma modifier

Shield Master's Spellcasting

Fighter Level	Cantrips Known	Spells Known	— Spell Slots per Spell Level —
			1st	2nd	3rd	4th
3rd	2	3	2	—	—	—
4th	2	4	3	—	—	—
5th	2	4	3	—	—	—
6th	2	4	3	—	—	—
7th	2	5	4	2	—	—
8th	2	6	4	2	—	—
9th	2	6	4	2	—	—
10th	3	7	4	3	—	—
11th	3	8	4	3	—	—
12th	3	8	4	3	—	—
13th	3	9	4	3	2	—
14th	3	10	4	3	2	—
15th	3	10	4	3	2	—
16th	3	11	4	3	3	—
17th	3	11	4	3	3	—
18th	3	11	4	3	3	—
19th	3	12	4	3	3	1
20th	3	13	4	3	3	1

Shield Binding

At 3rd level, you learn a ritual that creates a magical bond between yourself and one shield. You perform the ritual over the course of 1 hour, which can be done during a short rest. The Shield must be within your reach throughout the ritual, at the conclusion of which you touch the Shield and forge the bond.

Once you have bonded a shield to yourself, you can’t be disarmed of that shield unless you are incapacitated. If it is on the same plane of existence, you can summon that shield as a bonus action on your turn, causing it to teleport instantly to your hand.

You can have up to two bonded shields, but can summon only one at a time with your bonus action. If you attempt to bond with a third shield, you must break the bond with one of the other two.

Live by the Shield...

Through practice, endurance, and extreme dedication to your craft, you have mastered what few have come to be able to achieve. 

Shield Bash

Starting at 3rd level, you can use a shield to bash your target as part of your attack action (Adding your Proficiency + Strength Modifier to hit), for a 1d6 damage. This damage will increase to a 1d8 at 7th level, and a 1d10 at 15th level, Adding your Strength Modifier to the damage roll. Consider this Bludgeoning damage, unless you create a unique shield to change the damage type.

Shield Hurl

Through your own strength, magical skill, or some combination of both; you may have each Shield that is bonded to you through your Shield Binding feature, use the Attack Action to throw One with ease for (30/40 ft.). Either retrieving the shield on your own, or using your Shield Binding Feature to return to you as your Bonus Action. This follows the same damage and to hit rolls as the Shield Bash Ability. 

Never Fall

As well, you now can now as a reaction before being hit to add your Strength Modifier to your AC total, this will last until the start of your next turn. You will be able to do this a number of times equal to your Strength Modifier (minimum of 1), and will reset on a short rest. 

 

Notes: Personally, this character logically makes sense to myself that they are using their Strength Modifier, oppose to their Dexterity. However, to each their own, should you find a good way to role play out a low strength high dexterity build, perhaps this is more just the magic that you're using oppose to raw strength and magic to enhance; go for it, just treat whatever uses "Strength" and trade it in place of Dexterity within this build.

Inlaid Magic

Beginning at 7th level, you've learned to twist magical force damage into when you use your attack action to attack with a Bonded Shield, Bash or Hurl, you may expend a spell slot of at least 1st level to add extra damage through your charisma modifier. Should you expend a spell slot above 1st level, add your charisma modifier again, example: 

1st level Spell Slot = Charisma Modifier x 1

2nd level Spell Slot = Charisma Modifier x 2 

3rd level Spell Slot = Charisma Modifier x 3

4th level Spell Slot = Charisma Modifier x 4

This damage will not apply to any Ricochet hits beyond the first target hit. As well, this acts as a Divine Strike type ability - you may use it after you know it hits or critical. 

... Die by the Shield

Starting at 10th level, When you score a critical hit, you may make another attack with one of your Bonded Shields as a Bonus Action, should this Bonus Attack hit the same opponent as the Critical hit; it will have Disadvantage on Attack Rolls until the start of your next turn. Or should it Critically hit again, your opponent will be instead stunned until the start of your next turn. 

Ricochet

At 15th level, you gain the ability to Ricochet your shield ranged attacks to either bounce off of your main target or a solid object, and to hit up to 2 addition targets within 10 feet of the Previously Hit Target.

Targets must make a Dexterity Saving Throw against your Spell Save DC, on a save take no damage and on a fail take Force Damage equal to a 1d4 + your Charisma Modifier, after which the shield will return to an open hand.

You have a number of uses equal to your Charisma Modifier x 2, and regain uses of this on a long rest. 

Improved Inlaid Magic

Starting at 18th level, when you critically hit and use a Bonded Shield and the Inlaid Magic Feature, you may double whatever the modifier added from the spell was, as well, you do not burn a spell slot from what you used, you may do this a number of times equal to your Charisma Modifier, and regain the uses on a short rest. 

1st level Spell Slot = ((Charisma Modifier x 1) x 2) 

2nd level Spell Slot = ((Charisma Modifier x 2) x 2) 

3rd level Spell Slot = ((Charisma Modifier x 3) x 2) 

4th level Spell Slot = ((Charisma Modifier x 4) x 2)