Design a Class: Shield Maiden - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Design a Class: Shield Maiden

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
UrielApeiron
Apr 07, 2010 14:36:18 The term Shield Maiden stuck in my head after the LotR movies. Then seeing 4E i thought about it some more. What if there was a class for female warriors who specialized in shield use? These wouldn't be quite the same as Valkeries. These will be warriors focussed on using shields for protection and as weapons. The could be either Leaders or Defenders.

Leaders that coordinate attacks (much like a Warlord) or Defenders that just soak and deal damage. Could go either way. i'd like to see Con as the primary stat (if only because i don't see many classes that use Con).

i imagine them having powers like:

Shared Defense - User grants adjacent ally her shield bonus (stacks with target's other defenses).
Shield Push - Push target 1 square, do Con damage.
Concealing Shield - Shield grants concealment
Covered Strike - An ally with a reach weapon can stand behind the Maiden and she provides ally full concealment against one enemy.

Later powers might give her some Captain America like abilities to throw her shield. All the foes who oppose her mighty shield must yield, of course. Some of these could be attacks (bounce shield off orc's head), some might be protective (block acid arrow heading for ally).

They could also be Chiurgeons (field medics). Healing would be a class skill and some of her powers could be aimed at healing.

As a multiclass benefit:
Shield Wall - A stance that allows allies who also have this feat to protect each other while they fight, it takes a move action to benefit (thus the wall doesn't move).
Phalanx - Think Spartan shield turtle manuevers.

i'll leave it to you geniuses to work out the details.
#2
alitain
Apr 07, 2010 22:04:38
Mind you, I get where you're going which is cool. Just wanted to let you know if you haven't checked it out the Dragon article recently that came out for the Fighter is all about using a shield as a weapon and the stuff in there may give you some good ideas for powers and such.
#3
ifritus
Apr 08, 2010 14:58:05
not to sound negative or anything, but the term maiden leans me thinking that this class is female only.. which is not in itself a bad thing. It certainly works towards helping distinguish your classes from the others, especially the fighter. If you are serious about making a fully fledged class be careful about taking things from the fighter, use it for reference, yes.. but not so much that you more or less Refluff, reflavour and regender the fighter.. haha

Yours sincerely
                        Ifritus
#4
UrielApeiron
Apr 08, 2010 15:00:05
not to sound negative or anything, but the term maiden leans me thinking that this class is female only.. which is not in itself a bad thing. It certainly works towards helping distinguish your classes from the others, especially the fighter. If you are serious about making a fully fledged class be careful about taking things from the fighter, use it for reference, yes.. but not so much that you more or less Refluff, reflavour and regender the fighter.. haha

Yours sincerely
                        Ifritus

Test post.
#5
UrielApeiron
Apr 08, 2010 15:05:43
not to sound negative or anything, but the term maiden leans me thinking that this class is female only.. which is not in itself a bad thing. It certainly works towards helping distinguish your classes from the others, especially the fighter. If you are serious about making a fully fledged class be careful about taking things from the fighter, use it for reference, yes.. but not so much that you more or less Refluff, reflavour and regender the fighter.. haha

Yours sincerely
                        Ifritus

i like the idea of it being a class for female characters. There's plenty of historical and literary precedent for female warriors. Someone could take a shield maiden, name it Jeff and ignore the fluff. Or yes, like you say, make a fighter and pick lots of shield stuff and call her Lisa the Shield Maiden.

For some reason i can't post unless i hit quick reply....

____________

What issue was that? What was it called? (The class with the Shield stuff?)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 UrielApeiron Apr 07, 2010 14:36:18	The term Shield Maiden stuck in my head after the LotR movies. Then seeing 4E i thought about it some more. What if there was a class for female warriors who specialized in shield use? These wouldn't be quite the same as Valkeries. These will be warriors focussed on using shields for protection and as weapons. The could be either Leaders or Defenders. Leaders that coordinate attacks (much like a Warlord) or Defenders that just soak and deal damage. Could go either way. i'd like to see Con as the primary stat (if only because i don't see many classes that use Con). i imagine them having powers like: Shared Defense - User grants adjacent ally her shield bonus (stacks with target's other defenses). Shield Push - Push target 1 square, do Con damage. Concealing Shield - Shield grants concealment Covered Strike - An ally with a reach weapon can stand behind the Maiden and she provides ally full concealment against one enemy. Later powers might give her some Captain America like abilities to throw her shield. All the foes who oppose her mighty shield must yield, of course. Some of these could be attacks (bounce shield off orc's head), some might be protective (block acid arrow heading for ally). They could also be Chiurgeons (field medics). Healing would be a class skill and some of her powers could be aimed at healing. As a multiclass benefit: Shield Wall - A stance that allows allies who also have this feat to protect each other while they fight, it takes a move action to benefit (thus the wall doesn't move). Phalanx - Think Spartan shield turtle manuevers. i'll leave it to you geniuses to work out the details.
#2 alitain Apr 07, 2010 22:04:38	Mind you, I get where you're going which is cool. Just wanted to let you know if you haven't checked it out the Dragon article recently that came out for the Fighter is all about using a shield as a weapon and the stuff in there may give you some good ideas for powers and such.
#3 ifritus Apr 08, 2010 14:58:05	not to sound negative or anything, but the term maiden leans me thinking that this class is female only.. which is not in itself a bad thing. It certainly works towards helping distinguish your classes from the others, especially the fighter. If you are serious about making a fully fledged class be careful about taking things from the fighter, use it for reference, yes.. but not so much that you more or less Refluff, reflavour and regender the fighter.. haha Yours sincerely Ifritus
#4 UrielApeiron Apr 08, 2010 15:00:05	not to sound negative or anything, but the term maiden leans me thinking that this class is female only.. which is not in itself a bad thing. It certainly works towards helping distinguish your classes from the others, especially the fighter. If you are serious about making a fully fledged class be careful about taking things from the fighter, use it for reference, yes.. but not so much that you more or less Refluff, reflavour and regender the fighter.. haha Yours sincerely Ifritus Test post.
#5 UrielApeiron Apr 08, 2010 15:05:43	not to sound negative or anything, but the term maiden leans me thinking that this class is female only.. which is not in itself a bad thing. It certainly works towards helping distinguish your classes from the others, especially the fighter. If you are serious about making a fully fledged class be careful about taking things from the fighter, use it for reference, yes.. but not so much that you more or less Refluff, reflavour and regender the fighter.. haha Yours sincerely Ifritus i like the idea of it being a class for female characters. There's plenty of historical and literary precedent for female warriors. Someone could take a shield maiden, name it Jeff and ignore the fluff. Or yes, like you say, make a fighter and pick lots of shield stuff and call her Lisa the Shield Maiden. For some reason i can't post unless i hit quick reply.... ____________ What issue was that? What was it called? (The class with the Shield stuff?)