Stalwart Defender enhancements (history)

Overview
''As the name might imply, this character is a skilled combatant trained in the arts of defense. A line of stalwart defenders is a far better defense than a 10-foot-thick wall of stones, and much more dangerous.''



Fighter Stalwart Defender I

 * Usage: Passive


 * Cost: 4 action points


 * Progression: 16 action points


 * Requires One of: Combat Expertise, Diehard, Dodge, Least Dragonmark of Sentinel, Shield Mastery


 * Requires All of: Fighter Armor Class Boost I, Improved Intimidate II, Toughness


 * Available to Fighter class level 6


 * While the flesh may be weak, you place your trust in the strength of steel. This prestige enhancement increases your armor class by 1, grants +2 to your intimidate skill, increases your maximum dexterity bonus allowed by shields, and grants additional armor class and damage reduction when blocking with a shield. In addition, when you have a one handed melee weapon and shield equipped, you possess DR 2/- and your melee threat generation is increased by 25%. Also, you may expend a use of Fighter action boost to enter a defensive stance. You may possess only one prestige enhancement line at a time for each class.


 * This enhancement automatically grants the following:



Stalwart Defender I: Defensive Stance

 * You may expend a Fighter armor boost to become a bastion of defense, gaining a +2 Competence bonus to Strength and Constitution, +10% maximum hit points, a +1 Competence bonus on all saves, and a +2 Dodge bonus to Armor Class. You also gain a 25% Competence bonus to threat generated with your melee attacks. While in this stance, you move 10% slower.



Fighter Stalwart Defender II

 * Usage: Passive


 * Cost: 2 action points


 * Progression: 42 action points


 * Requires One of: Fighter Armor Mastery II, Fighter Armored Agility II, Fighter Toughness II, Fighter Tower Shield Mastery II, Lesser Dragonmark of Sentinel


 * Requires All of: Fighter Item Defense I, Fighter Armor Class Boost II, Fighter Stalwart Defender I


 * Available to Fighter class level 12


 * Your defensive mastery continues to grow. In addition to the bonuses of Stalwart Defender I, this prestige enhancement increases your armor class by 1, grants +2 to your intimidate skill, increases your maximum dexterity bonus allowed by heavy armor and shields, and grants additional armor class and damage reduction when blocking with a shield. In addition, when you have a one handed melee weapon and shield equipped, your DR is upgraded from DR 2/- to DR 4/-, and you now generate 50% additional threat with melee attacks. You may expend a use of Fighter action boost to enter a defensive stance.


 * This enhancement automatically grants the following:



Stalwart Defender II: Improved Defensive Stance

 * You may expend a Fighter armor boost to become a bastion of defense, gaining a +4 Competence bonus to Strength and Constitution, +15% maximum hit points, a +2 Competence bonus on all saves, and a +3 Dodge bonus to Armor Class. You also gain a 50% Competence bonus to threat generated with your melee attacks. While in this stance, you move 10% slower.



Fighter Stalwart Defender III

 * Usage: Passive


 * Cost: 2 action points


 * Progression: 66 action points


 * Requires One of: Fighter Armor Mastery III, Fighter Armored Agility III, Fighter Toughness III, Fighter Tower Shield Mastery III, Greater Dragonmark of Sentinel


 * Requires All of: Fighter Item Defense II, Fighter Armor Class Boost III, Fighter Stalwart Defender II


 * Available to Fighter class level 18


 * Your defensive mastery is complete. This prestige enhancement increases your armor class by +1, grants +2 to intimidate, increases your maximum dexterity bonus allowed by medium or heavy armor and shields, and grants additional armor class and damage reduction when blocking with a shield. In addition, when you have a one handed melee weapon and shield equipped, you possess DR 6/-. You may expend a use of Fighter action boost to to enter Stalwart Defender III: Superior Defensive Stance.


 * This enhancement automatically grants the following:



Stalwart Defender III: Superior Defensive Stance

 * You may expend a Fighter armor boost to become a bastion of defense, gaining a +6 Competence bonus to Strength and Constitution, +20% maximum hit points, a +3 Competence bonus on all saves, and a +4 Dodge bonus to Armor Class. You also gain a 75% Competence bonus to threat generated with your melee attacks. While in this stance, you move 10% slower.