PrC: Shield Maiden 2.0

[Nyrahil]

This PrC is for my Asgard-Campaign, and I made a couple of changes to my last version with regards to playability and the background in the real world. She has gained a few offensive capabilities, but still has her defensive capability. I still need some feedback, because I might have missed a few things and I don't know how balanced this PrC is.

Shield Maiden

Shield Maiden are female Fighters, who specialize in the use of their shields and can protect others with it. They are much sought after by men especially by the nobility. They often serve a patron but don’t have to.
Hit die: d10

Requirements
Base Attack: +5
Sense Motive: +4
Innuendo: +4
Feats: Combat Reflexes, shield proficiency, shield expert
Special: Must be female

Class skills
climb, craft, innuendo, jump, listen, ride, sense motive, spot, swim

Skill points at each level: 2 + Int modifier

level Bab fort ref will ac special
1 +1 +2 +0 +0 +0 Weapon-Shield Fighting
2 +2 +3 +0 +0 +0 Improved Shield Bash
3 +3 +3 +1 +1 +1 Maiden’s Shield
4 +4 +4 +1 +1 +1 4-Eyes and 2-Minds
5 +5 +4 +1 +1 +2 Strong Shield
6 +6 +5 +2 +2 +2 Two-as-One
7 +7 +5 +2 +2 +3
8 +8 +6 +2 +2 +3 Mighty Shield
9 +9 +6 +3 +3 +4
10 +10 +7 +3 +3 +4 Two-are-One




Class feature

Weapon and armor proficiency
The shield maiden is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, light and medium armor and shields

AC
The shield maiden recieves a dodge bonus as listed to her and her charges ac while protecting her charge with a shield. They have to be within 5ft of each other.

Weapon-Shield Fighting
While fighting with a shield and a Weapon her size or smaller the Shield Maiden gains the Two-Weapon Fighting, and Ambidexterity feats.

Improved Shield Bash
The Shield Maiden gains the Feat Improved Shield Bash even if she does not have Power attack.

Maiden’s shield
If the shield maiden uses a total defense action she may try to block a number of attacks against herself or her charge with her shield (opposed attack roll; magic shield bonuses count as bonus to her attack roll for this) equal to her total of Attacks of opportunity, if both are within 5ft of each other. The shield maiden has to declare her charge at the time she makes her initiative roll.

Four-eyes and two-minds
If the shield maiden and her charge are within 5ft of each other both gain the alertness and skill focus (Sense motive) feats.

Strong Shield
The damage a shield makes is raised as if it has grown to one size larger then it is. Large shield 1d6, small shield 1d4

Two-as-one
Due to her extensive training in protecting her charge the shield maiden may now occupy the same 5-ft square as her charge if she is protecting the charge (uses the Maiden’s shield ability). For the attacker there is a 50% chance that the attack hits the other member of the couple.

Mighty Shield
The damage a shield makes is raised again. A large shield now makes 1d8 and a small shield 1d6 points of damage.

Two-are-one
Her ability to protect her charge has now grown even further. While using the Maiden’s Shield ability and being in the same 5-ft square she and her charge count as one being for melee and ranged attacks. As long as they are in the same 5-ft square they are under a shield other spell, the AC of the Shield Maiden is their effective AC, even if the AC of the other one is higher. This ability supercedes the Two-as-One ability. For spells which don’t require a touch attack (ranged or melee) they still count as two beings with no change to their saves.


I hope I get some replies

 

[reapersaurus]

some opinions:

I love the idea of a shield-specialist.
The fact that I looked at it deep enough to comment can be viewed as a big plus from me, since I only look at ones I'm interested in playing, and that's rare.

Having stated my interest, on to the constructive criticism.

1) I don't see what about this PrC that requires female-ness.
A bodyguard could have all of these powers and skills, I would think.
Are you insinuating that the Shield Maiden should be romantically connected to the charge?

2) What's with the Sense Motive and Innuendo requirements again?
I don't see any powers that use them effectively?

3) Analyzing the powers this PrC gets, I really don't see anything very powerful.
The first few levels are OK, if they weren't a ranger first and didn't already take Improved Shield Bash (kinda a requirement in my eyes for a shield specialist, also Shield Charge is a MUST!)
But then all they get for 7 levels is upped shield damage (good idea, but what's it based on? And how does it affect a Spiked Shield?) and some weak protective abilities.

It seems like if this PrC were not next to her charge, it would just be like fighting against a sub-optimal ranger with a lot of BAB/

 

[Nyrahil]

oppinion reply

1) The Shield Maiden was in the Norse-World (real world) a person that really existed. And I wanted to make this into a prestige class for DnD especially for a Asgard Campaign. I designed one earlier (This Forum: New Prestige Class: Shield Maiden). I think a few things where not right so I changed it a bit, while I kept the things I liked best. I'M still not quite satisfied with this PrC, but I think one has to make compromises in order to have some balance.

2) The Sense Motive and Innuendo requirements are for the Two-as-One and Two-are-One abilities. IMO the Shield Maiden has to "know" what the charge is doing in order to stay in the same 5ft-square.

3) Well I don't quite know what to say.
I think the Maiden's Shield ability and the Two-as-One and Two-are-One abilities aren't that weak. Think about it in terms of connecting this one with a Barbarian or other offensive Fighter who doesn't have a lot of AC but has real killing power. He gets a rise in AC, while the Shield Maiden gets a rise in killing power. I remind you the other charakter can still do anything he likes.

 

[reapersaurus]

1) I believe Doomsdaisy at Nutkinland made a PrC that's very similar.
She posted it here, too, I believe.

2) So the entrance level requirements are for the Level 6 and Level 10 abilities?
hmmm... that's your call, but maybe just have the abilities dependant on a certain skill level or they aren't granted when they get to Levels 6 & 10.

3) I've never been a fan of PrC's that only get nominally effective when there is another character to make the abilities happen (Devoted Defender, etc).
Compare that to how rogues get doubly-or-more effective when there's two of them to help flank, yet they retain their effectiveness when on their own.

So those are just my approaches.
But from the look of it, you're not trying to make an effective solo-PrC, so as long as it fits your character idea, go for it!

I'd suggest putting an ability at each level though, since it not exactly overpowered currently.

 

[Clint]

Nice concept, nice start. Here are the first things that came to mind on reading it:

1) Replace the word 'charge' with something else, like 'defended'. While 'charge' is the proper English use of the word, it's also a primary D&D keyword.

2) Clear up the "Two-as-One" ability text description to make it clearly benefit the Defended. As it reads now, an enemy could attack the Shield Maiden and have a 50% chance to hit the Defended... unless this is what you meant, in which case I question the ability.

3) I agree with reapersaurus on the gender issue. Have that part be in the text describing the organization (i.e. They would never train someone male), but don't make it be part of the hard rules of the class.

4) Also, I would give her a Good Fort save. They're supposed to take a beating for the Defended, right?

 

[Derek Freese]

I think the concept is sound. I do believe that a shield maiden is deeper than simply protecting one particular charge. Also the first AC would (or should) be a deflection bonus instead of dodge.

A couple of the abilities are basically bonus feats and a couple could be rolled into one ability that progresses as the character advances. The increased shield damage to me seems out of place.

Also the main function of a shield maiden is not touched upon. A shield maiden is a female who has earned the right, through skill and loyalty, to fight along side men in the main defensive function, the shield wall. Perhaps a synergistic bonus to both companions AC with shield's being used in tandem together. With a companion on either side this could be increased further (for both).

Just my opinion but I'm sure I would allow such a class (with relatively minor revisions) into one of my campaigns (in fact I may play test it). I will update you after experimentation.

Also I agree with most of the constructive criticism you have received so far, I think instead of occupying the same 5 foot area, you could exchange places with your charge as a free action (would make miniature use alot easier.