Steadfast Defender

"The best Offense is a good Defense! The best Defense…..is also a good Defense! See? You win either way!"
——Malkor Ruggerhand, a Steadfast Defender

This resilient breed of warrior originated within dwarven culture. Their mastery of armorsmithing, battle tactics and sturdy bodies made the development of this skill an inevitability. As Dwarves prefer to live in the mountains they are also used to fighting within cramped spaces, and their constant drilling as well as actual battles against would-be interlopers combined with their natural gifts made them into legends. It was only a matter of time that once news of their supposedly impenetrable defenses spread throughout the world, that others would seek them out, wishing to learn their secrets. At first there was resistance to sharing clan techniques and traditions with other races, but once gold was offered in exchange for their talents, these barriers fell rapidly

The Steadfast Defender is a three stage Talent.

Steadfast Defender I

The first thing a Steadfast Defender learns when beginning their training is not to avoid getting hit, but how to accept the hit with all the resilience of an adamantine wall. They become extremely adept at shrugging off damage with a combination of shield training, body conditioning and mastering their signature ability, the Steadfast Defender Stance. This Stance takes advantage of a strong armor and shield, greatly increasing the Defender’s bonuses against attacks, and even teaches them how to potentially shrug off critical damage.

Prerequisites

  • Martial Rank 5, Guardian Discipline
  • Physical Rank 3
  • Any Non-Chaotic Alignment
  • Armor Proficiency Rank 6, Shield Proficiency Rank 2
  • Battle Hardened Class Feature or Class Specialty
  • Armor Master's Stance Technique
  • Dwarven race or training by a Steadfast Defender.
  • Cost: 3 Destiny Points

Features

♦ Greater Battle Hardened
You now require three Advantages before a Glancing Hit is automatically upgraded to a Full Hit.
♦ Shield Specialization
You no longer suffer an Armor Check Penalty from wielding a shield.
♦ Steadfast Defender Stance
You gain the Steadfast Defender Stance Technique.
Steadfast Defender Stance
Steadfast Defender Class Feature [Stance]
Standard Action [REC 1]
Cost: 4 Resolve
Requirement: You must be wearing Medium or Heavy Armor and be wielding a Light or Heavy Shield.
Duration: 1 moment
Upkeep: Spend 4 Resolve and increase the duration by 1 moment.
Effect: While in this stance, gain a +0/+5 Power bonus to AC. You also reduce the distance of any Forced Movement effect by 10ft. Additionally, when hit with an attack while in this stance, there is a 25% chance of downgrading a Full Hit to a Glancing Hit or a Glancing Hit to a Miss. This stance may be used in place of Armor Master's Stance for the purposes of using Stance Augments and is considered a Guardian Discipline Stance.
Special: If you move from your location (even if that movement was forced), your stance immediately ends. Additionally, the stance ends immediately if you enter another stance or you are rendered Helpless. Falling Prone does not end the Stance.
Master Augment, Reaching Stance
[Steadfast Defender II]
Effect: While in this stance, increase your Reach by 5ft.
Master Augment, Immovable
[Steadfast Defender II, Stacking]
Stacking [Steadfast Defender II & III]: This augment may be applied twice and is limited by your Tier in the Steadfast Defender talent.
Effect: Reduce the distance of Forced Movement by an additional 5ft.
Master Augment, Threatening Stance
[Steadfast Defender III]
Effect: While in this stance, increase the area you Threaten by 5ft.

Steadfast Defender II

The second level of training focuses on movement while defending, both learning how to move while in the cumbersome Steadfast Defender Stance, and perhaps more importantly, moving opponents with the clever hooking motion of a weapon. They also learn how to be more resilient in their stance, becoming even harder to move around.

Prerequisites

  • Steadfast Defender I
  • Martial Rank 6
  • Cost: 2 Destiny Points

Features

♦ Stay With Me
Gain the Stay With Me Technique.
Stay With Me
Steadfast Defender Class Feature [Opportunity]
Standard Action [REC 3]
Effect: You grab a creature within your reach and move them to your side. Make an attack:
Range: Melee Reach
Target: One creature within reach.
Melee Attack: Melee vs. Fortitude
Hit: You Reposition the target up to 10ft to a location within 10ft of you.
Special: If this was used as an Opportunity due to movement, and your attack hits, the creature's movement ends.
♦ Shifting Defender
Gain the Shifting Defender Technique.
Shifting Defender
Steadfast Defender Class Feature
Standard Action [REC as Shift Speed]
Cost: 2 Stamina
Requirement: You must be in Steadfast Defender Stance
Effect: You shift 5ft. This does not end your Steadfast Defender Stance.

Steadfast Defender III

The Steadfast Defender reaches the height of their resilience, no longer suffering many of the detrimental effects of hitpoint loss. Having become so adept at the art of defense, they now spot weaknesses in an enemies defenses in an instant, and learn to exploit the mistakes of others with frightening skill.

Prerequisites

  • Steadfast Defender II
  • Martial Rank 7
  • Cost: 2 Destiny Points

Features

♦ Enduring Defender
When you become Disabled you are not Staggered and do not grant an Advantage.
♦ Vengeful Defender
When a creature within your reach makes an attack and deals damage (to you or an ally), you gain an Opportunity on that creature.