Path of the Burdened (2014 Rules)

Barbarians who follow the Path of the Burdened have been traumatized by the horrors they've experienced in their pasts. As a result, these Barbarians have dedicated their entire lives to protecting their allies, losing access to Rage unless they fail at this duty. Path of the Burdened Barbarians possess a deep, powerful Rage within them, which only manifests at their darkest moments. 

Level 3: Heavy Armor Proficiency

When you choose this path at 3rd level, you can forgo the Barbarian’s Unarmored Defense feature and instead gain proficiency with heavy armor. You cannot benefit from Unarmored Defense if you choose this option.

Level 3: Protector's Rage

Your rage is more powerful, but only activates in specific situations:

• You can enter Protector's Rage (without using an action) when a friendly creature whom you can see within 45 feet:
• Is reduced to 1/2 their Maximum Hit Points 
• Takes damage equal to or greater than 1/3 their maximum HP in a single turn.
• You are reduced to 1/2 your maximum Hit Points or lower. 

• You may enter Protector's Rage a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus per Long Rest, regaining 1 charge on a Short Rest and all charges on a Long Rest.

This new, stronger Protector's Rage retains all of the benefits of Barbarian's Rage, with several added features:

Wrathful Attack. When you reduce a creature to 0HP while in Protector's Rage, you may immediately make another weapon attack at a creature within range. This attack deals additional Psychic Damage equal to your Proficiency Bonus.

Protector's Burden. While Raging, you are physically incapable of moving away from the enemy that triggered your protective rage. If you move more than 10 feet from them (voluntarily or involuntarily), you take 1d6 psychic damage, and an additional 1d6 at the start of each turn spent further than 10 feet from the creature. This effect lasts until your Rage ends, you are Incapacitated, or the targeted creature is reduced to 0HP.

Vengeful Might. Against any creature that damaged the ally who triggered your Rage, your melee weapon attacks deal an extra 1d4 force damage, increasing to 1d8 when you reach level 10 and 2d6 at level 14.

Level 3: Stalwart Protector

While not Raging, you may enter Stalwart Presence at the beginning of your turn as a Bonus Action. This effect lasts until you enter Protector's Rage or are Incapacitated.

Stalwart Presence:

• Once per turn, you may impose **Disadvantage** on a melee weapon attack made against a creature within 5 feet of you.
• If you move no more than 1/2 your movement speed this round, you gain temporary Hit Points equal to 1/2 your Proficiency Bonus, rounded down. You may have a maximum of 10 Temporary HP total from this source, increasing to 15 at level 10, 20 at level 14, and 25 at level 20. 

Level 6: Intercede

When an ally within 30 feet is targeted by a melee, ranged, or spell attack,  you can use your Reaction to teleport to their location (or the nearest empty space within 5 feet) and take the attack for them. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus per Long Rest, and you cannot use this ability if under the effects of Restrained, Paralyzed, or Stunned. Additionally, you can't use this feature if you used your full Movement or Intercede in the preceding round, or if there is no empty space within 5 feet of the targeted creature.

• If the attack were a melee, ranged, or spell attack, it automatically hits you, and you take the maximum damage from the attack’s damage dice. Add any relevant modifiers or effects as normal.
• If the attack was a targeted spell requiring a saving throw, you make the relevant saving throw at Disadvantage.

Tower Shield: 

Once per Long Rest, when you use Intercede against a Melee Weapon Attack, you can choose to teleport int the attacking creature's space and force a DC8+PB+STR Strength Saving Throw. On a fail, the targeted creature takes 2d8 Force damage, increasing to 3d8 at level 10 and 4d8 at level 14, and is pushed back 5 feet and Prone. On a success, the targeted creature is pushed back 5 feet, taking half damage and is not Prone. 

Level 10: Steadfast Resolve

While in Stalwart Presence, as a Bonus Action, you may use one of the following features. You may use these features a number of times equal to your Constitution Modifier (Minimum 1), regaining 1 use when you take a Short Rest and all expended uses on a Long Rest.

 

Grant Me Your Burdens. Choose one ally within 15 feet. They regain hit points equal to twice your proficiency bonus. You take 1/4 of the amount healed as Psychic damage. This damage cannot be reduced or resisted in any way.

Fear Not, My Friend. Choose one ally within 15 feet who is under any effect requiring a Wisdom or Intelligence saving throw. That ally may immediately reroll the save with advantage, using your Constitution modifier instead of the original saving throw stat if it is higher.

 

When you use any of these abilities on the same creature more than once in a single combat, that creature is considered Bolstered: they have advantage on their next saving throw and resistance to psychic damage until the end of your next turn. A creature may only benefit from the Bolstered effect once per day.

Level 14: Last Stand

When you are reduced to 0 hit points while Protector’s Rage is active, you can instead drop to 1 hit point and invoke your Last Stand.

Once you use this Feature, you cannot do so again until you complete a Long Rest. At level 20 this number increases to twice per Long Rest.

Unchained. You gain the full benefits of both Stalwart Presence and Protector's Rage.

Unafraid. You are immune to being Stunned, Frightened, or Charmed.

Unrelenting. Your attacks deal an additional 1d10 force damage to any creature that has harmed an ally during this encounter. Additionally, allies within 15 feet gain advantage on saving throws and +2 to AC.

Unbroken. If you are reduced to 0HP once again while Last Stand is active, you may make a melee attack against every creature in range. After this is complete, you then fall unconscious and begin making death saving throws as normal.