Shieldmage by

<div class='cover-header'>The Shieldmage</div>

<div class='cover-footer'>Nothing passes this wall</div>

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## **Shieldmage**

*Centuries ago, a group of priests and wizards who worshiped gods of protection sought a way to teach the arcanists to cast the spells needed to support their allies and innocents, while not needing protection themselves. After decades of practice and study, the Righteous Order of the Arcane Shield found methods not just of anchoring the wizard's spellbook to a properly-enchanted shield, but to leverage the lesser spells of protection and abjuration so that they could protect many at once unless disrupted, allowing the 'shieldmages' to draw the attacks of their foes onto themselves.*

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**Role**: A shieldmage is a support caster and a tank, with some capacity for battlefield control. They enhance their allies with protections and buffs, and draw focus from enemies with their Shieldmage's Challenge.
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**Alignment**: Any. Since their discipline is structured around protecting others, most are either Good altruists or Lawful military; Lawful Good is the most common alignment and many shieldmage schools are associated with an order of paladins. Chaotic Neutral and Lawful Evil are rare but not unheard-of; Neutral Evil and Chaotic Evil are essentially unknown.
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**Ability scores**: Shieldmage spellcasting, including bonus spells per day and save DCs, depends on Intelligence, so this is the highest priority for a shieldmage. The role of the shieldmage means that they will take more damage and enemy attention than most spellcasters, so high Constitution and Wisdom scores, for hit points, Fortitude and Will saves, and some other class features, are also desirable. 
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**Hit Die**: d8
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**Starting Wealth**: 2d6 × 10 gp (average 70gp.)

#### **Class Skills**
The shieldmage’s class skills are Craft (Int), Heal (Wis), Diplomacy (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (nobility) (Int), Knowledge (planes) (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), Swim (Str), and Use Magic Device (Cha).

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**Skill Ranks per Level**: 2 + Int modifier.

##### Table: Shieldmage
| Level | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Class Features          | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th |
|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:                  |:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|
| 1st | +0 | +2 | +2 | +2 | Bonded shield, cantrips, defensive specialty, shieldcasting | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2nd | +1 | +3 | +3 | +3 | Shieldmage's challenge          | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3rd | +1 | +4 | +4 | +4 | Martial training                | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4th | +2 | +4 | +4 | +4 | Esoteric wards                  | 6 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5th | +2 | +5 | +5 | +5 | ?Phasellus suscipit?            | 6 | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6th | +3 | +5 | +5 | +5 | Aid recovery, martial training  | 6 | 6 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7th | +3 | +6 | +6 | +6 | Specialty ability               | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8th | +4 | +6 | +6 | +6 | Esoteric wards                  | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 9th | +4 | +7 | +7 | +7 | Martial training                | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
| 10th | +5 | +7 | +7 | +7 | Aid recovery(30 ft.)           | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | — | — | — | — |
| 11th | +5 | +8 | +8 | +8 | ?Phasellus suscipit(x)?        | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | — | — | — |
| 12th | +6/+1 | +8 | +8 | +8 | Esoteric wards, Martial training    | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | — | — | — |
| 13th | +6/+1 | +9 | +9 | +9 | Specialty ability           | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | — | — |
| 14th | +7/+2 | +9 | +9 | +9 | Aid recovery(burst)         | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | — | — |
| 15th | +7/+2 | +10 | +10 | +10 | Martial training         | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | — |
| 16th | +8/+3 | +10 | +10 | +10 | Esoteric wards           | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | — |
| 17th | +8/+3 | +11 | +11 | +11 | ?Phasellus suscipit(y)?  | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
| 18th | +9/+4 | +11 | +11 | +11 | Aid recovery(move action), Martial training  | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
| 19th | +9/+4 | +11 | +11 | +11 | ?Lorem ipsum?            | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| 20th | +10/+5 | +12 | +12 | +12 | Traveling bastion, esoteric wards | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
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<em class="small">Note: This class uses the <b>'spell circle'</b> terminology for disambiguity. Spells range from 1st circle to 9th circle, in increasing order of difficulty to cast; 0th-circle spells also exist, and are called cantrips. A 1st-level wizard or shieldmage can cast only 1st-circle spells; at 11th level, a shieldmage learns to cast 6th-circle shieldmage spells. Using this terminology, we hope to avoid <a href="https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0012.html">certain classic problems</a>.</em>

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### Class Features
The following are the class features of the shieldmage

#### **Weapon and Armor Proficiency**
Shieldmages are proficient with all simple weapons, with light and medium armor, and with shields, except tower shields.

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#### **Spells**

A shieldmage casts arcane spells drawn from the shieldmage spell list. They can cast any spell they know without preparing it ahead of time. To cast a spell, a shieldmage must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the spell circle. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a shieldmage’s spell is 10 + the spell circle + the shieldmage’s Intelligence modifier.

The number of spells of each circle that the shieldmage can cast each day is given in Table: Shieldmage; they can additionally cast 0th-level cantrips (see *Cantrips* below). In addition to this number, they receive bonus spells per day as given in <a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/BASICS-ABILITY-SCORES/ability-scores/#Abilities_and_Spellcasters">Table: Ability Modifiers and Bonus Spells</a> if they have a high Intelligence score. Like a wizard, these spells per day are refreshed after eight hours of uninterrupted sleep.

Unlike a wizard, a shieldmage knows all spells on their spell list, except those which are too high a circle for them to cast. Unlike a wizard or cleric, a shieldmage does not prepare spells in advance; they can cast any spell they know at any time, assuming their spells per day of that spell circle are not yet exhausted.

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#### **Bonded Shield (Su)**

A shieldmage bonds to their shield like other wizards bond to an amulet, weapon, or other bonded object, and uses it while preparing spells. This is usually a heavy metal shield but can be any shield the shieldmage is proficient with. Like a bonded-object wizard, a shieldmage can enchant their bonded shield as if they had Craft Magic Arms and Armor if they meet the prerequisites (caster level 5th) and meet any enchantment-specific prerequisites.

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#### **Cantrips**
Shieldmages know a number of cantrips, or 0-level spells, and can cast all cantrips they know at will. These spells are cast like any other spell, but they are not expended when cast and may be used again. At 1st level, they know 4 cantrips; at each even level they learn another, to a maximum of 9 known cantrips at level 10.

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#### **Defensive specialty (Ex)**
Each shieldmage picks one of three specialties, which affects their proficiencies and spells known. They gain additional abilities based on this specialties at higher levels.

##### Heavy Armor Specialty

A heavy armor specialist gains proficiency with heavy armor (and therefore does not suffer ASF chance if wearing it with their bonded shield). The following spells are added to their spell list and become part of their spells known at the appropriate level: 1st - cure minor wounds*, 2nd - cure light wounds, 3rd - cure moderate wounds, 4th - \<etc.\>

At 7th level, \<X\>. At 13th level, \<Y\>.

##### Tower Shield Specialty

A tower shield specialist gains proficiency with tower shields (and therefore does not suffer ASF chance if their bonded shield is a tower shield). The following spells are added to their spell list and become part of their spells known at the appropriate level: 1st - obscuring mist, 2nd - groundswell, 3rd - wind wall, 4th -  \<etc.\

At 7th level, \<X\>. At 13th level, \<Y\>.

##### Mobile Defense Specialty
A mobile defense specialist does not gain any additional armor or shield proficiencies, but they no longer take penalties to their movement speed for wearing medium armor or carrying a medium load. Additionally, they gain proficiency in the hand crossbow, rapier, sap, shortbow, and short sword. Many mobile defense specialists have a buckler as their bonded shield.
The following spells are added to their spell list and become part of their spells known at the appropriate level: 1st - ??, 2nd - ??, 3rd - ??, 4th -  \<etc.\>

At 7th level, \<X\>. At 13th level, \<Y\>. 
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#### **Shieldcasting (Su)**

A shieldmage does not suffer arcane spell failure chance from armor or shields they are proficient in, and they can complete somatic spell components with the hand wielding their bonded shield (though not other shields of the same type). If wearing armor or wielding a shield they are nonproficient in, then they suffer ASF chance, but reduce the total chance by 20% from the normal chance.

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#### **Shieldmage's Challenge (Sp)**
At 2nd level, a shieldmage learns the signature skill of their profession - casting a spell as a challenge. A challenge spell must be one which normally targets a single creature and does not have a target of 'self' or 'personal', and it may not have a casting time greater than 1 round. When cast as a challenge, you target both yourself and nearby allies, who must be within the spell's normal range unless it is normally touch range - up to two allies (which may not include yourself) by default, but this limit may increase with level. Rather than take effect immediately on completing the casting, any enemies nearby have a round to react:
- If you are attacked, targeted with a spell from a hostile source, subject to a combat maneuver, affected by a hostile area-effect spell, or otherwise affected by a hostile action, the spell takes effect targeting only you before the hostile effect is applied, as if you had cast it on yourself normally at that time.
- If, after one round, that *hasn't* occurred, the challenge ends and the spell takes effect on your selected allies. Treat this as though you had cast it on each of them individually, albeit simultaneously. They need not be in normal range for the spell, see table.

All enemies within 50 ft. are immediately intuitively aware of this ability from when you begin casting until the challenge ends, though they will need to make Spellcraft and/or Sense Motive checks to determine which spell you have cast and which allies you are targeting.

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The maximum number of targets to cover with a challenge is a function of the spell's circle and the shieldmage's highest spell circle. If the spell is of the highest circle they can cast, the challenge covers only two targets. For each circle lower it is, add one more target. For example, an 8th-level shieldmage can cast spells up to 4th circle. Their 4th-circle spells can be challenge-cast on two allies; their 3rd-circle spells can affect three allies, 2nd-circle four, 1st-circle five, and cantrips six. At 9th level, they will learn to cast 5th-circle spells; each of those ally numbers will increase by one, and the new 5th-circle spells will be able to affect two targets when challenge-cast.
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#### **Esoteric Wards (Ex)**
At 4th level and every 4 levels thereafter, a shieldmage learns a new protective spell they can add to their arsenal, after study and experimentation made it compatible with their bonded shield. This must be a wizard or witch spell of a circle they can already cast, and must be of the abjuration school without express DM permission. <em>(Many transmutation or divination spells have a protective nature and may be suitable spells to permit.)</em> From this point forward, that spell is considered to be on the shieldmage spell list at the same spell circle for this shieldmage's purposes. This does <em>not</em> transfer to other shieldmages without significant further study and experimentation. Once chosen, this spell cannot be changed.

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#### **Martial Training (Ex)**
At 3rd level and every level divisible by three, a shieldmage gains a bonus combat feat from the following list. They must meet the normal prerequisites for this feat. From 6th level onward, for the purposes of learning feats on this list, they count as having a fighter level equal to their shieldmage level -5. (This applies even if they are gaining one of these feats by another means.)

With the DM's approval, other combat feats which require <em>Improved Shield Bash, Saving Shield, Shield Focus</em>, or <em>Weapon Focus(shield bash)</em> may be added to this list.

<quote>
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/covering-defense-combat/">Covering Defense</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/covering-shield/">Covering Shield<a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/shield-mastery-feats/defended-movement-combat-shield-mastery/">Defended Movement</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/shield-mastery-feats/feint-defender-shield-mastery/">Feint Defender</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/shield-mastery-feats/greater-ray-shield-combat-shield-mastery/">Greater Ray Shield</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/greater-shield-focus-combat/">Greater Shield Focus</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/greater-shield-specialization-combat/">Greater Shield Specialization</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/shield-mastery-feats/guarded-charge-combat-shield-mastery/">Guarded Charge</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/improved-shield-bash-combat/">Improved Shield Bash</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/improved-shield-focus-combat/">Improved Shield Focus</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/missile-shield-combat/">Missile Shield</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/mobile-bulwark-style-combat-style">Mobile Bulwark Style</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/mobile-fortress-combat">Mobile Fortress</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/mobile-stronghold-combat/">Mobile Stronghold</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/ray-shield-combat">Ray Shield</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/saving-shield-combat/">Saving Shield</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/shield-mastery-feats/shield-brace-combat-shield-mastery/">Shield Brace</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/shield-mastery-feats/shielded-mage-combat-shield-mastery/"> Shielded Mage</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/shield-mastery-feats/shielded-stand-combat-shield-mastery/">Shielded Stand</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/shield-focus-combat/">Shield Focus</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/shield-master-combat/"> Shield Master</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/shield-slam-combat/">Shield Slam</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/shield-snag-combat/">Shield Snag</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/shield-specialization-combat/">Shield Specialization</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/shield-wall-combat-teamwork/">Shield Wall</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/shield-mastery-feats/stumbling-bash-combat-shield-mastery/">Stumbling Bash</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/shield-mastery-feats/toppling-bash-combat-shield-mastery/">Toppling Bash</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/shield-mastery-feats/unhindering-shield-shield-mastery/">Unhindering Shield</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/upsetting-shield-style-combat-style/">Upsetting Shield Style</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/upsetting-strike-combat">Upsetting Strike</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/upsetting-vengeance-combat/">Upsetting Vengeance</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/walls-stance-combat/">Wall's Stance</a>,
<a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/weapon-focus-combat/">Weapon Focus(shield bash)</a>,
<a href="https://aonprd.com/FeatDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Weapon%20Trick">Weapon Trick(weapon and shield)</a>
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#### **Phasellus suscipit (Su)**
At 5th level, suscipit malesuada neque volutpat blandit. In congue orci et neque scelerisque sagittis nec at diam. Aliquam eu interdum velit, sit amet sagittis enim. Nunc dignissim lacinia nisi, id imperdiet turpis mattis nec. Donec efficitur commodo venenatis. Morbi vitae dui ac eros condimentum imperdiet. Morbi consectetur sollicitudin hendrerit. Phasellus enim nulla, pulvinar vitae augue tempor, consectetur dignissim ligula. Etiam sodales fermentum consectetur. Pellentesque auctor neque sed nisl cursus, ac viverra turpis commodo. Nullam lobortis, turpis ut porttitor egestas, elit felis porta lorem, eu faucibus tellus risus eu mi. Curabitur sed viverra tortor, vel congue diam. Aliquam vel augue at dui efficitur tristique. Donec efficitur lobortis sapien, in posuere nisl imperdiet id. Etiam non enim dui. Fusce imperdiet nunc vel interdum volutpat.

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#### **Aid Recovery (Su)**
At 6th level, the shieldmage learns to help protect even those who have already fallen victim to enemy action. As a standard action, a touched creature (other than the shieldmage) may make an additional save for each ongoing hostile effect currently affecting them that allows a save. A success means that most or all of the effect ends, as if they had made their initial save. (Portions of the effect that persist even on a successful save are unaffected, and instantaneous consequences that have already occurred such as ability damage are not removed.) This ability may be used once per day per point of the shieldmage's Wisdom modifier, minimum once, and an additional use per day for every three levels beyond 6th. At 10th level, this may affect a target within 30 ft. rather than touch range, and may affect the shieldmage themself. From 14th level, the shieldmage may expend two uses to affect all creatures within 30 ft. At 18th level, this may be used as a move action.

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#### **Lorem ipsum (Sp)**
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nunc dapibus lectus blandit mi varius ultrices. Sed id commodo orci. Pellentesque scelerisque nibh sem, ac fermentum lacus posuere ac. Ut ultrices ex dolor, non consequat tellus pretium id. Curabitur eget sodales neque. Mauris non dapibus tortor. Etiam vel orci eu augue consectetur tempus a rhoncus quam. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Phasellus pretium id neque ut finibus. Etiam vulputate vehicula faucibus. Pellentesque ligula velit, commodo at mauris efficitur, faucibus sodales nisl. Morbi sapien nunc, posuere vel porttitor eget, consectetur non lorem. Nam suscipit feugiat libero, at cursus mi scelerisque eu. Cras pretium metus ut diam laoreet imperdiet. Donec non turpis nec odio ullamcorper egestas.

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#### **Traveling Bastion (Su)**
At 20th level, the shieldmage has surpassed the need to use spells to protect those nearby. All allies withn 60 ft. may use the shieldmage's save bonuses rather than their own (if better), shieldmage's challenge may now affect up to four allies for 7th-9th circles and twelve for all lower circles, and whenever the shieldmage casts a spell normally on an ally (not via shieldmage's challenge), they may also give that ally the benefit of aid recovery without expending a daily use of that ability or an additional action.

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# Spell List

## Cantrips

detect magic, detect poison, light, mage hand, mending, message, read magic, resistance, stabilize, touch of fatigue

## 1st circle
abjuring step, air bubble, alarm, anticipate peril, bed of iron, deathwatch, endure elements, feather fall, mage armour, liberating command, magic missile, peacebond, protection from chaos/evil/good/law, remove fear, shield, stunning barrier, swift girding, vanish

## 2nd circle
arcane lock, bear's endurance, blur, cat's grace, death from below, detect thoughts, detect magic (greater), glitterdust, kinetic reverberation, nondetection (lesser), owl's wisdom, protection from arrows, resist energy.

## 3rd circle

## 4th circle

## 5th circle

## 6th circle

## 7th circle

## 8th circle

## 9th circle

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Shieldmage
 
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