Oath of the Shield

The Oath of the Shield binds a paladin to the defense of those who cannot defend themselves. Sometimes guardians. These paladins know that there will always be a place for them at the front lines of the battle with evil. Whether it is a small village, a singular maiden or an entire city that is threatened with destruction, they hold themselves to the expectation of protecting all who do not have the means to protect themselves, without regard to personal gain or detriment . They do not stay in any one place too long, as those in their charge are protected and the danger passes, another’s are in need of defense.

Tenets of the Shield

The tenets of the Oath of the Shield vary by paladin, but all the tenets revolve around the protection of the weak or misjudged. Paladins who uphold these tenets are willing to go to extraordinary lengths to protect the innocent from evil or injustice, using their own sensibilities to differentiate between someone who needs their assistance, and someone who might manipulate others for their own ends. These paladins are often lawful neutral or lawful good in alignment.

Bastion of Value. Always be prepared to stand before evil or injustice to save a life, even in the face of impossible odds.

Sanctity of Life. All life is sacred. Take a life only in the defense of another, and protect those under threat.

Bastion of Steadfastness. Remain unyielding through challenge, relentless in defeat and honorable in victory.

Righteousness of Heart. Your words and your deeds should engender trust, dependability and hope to all those you encounter. You do not know who will be the next to need your protection and your name should be beyond reproach, so as to be the first called upon when destruction is foreshadowed.

Channel Divinity

When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the following two Channel Divinity options.

Divine Challenge - The paladin presents their Holy Symbol and speaks words imbued with power. All enemies within 20 feet who can hear the paladin must make a wisdom save, or be inexorably drawn toward the paladin. On failed save, the targets must spend their turn attempting to get into melee range of the paladin. This movement incurs attacks of opportunity.
The effect lasts one minute. Any damage breaks the spell and the targets may make an additional wisdom saving throw at the start of their turn

Divine Protection - When a creature withing ten feet of the paladin moves to attack one of the paladins' allies, the paladin may use their reaction to impose a radiant shield between the creature and its target. the creature must take a wisdom saving throw vs the paladin's spell DC. if the creature fails the save, no damage is dealt to the target. On a successful save, the target takes half damage.

 

Oath Spells

You gain oath spells at the paladin levels listed.

Oath of Devotion Spells

Shield of the Sentinel

At 7th level, as long as the paladin is not incapacitated, all allies (including the paladin) within 10 feet add +2 to their AC

At 18th level, the bonus AC is increased to +4.

Resilient Protector

Beginning at 15th level, guardians learn to shrug off all but the most damaging spells. Any save that would result in half damafe instead results in zero damage. Failed saves deal half damage.

Paladin also gets proficiency in Constituition saving throws.

Guardian's Resolve

Relentless sentinels, guardians know that their duty is to the allies they are charged to defend. At level 20, when the paladin is dropped to zero health, they may choose to remain at 1HP. Once this ability is triggered, the paladin cannot be reduced below one hit point so long as an ally is within 10 feet and is not incapacitated.

This ability lasts one minute. Once triggered, the paladin must finish a long rest before using this ability again.