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Ver. 1.3.1

Guardian

Class

Guardians are highly trained, disciplined magical fighters. They specialize in defensive combat magic, using Abjuration and other protective magic to drive enemies back. They fight with a combination of martial arts and spells.

For a guardian, the safety of their allies is their top priority. In the Torchlight Society, Guardians accompany adventuring parties into ruins to keep them safe using their powerful defensive magic.

Class Information

Playing as a Guardian

While Adventuring

You keep your allies close, ready to defend them at a moment's notice. You take a level-headed approach to challenges and use your athletic ability to overcome obstacles.

During Social Interaction

You keep your guard up and tend not to be very trusting. You're reasonable and rational, but firm in your beliefs and won't let others intimidate you.

In Combat

You practice defensive tactics, letting your enemies make the first move and punishing them for their missteps. You work with your allies to keep everyone safe.

While Resting

Starting Equipment

When creating a leveled character that starts with this class, consult the Investigator Starting Equipment table to determine what items you start with. You receive all of the items listed for your starting level and all levels below it. You can choose to replace any number of items with their equivalent value in credits (CR).

Class Features

Guardian Specialties

At Level 1, choose three Natural Skills from the Guardian's Natural Skills list. Then gain 1 level in your choice of two of the following specialties:

• Long Jump (Athletics)
• High Jump (Athletics)
• Climbing (Athletics)
• Protect Ally (Defense)
• Disarm (Defense)
• Counter (Defense)
• Pull to Safety (Reflex)

Martial Arts

As a professional bodyguard, you learn tried-and-true defense techniques based on ancient traditions. Add your Proficiency Bonus to Unarmed Attack (Athletics) checks. Your proficiency bonus increases with your level according to the Guardian table.

As a Guardian, your basic Unarmed attack deals 1d4 damage plus your Strength modifier.

Specialty Improvement

At each level you receive this bonus, choose one of your specialties and increase its level by 1. Specialties can't be increased above 3.

If you don't have any specialties that can be improved when you receive this bonus, you may gain 1 point in a new specialty of your choice..

Guardian Bonus

At each level where you receive this bonus, choose one of the following values and increase it by 1.

• Speed
• Carry Weight
• Natural Armor

Qi

Even before you've fully grasped the concept of casting spells, you learn to blend your magical abilities into your martial arts skills. Starting at Level 3, you begin tapping into energy known as Qi, or Chi. This special ability lets you assume a number of different fighting stances, each of which boosts your stamina or grants you other useful powers.

You can only assume a fighting stance during combat, and you can only be in one stance at a time. Entering a stance or switching from one stance to another takes one frame. You can maintain your stance though interruptions of your concentration, but you're forced out of your stance if you're grappled, incapacitated, stunned, or knocked unconscious. You can exit your stance at any time as a free action. You automatically exit your stance when combat ends.

Basic Fighting Stances

At Level 3, you learn the following stances:

Gorilla Stance

You move low to the ground and fight with your fists. While in this stance:

• Your basic unarmed attack deals 1d6 damage plus your Strength modifier.
• You gain a Strong Punch attack (2 frames) that deals 1d12 Bludgeoning damage plus your Strength modifier.
• You have disadvantage on Agility checks and Reflex saves.
• You can't hold any items or cast spells, and can only make unarmed attacks.

Mountain Stance

You assume the stance of an immovable mountain. While in this stance:

• You gain a +2 bonus to your Natural Armor.
• You gain a +5 bonus on checks against being staggered, stunned, or forcefully moved.
• Your Speed is reduced by 4.

Lion Stance

You gain the speed and reflexes of a big cat, allowing you to move about quickly to protect your allies. While in this stance:

• Your Speed increases by 6.
• You gain a +5 bonus on the Tackle, Protect Ally, and Pull to Safety actions.
• You cannot attack.

Ability Score Improvement

At each level where you receive this bonus, increase one of your ability scores by 2, or two different scores by 1 each.

Ability scores can't be increased above 20 using this feature until your overall level reaches 15, and no ability score can be increased above 30 at any level.

After updating your score, be sure to update the relevant modifiers, including skills and other calculated stats that factor in the increased scores.

Spellcasting

At Level 4, you may begin to learn and cast spells. Increase your caster level to 1.

Assign initial values to your magical skills. As a Guardian, you have 3 points to spend on these skills, and you can choose from the forms that are a part of your training (Elemental, Divine, Physical, and Psionic.)

Spell Studies

At each level where you receive this bonus, you may learn new spells from the Spell Study Guide. This usually, but not always, occurs at each level where your caster level increases.

You may choose to learn a spell of lesser rarity with this ability. For example, whenever you have the option to learn a Rare spell, you may choose to learn an Uncommon or Common spell instead. If you do, you lose the opportunity to learn a Rare spell at that level.

• Level 4: 3 Common Guardian spells
• Level 7: 2 Common Guardian spells and 2 Common spells of any type
• Level 10: 2 Uncommon Guardian spells and 2 Common spells of any type
• Level 14: 3 Uncommon Guardian spells, 1 Uncommon spell of any type, and 2 Common spells of any type
• Level 18: 1 Rare Guardian spell and 3 Uncommon spells of any type
• Level 22: 2 Rare Guardian spells, 3 Uncommon Guardian spells, and 2 Uncommon spells of any type
• Level 25: 1 Legendary Guardian spell, 3 Rare Guardian spells, and 3 Uncommon spells of any type
• Level 28: 3 Legendary Guardian spells and 2 Rare spells of any type

Natural Skill Improvement

At each level you receive this bonus, increase each of your natural skills by one level.

This feature can't increase any skill higher than 7 unless you're level 20 or higher. This feature cannot be used to become Legendary.

TIP: To increase a skill beyond 7 at an earlier level, use the Skill Improvement General Feat.

Learning Experience

At each level you receive this bonus, choose one of your knowledges and increase its level by 1, or gain 1 point in a new knowledge subject of your choice. If your Intelligence score is 15 or greater, you may do this twice each time you receive this bonus. If it's 20 or greater, you may do this three times.

Knowledges can't be increased beyond 10 at any level.

Second Wind

You're in top physical form and can continue fighting with only short periods of rest inbetween. Starting at Level 6, you gain Second Wind Dice.

As an adventuring action, you can spend 15 minutes to roll any number of your Second Wind dice (d6). You recover hit points equal to the total result. Those dice remain expended until the next time you rest. You recover one die per hour of resting, or all your dice after an 8-hour full rest.

Stamina

You aren't as easily worn out by demanding physical labor as others would be. Starting at Level 8, the effects of Exhaustion on you are reduced by one level.

Guardian's Vigor

Guardians are known as the toughest and strongest of magical fighters. At Level 9, your Second Wind die becomes a d8.

At Level 15, your Second Wind die becomes a d10.

At Level 21, your Second Wind die becomes a d12.

At Level 27, your Second Wind die becomes a d20.

Sentinel Stance

At Level 10, you learn the Sentinel Stance.

Sentinel Stance

This stance focuses on fighting reactively, letting your enemies make the first move and responding to it swiftly. While in this stance:

• You gain 2 Reaction frames per round.
• Your Turn Length is reduced by 2.

Arcane Fighter

At Level 12, you begin infusing your magical abilities directly into your martial arts. You learn the following new stances, which make use of your energy.

Swordsman Stance

Activation Cost: 20

Upon entering this stance, you conjure pure energy into the shape of a Longsword in your hand. This item functions identically to an Iron Longsword, but its attacks are magical. It can be used either one- or two-handed. Activating this stance requires least one free hand. While in this stance:

• Your ethereal sword inflicts magical damage, allowing it to damage spirits.
• The sword can Parry (block) attacks without suffering damage.
• You automatically exit this stance if the sword leaves your hands for any amount of time. When you exit this stance, the sword disappears.

Monk Stance

Most spells only require the use of one hand. This stance employs a special techique wherein by using both hands to cast spells, you're able to increase their power. You must have both hands free when activating this stance.

• Spells you cast are amplified to the next-highest factor. The casting difficulty of the spell remains unchanged, but its energy cost reflects the amplified level.
• You have advantage on saves against your concentration being broken.
• You can't hold items and can only attack by casting spells.

Ward Stance

Activation Cost: 6

You channel your Qi into a powerful defensive posture. While in this stance:

• You cast Abjuration spells two levels higher. (The casting difficulty is determined as though your Divine Magic skill level were increased by 2.)
• If using a shield, its Shield Rating receives a +4 bonus.
• You can't cast spells from any school of magic other than Abjuration.

Qi Rush

At Level 13, you gain the ability to amplify your attacks using magical energy. You learn the Qi Rush cantrip.

Combat Expert

At Level 15, your expertise allows you to multitask in combat. Your turn length increases by one frame, and you gain an additional reaction frame per round.

At Level 26, your turn length increases by an additional grame, and you gain another reaction frame.

Hot-Blooded

You can use your reserve of stamina to aid your allies and dispatch threats. Starting at Level 16, you can use your Second Wind dice for the following abilities:

• Whenever you cast a Restoration spell or make a Medicine skill check to heal an ally, you may spend up to three of your Second Wind dice to add the result to the total healing done.
• Whenever you make an unarmed attack or cast a spell that deals direct damage, you may spend up to three of your Second Wind dice to add the result to the total damage dealt.

Advanced Fighting Techniques

At Level 20, you can begin using more advanced combat stances:

Phalanx Stance

You project your Qi into a protective and invigorating energy field which forms a straight line perpendicular to the direction you're facing. Allies standing on your sides form a Phalanx formation, taking advantage of your energy to create a powerful defensive wall. Allies are part of the Phalanx formation as long as they're standing immediately to your left or right, or to the left or right of another ally that is also part of the formation.

• Allies have advantage on attack actions and Defense checks while positioned immediately to your left or right side. Other allies to the side of those creatures also gain these benefits. You gain the same benefit as long as the formation is maintained.
• Whenever you move on your turn, any allies on your left or right side can move up to their speed as a free action to maintain their positions in the phalanx.
• You exit the stance whenever no ally is standing on your immediate left or right.

Flanking Stance

Your Qi amplifies your Perception and situational awareness. While in this stance, you and one or more allies can Flank an enemy creature for a tactical edge. A creature is flanked as long as you and at least one ally are adjacent to an enemy and on opposite sides or corners. While in this stance:

• You and your allies have advantage on attack actions and Defense checks against flanked creatures.
• Whenever an enemy you're flanking attacks an ally, you get an opportunity attack against that creature.
• If you aren't flanking at least one enemy when your turn ends, you exit this stance.

Arcane Martial Artist

At Level 24, you improve your combat magic techniques. Your Qi stances gain several improvements.

• When activating Swordsman Stance, you can conjure two Longswords (one in each hand). These swords are capably of Parrying despite being used one-handed. The activation cost of the stance increases to 40 energy if this mode is used.
• Your Monk Stance amplifies your spells by two higher factors, and spells cast by all allies within 30 feet to the next-highest factor.
• While in Ward Stance, you cast Abjuration spells five levels higher, and all other Divine spells two levels higher. Your allies within 30 feet cast Divine spells one level higher.
• While in Phalanx Stance, the entire formation can move at the speed of the fastest creature that is part of the formation. All creatures in the formation have advantage on saves to resist being staggered, knocked prone, or moved forcefully.
• When you hit with an opportunity attack while in Flanking Stance, it becomes a critical hit.

Extreme Vitality

At Level 30, you've reached the true pinnacle of human performance. You gain the following benefits:

• You may spend any number of your Second Wind dice to recover hit points as free actions.
• You may spend Second Wind dice while incapacitated or unconscious.
• Choose either Athletics or Endurance. You become a Grand Master of that skill. Your skill level must be 10 to become a Grand Master. If it's not, you gain this status as soon as that skill's level reaches 10.)

Guardian Class Feats