[Subclass, Monk] Way of the Aegis

### Way of the Aegis (v.1.8)
Perhaps it's because of a vow to never again take the life of a living being, or maybe it was a technique born from necessity and ingenuity. In any case, you've learned to use a shield as effectively as you can, and go beyond its intended uses as a defensive armament.

#### Designated Defender
Starting when you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you can designate a shield in your possession as your Aegis as part of a long rest. You gain proficiency with it and its weight no longer counts towards encumbrance. Wielding the Aegis does not cause you to lose the benefits of any of your Monk features. It is treated as a monk weapon, and deals damage of appropriate type (DM's discretion) equal to your Martial Arts die. Additionally, you gain the ability to don and doff it with a bonus action during combat.

At 6th level, attacks made with your Aegis count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to non-magical attacks and damage. You can also don or doff it as an object interaction, so long as it is within 5 feet.

You must be wielding your Aegis to use these features unless mentioned otherwise.

#### Not On My Watch
At 3rd level, you learn a set of techniques unique to the Way of the Aegis:

***Defender's Reflex.*** You gain the effects of the *Protection* Fighting Style.

***Aegis Resistance.*** You can use your Deflect Missiles feature against spell attacks that specifically target you.

In addition, any time you leave an enemy’s attack range with your Aegis donned, any opportunity attacks made against you are done so with disadvantage as you raise your Aegis while moving.

#### Shield Throw
At 6th level, your Aegis can be used as a thrown weapon with a range of 20/60, dealing damage of appropriate type (DM's discretion). You are considered unarmed until it returns to you at the end of your turn, where it is donned automatically.

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You can also have your Aegis ricochet off your target. After hitting a target with a thrown Aegis attack, if you have additional weapon attacks you can make this turn you can replace any number of those with a thrown Aegis attack against a different target within 15 feet of your current target.

#### Stand And Fight
At 11th level, you learn more techniques unique to this Tradition:

***Think Fast!*** When a creature you can see within 20 feet of you is targeted by a ranged attack, you can spend 1 Ki and your reaction to make an attack against the attacker. On a success the target's next attack is made with disadvantage.

***Press the Advantage.*** When you use your Flurry of Blows and hit one creature with both attacks, you can make one additional unarmed strike or attack with a Monk weapon against the same creature withouts spending any ki.

***Follow My Lead.*** When you successfully hit a creature with an Aegis attack, the next attack roll made by an ally against this target before the start of their next turn has advantage.

In addition, when you make a Thrown Aegis attack, you can spend 1 ki to force each creature hit by it to make a Strength saving throw, falling prone on a failed save, until the end of your turn.

#### I Can Do This All Day
At 17th level, you can enter a state of Focus using a bonus action. You gain the following benefits for 1 minute:
- Your movement speed is increased by half your current movement.
- Your first attack against a creature is made at advantage.
- Creatures you hit gain disadvantage on their next attack against you.
- On a successful attack, you can choose to deal extra damage equal to your Martial Arts die. You can only do this once per turn.

Once used, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.

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##### Aegis: Weapon or Shield?
It is common for campaigns eventually to reach the point where DMs reward their players by giving them special equipment, often times of the magical sort. But when it comes to giving- or receiving, in the case of a player- a Shield with a +1 or +2 bonus, that's when a question arises: does the bonus apply to both increasing AC and modifying attack rolls, or just one of the two?

Ultimately, this is something for your GM to decide, and the opinion will of course vary from table to table. It's usually better to tackle the issue sooner than later, however.

</div>

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> ##### Credits
>- *Way of the Aegis* Subclass designed by /u/TacticalDave
> ##### Inspirations
>- *Captain America* (Marvel Comics) by **Joe Simon & Jack Kirby**
>- *Way of the Guardian* (Monastic Tradition) by **D'Artigan**
>- *Guardian* (Fighter Archetype) by /u/Leuku
>- *The Vengeance - Avengers for D&D 5E* by /u/TheRainyDaze
>- Various works by /r/MiddleFingerOfVecna
>##### Thanks to...
>- @theonetrueduddy on Discord of Many Things
>- @Izzy on Discord of Many Things
>- @NotTheSmoooze on Discord of Many Things
>- @ACOG_Muffin on Discord of Many Things
>- @IrishBandit on Discord of Many Things
>- @Leuku on Discord of Many Things, or /u/Leuku on Reddit
>- @mooglemog on Discord of Many Things
>- @SgtBriar on Discord of Many Things
>- @Kamidio on Discord of Many Things
>- A guy I know who won't give me a name to credit him by, so I credited him like this. **You know who you are.**