Stalwart Defender

"Initially, I was wary of hiring a bodyguard when coming face-to-face with a dragon, but I couldn’t be more relieved. As we traveled, there were those who doubted her prowess, those who snickered as she passed, wielding two shields with no weapon in sight. If they had seen what I had in this moment, they would have realized: Her shields are her weapons."

Defend your friends, and confound your foes with this new martial archetype that specializes in shields. If you wanted to truly take on the role of a protector, this archeype is for you! Free to play, this archetype brings a new dimension to fighters previously unexplored.

Tide of Iron

Honing your shieldcraft meant that your offensive techniques faltered compared to more weapon minded warriors. Instead of hanging up the shield, you chose to become adept at wielding it offensively. With training you developed new methods of using your shield to strike devastating blows against your opponents.

When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you treat any shield you wield as a martial weapon and gain proficiency with it. The weapon deals 1d6 bludgeoning damage.

Protective Bonds

You have seen people you have been charged to protect suffer injuries. Over time you developed an instinctive knack for protecting those dearest to you.

Starting at 3rd level, you may select a number of allies equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum 1) and they become your wards. You may change any number of wards you have selected after you finish a long rest, but the new ward must have been present during that long rest.

When adjacent to a ward you may choose to protect that ward using one of the following techniques. These techniques can be used at any time during your turn and can be changed by using your reaction at any other time. They persist until you are no longer adjacent to the ward, you use another technique, or you choose to end the protection. The following three techniques are available:

• Absorbing Block: If your ward would make a Dexterity saving throw, they gain advantage to that saving throw and you suffer half of the damage they would have taken had they failed. You do not suffer any other effects from this damage.
• Defensive Interjection: If an enemy would attack your ward, you can throw yourself into harms way and force the enemy to make the attack roll with advantage against you.
• Shielding Interpose: Grant your ward a +2 bonus to AC and you suffer a -2 penalty to AC.

Attuned Guardian

After spending time with your wards you learned to attune yourself to their emotions. This bond is no longer one-way; your wards have come to trust you as a safe haven and a person they can confide in.

At 7th level, you grant your wards advantage against charm and fear effects as long as they can see or hear you.

Dutiful Stride

Your devotion to your wards goes beyond that of a simple bodyguard. You are capable of bulling through any obstacle to ensure their safety.

At 10th level, your movement ignores difficult terrain and you may move through enemy occupied spaces as long as you end your turn adjacent to one of your wards.

Improved Protective Bonds

Combat has changed you and how you protect others. Keeping up with the countless threats has become a daunting challenge, but rather than back down you double your efforts.

At 15th level, you may use a technique from your protective bonds class feature once per turn without using a reaction.

Everlasting Bulwark

You act as a wall between your friends and those that would harm them, and your presence sustains them.

At 18th level you are treated as total cover by enemies trying to attack your wards.

In addition, at the start of your turn, every ward within 30 ft. automatically stabilizes if they were dying.