Stalwart Defender

Stalwart Defenders are a prestige class. Drawn from the ranks of guards, knights, mercenaries, and thugs alike, stalwart defenders are masters of claiming an area and refusing to relinquish it. This behavior is more than a tactical decision for stalwart defenders; it’s an obsessive, stubborn expression of the need to be undefeated. When stalwart defenders set themselves in a defensive stance, they place their whole effort into weathering whatever foe, conflict, or threat comes their way.

Gameplay
Role: Stalwart defenders are masters of melee combat, striving to prove that the best offense is a good defense. Stalwart defenders are normally found on the front lines of battle, holding a position to cover their allies, leaping into breaches of opposing formations and holding them open for others, and guarding more vulnerable allies by acting as mobile fortifications, stable points in the ever-changing chaos of battle.

Alignment: Anyone can be as stubborn as a rock and dedicated to holding one point no matter the cost, so stalwart defenders can be of any alignment. The dedication and practice required to learn the talents of a stalwart defender come more easily to characters with a strong respect for order and organization, however, so lawful stalwart defenders are much more common than chaotic ones.

Hit Die: d12.

Skill Ranks at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.

Prerequisites

 * Base Attack Bonus: +7.
 * Feats: Dodge, Toughness.
 * Special: Unlike the pen-and-paper, proficiency with light and medium armor isn't a prerequisite.

Class features
All of the following are class features of the stalwart defender prestige class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency
Stalwart Defenders gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor. (Unlike PnP Pathfinder, Stalwart Defender gains no proficiency. Depending on class progression, it's possible to have a defender that can't use heavy armor or even shields.)

AC Bonus
A stalwart defender receives a dodge bonus to AC that starts at +1 at the first level. It improves to +2 at 4th level, to +3 at 7th, and reaches the maximum of +4 at 10th level.

Defensive Stance
While in a defensive stance, a stalwart defender gains a +2 bonus on melee attack rolls, melee damage rolls, thrown damage rolls, and Will saving throws. In addition, she gains a +2 dodge bonus to armor class and 2 temporary hit points per Hit Dice.

Defensive Powers
As a stalwart defender gains levels, she augments her defensive stance. Starting at 2nd level, the stalwart defender gains a defensive power. He gains another defensive power for every 2 levels of stalwart defender attained after 2nd level. The stalwart defender gains the benefits of defensive powers only while in defensive stance, and some of these powers require her to take an action first. Unless otherwise noted, she cannot select an individual power more than once.

Uncanny Dodge
The character can react to danger before her senses would normally allow her to do so. She can not be caught flat-footed, nor does she lose her dexterity bonus to AC if the attacker is invisible. She still loses her dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized. A character with this ability can still lose her dexterity bonus to AC if an opponent successfully uses the feint ability against her.

If a character already has uncanny dodge from a different class, she automatically gains improved uncanny dodge instead.

Damage Reduction
At 5th level, a stalwart defender gains DR 1/—. At 7th level, this DR increases to 3/—, and at 10th level it increases to 5/—.

Mobile Defense (Ex)
At 9th level, a stalwart defender can adjust his position while maintaining a defensive stance. While in a defensive stance, he can take one 5-foot step each round without losing the benefit of the stance.

Improved Uncanny Dodge
At 7th level, a stalwart defender can no longer be flanked. This defense denies rogues the ability to sneak attack the character by flanking her. Unless the attacker has at least four more rogue levels than the stalwart defender.

Internal Fortitude
While in a defensive stance, the stalwart defender is immune to the sickened and nauseated conditions.

Renewed Defense
As a standard action, the stalwart defender heals 1d8 points of damage plus her CON modifier. For every 2 levels attained above 2nd, the healing increases by 1d8, to a maximum of 5d8 at 10th level. This power can be used only once per day and only in defensive stance

Roused Defense
The stalwart defender may enter a defensive stance even if fatigued. While maintaining a defensive stance after using this ability, she is immune to the fatigued condition.

Smash
While in a defensive stance, the stalwart defender may make an extra slam attack per round (even if she doesn't normally have a slam attack.) If used as part of a full attack, the extra attack is made at the stalwart defender's full base attack bonus -5. The smash deals 1d4 points of damage (if the stalwart defender is Medium, or 1d3 if he is Small) plus half the character’s Strength modifier.

Fearless Defense
While in a defensive stance, the stalwart defender is immune to the shaken and frightened conditions. He must be at least 4th level before selecting this power.

Prerequisites: Stalwart Defender 4

Increased Damage Reduction
The stalwart defender’s damage reduction from this class increases by 1/—. This increase is always active while the stalwart defender is in a defensive stance. She can select this power up to two times. Its effects stack. The stalwart defender must be at least 6th level before selecting this defensive power.

Prerequisites: Stalwart Defender 6