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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Luthien Greyspear" data-source="post: 2606167" data-attributes="member: 34334">The use of varied statistics is intentional.  It allows characters with a wider range of stats and needs to make use of the class, while leaving the highest bonuses to the characters most likely to take the class in the first place.  Got a swashbuckler-esque character, long on Smarts, but not inclined to wear the heavier armors?  Two levels in this class gives them a few extra points of AC, plus some expanded variety in working gear.  Your aforementioned wizard/fighter/spellsword?  If he really wants to give up spell progression for AC, fine.  Reduced ASF chances really aren't an issue, as the few exotic light armors have percentages right in line with the existing PHB armors.  Clerics may well want to invest in this class, but keep in mind that the best bonuses from this class come at the expense of 8-10 levels of spellcasting, plus possibly another spellcasting level from taking a level of fighter.  This class is supposed to be all about AC, nothing less.  Paladins fighting dragons would love it, and that's how it should be.The weapon focus in a 1-H weapon represents a dedication to a sword-and-board type of combat, which means more defense.  As there is no 3.5 equivalent to "Shield Focus", Weapon Focus in a weapon that can be used with a shield seemed to be the closest thing.  And not every fighter will have WF in a one-handed weapon.  Dedicated Power Attackers will go with the 2-H route, believing in the "best offense" philosophy.  This class, again, is all about true defense.BTW, the Fort save requirement only requires a 6th-level fighter (or any other class with a good Fort save).  Non-fighter/cleric types would have to be at least 15th level to get that kind of save.  Splashing in just two levels of one of the good Fort classes knocks off 9 levels of the primary class levels (so a fighter 2/wizard 6 could make the class).Good point.  I'll edit the original to reflect that.  Actually, I can pare the requirements down to Armor Proficiency (Heavy) and Tower Shield Proficiency, as those feats automatically require Light and Medium Armor and regular Shields.I know it's a little weird, but I envisioned a character that could wear ANYTHING, and move in it like it was a second skin.  Armor Proficiency feats are less useful, overall, than Martial weapon feats, IMHO.  How often does a character's armor turn the tide in a fight, as opposed to his weapon?  I wanted the character to not even have to worry about selecting specific armors; he would eventually be equally comfortable in any sort of armor, as long as he had a little time to work out all the kinks.This also gives the character an unusual advantage in subterfuge, as he is able to adapt to any culture's armor with ease.  If he's attempting to impersonate, say, a samurai-type character, with very distinctive (and, one presumes, hard to don) armor, he could conceivably gain some sort of circumstance bonus to Disguise or Bluff checks while in the armor.Yeah, I had long wanted to see an anti-Sunder kind of ability, and it seemed to fit right in line with this ultra-defensive character.Hmm.  Another good point.  I'll replace those with Swim, as it has an Armor Check Penalty associated with it, and this class would want to overcome those sorts of penalties.Actually, an reduction in the Armor Check Penalties might be a good 7th level ability, mightn't it?  Something like a 1-point reduction?I'm going to keep it a 10-level class precisely to avoid the "5-level dip".  I want to keep the really big bonuses (the Heavy armor bonus, specifically) at the high end, and I want to make them earn it.  Let's face it, a cleric with an 18 Wis and a 16 Con would get a +7 to his AC at 8th level, boosted by ANOTHER 4 points with two simple spells.  Add in the plethora of stat-boosting permanent magic items, and that's too much of a bonus to give to a 5-level class.Plus, there's a couple of armors in the books with Armor bonuses of over +10.  Epic levels would grant proficiency in those.Thanks for the input!</blockquote>

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