Fighter/Sworn Guardian

Sworn Guardians are those whose oath of protection shouldn’t be taken lightly, at once a mighty warrior ready to charge into its enemy, and an unbreakable vanguard, ready to make sacrifices for what they swore to protect. The Sworn Guardian often finds themselves taking jobs as guards or bodyguards to important individuals, be they politicians or faith leaders, but in the same breath they aren’t uncommon in an adventuring party, protecting the members less able to take blows from just that.

A Fighter Archetype for ffd20 by Ask (Knight Dude)

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## Diminished Focus (Ex)

While the Sworn Guardian still chooses their chosen weapon at 1st level , they do not gain the bonuses to hit and damage until 5th level, starting at +1 and improving every four levels after 5th.

This ability alters Chosen Weapon.

## Sworn Ally (Ex)

Starting at 1st level, the Sworn Guardian may choose as a swift action one ally that they can see as their Sworn Ally. They can only choose a sworn ally this way a number of times per dqy equal to half their fighter levels (minimum one).

Whenever the sworn guardian is adjacent to his sworn ally, he can choose to take a –1 penalty to his AC to grant his ally a +1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves. The sworn guardian may only have a single sworn ally at a time.

Furthermore, the sworn guardian can take a 5-foot step as an immediate action, as long as he ends this movement adjacent to his Sworn Ally. If he takes this step, he cannot take a 5-foot step during his next turn and his total movement is reduced by 5 feet during his next turn.

## Guardian’s Reflexes (Ex)

At 2nd level, a Sworn Guardian gains Combat Reflexes as a bonus feat, and he can use his Strength modifier instead of his Dexterity modifier to determine the number of additional attacks of opportunity he can make per round. If he already has Combat Reflexes, he instead gains Stand Still as a bonus feat.

This ability replaces the fighter talent gained at 2nd level.

## Royal Protection (Ex)

At 3rd level, a Sworn Guardian gains Bodyguard and In Harm’s Way as bonus feats, though he can use them only to improve his sworn ally’s AC or intercept a successful attack against his sworn ally.

This ability replaces Overhead Chop.

## Beyond Mere Protection (Su)

At 5th level, a Sworn Guardian’s will to protect their allies grows further, and are willing to take even the direst of strikes for them. Whenever the Sworn Ally takes damage while the Sworn Guardian is within 10 ft of them, the Sworn Guardian takes a part of the damage equal to half their fighter level + their constitution modifier instead of the Sworn Ally.

This ability Replaces Weapon Guard and Reliable Strike.

## Deflect Projectile (Ex)

At 7th level, the Sworn Guardian gains Deflect Arrows as a bonus feat. If she is adjacent to his sworn ally, he can use this ability to deflect a projectile targeting his sworn ally. The Sworn Guardian does not need to meet the prerequisites for this bonus feat and may use even when both hands are occupied.

This ability replaces Backswing.

## I have your back (Ex)

At 9th level, if the Sworn Guardian is within 10 feet of his sworn ally and the ally moves more than 10 feet away from him, the Sworn Guardian can move up to his speed so long as he ends the movement within 10 feet of his sworn ally, this does not take an action from the Sworn Guardian.

This ability replaces Rapid Attack.

## Reactionary Strike (Ex)

At 11th level, a Sworn Guardian can make an attack of opportunity against an enemy that moves adjacent to or attacks the Guardian’s sworn ally. The guardian cannot make a reactionary strike against a creature he has already made an attack of opportunity against during the round.

This ability replaces Retaliation.

## GET DOWN! (Ex)

Starting at 19th level, when the Sworn Guardian and Sworn Ally are both affected by an the same effect that requires a saving throw and are adjacent to each other, the Sworn Guardian may choose to forgo their own save to give the Sworn Ally a bonus equal to half their Sworn Guardian level for that saving throw.

This ability replaces Double Strike.