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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mr. Gnome" data-source="post: 738057" data-attributes="member: 10554">Hey, all.  I've recently created a new prestige class, and I was wondering if I could get some input (is it too powerful, not powerful enough, that sort of thing).  Anyway, thanks in advance:Shield MasterMost see the shield as an good defensive tool.  Some see it as a decent offensive tool, complementing the wielder's main weapon.  But to the Shield Master, the shield *is* the main weapon--a weapon capable of inflicting great damage while simultaneously protecting the wielder from harm.Shield Masters are most often fighters, who have the easiest time acquiring the large number of feats necessary to enter the class, but other classes can gain much from the class as well.  Barbarians and Rangers can have much to gain from the art of defensive offense, using the shield to bolster their already good combat prowess.  Rogues and Bards may find the defensive and offensive powers this class provides a useful way to increase their combat abilities.  Druids occasionally become Shield Masters, although they are limited to using wooden shields.  Monks rarely become shield masters due to the fact that using armor of any kind (including shields) tends to negate most of their abilities.  Sorcerer and Wizard Shield Masters are rare, since becoming a Shield Master means devoting a good deal of time and effort--time and effort that most would prefer to use to increase their arcane powers.  The most powerful Shield Masters, however, tend to be those Paladins and Clerics who learn to channel divine energy through their shields, turning their shields into most formidable weapons indeed. Hit Die: d10Requirements:To qualify to become a Shield Master, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:Base Attack Bonus: +5Feats: Shield Proficiency,Martial Weapon Proficiency (shield),Weapon Focus (large shield or small shield),Power Attack,Improved Shield Bash (from Defenders of the Faith),Shield Charge (from Defenders of the Faith),Shield Expert (from Sword & Fist),Special: The Shield Master must own a masterwork large or small shield.Class Skills:The Shield Master's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Craft (int), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), and Spot (Wis)Skill points at each level: 2 + Int modifierTable: The Shield MasterLvl..BAB..Fort..Ref..Will..Special1st..+1...+2....+0...+0....Improved Weapon Damage, Improved Bull Rush2nd..+2...+3....+0...+0....Off-hand Expert3rd..+3...+3....+1...+1....Superior Weapon Focus4th..+4...+4....+1...+1....Greater Shield Defense +15th..+5...+4....+1...+1....Superior Weapon Specialization6th..+6...+5....+2...+2....Great Shield Parry, Off-hand Master7th..+7...+5....+2...+2....Superior Shield Charge8th..+8...+6....+2...+2....Greater Shield Defense +29th..+9...+6....+3...+3....Shield Knock-Down10th.+10..+7....+3...+3....Supreme Shield MasteryClass Features:Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The Shield Master is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, and with all armor and with shields.Improved Weapon Damage: The Shield Master deals more damage with the shield, doing 1d8 damage with a large shield or 1d6 damage with a small shield.  A small character deals 1d6 damage with a large shield or 1d4 damage with a small shield.Improved Bull Rush: The Shield Master gains the Improved Bull Rush feat.Off-hand Expert: The Shield Master may fight with a shield and another weapon as if he had the feats Ambidexterity and Two-Weapon Fighting, even if he doesn't meet the prerequisite dexterity score.Superior Weapon Focus: Stacking on top of any existing Weapon Focus bonus, this ability grants a Shield Master an additional +1 to attack rolls with a shield.Greater Shield Defense: The Shield Master's armor bonus gained from wielding his shield increases by +1 at 4th level, and by another +1 at 8th level.Superior Weapon Specialization: The Shield Master gains a +2 damage bonus with shields.  This bonus stacks with the Weapon Specialization feat.Great Shield Parry: If the Shield Master chooses to fight defensively or use all-out defense in melee combat, he gains an additional +1 armor bonus to her AC for each class level of Shield Master he has advanced. This is an extraordinary ability.Off-hand Master: The Shield Master gains the Improved Two-Weapon Fighting feat as long as he is fighting with his shield.Superior Shield Charge: The Shield Master deals triple damage on a charge attack when attacking with his shield, as opposed to double.Shield Knock-Down: The Shield Master gains the Knock-Down feat (from Sword & Fist) when attacking with a shield, even if he doesn't possess Improved Trip or the prerequisite strength bonus.  Also, if he fails his trip attempt, the Shield Master may not be tripped in response.Supreme Shield Mastery: Once per round when the Shield Master is attacked with a melee weapon attack (including unarmed attacks, but excluding touch attacks) and would be hit in combat, he may attempt to deflect that attack. The Shield Master makes an attack roll with his shield, and if his result beats the attack roll of his attacker, he deflects the attack and takes no damage from it.  The Shield Master may only use this ability if he has an unused attack of opportunity for the round, which is used up in the deflection attempt.</blockquote>

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