Retrograde Revision 4: Armor Master
(art by ArtofTy on DeviantArt)
And of course, due to the way that alphabets work, our next revised entry is also armor themed, this time with the fighter class!
(I just checked with the original entry and completely unbidden I also poked fun at my alphabetized list then as well. The more things change, the more they stay the same, I suppose)
In any case, it only makes sense that a class focused on everything martial would have an archetype dedicated to mastering every aspect of mundane combat would have a specialization dedicated to armor and shields.
However, while the armored hulk spends a decent number of it’s abilities simply negating the movement penalties of heavy armor, these warriors instead master the more defensive aspects of armor, becoming the very picture of an armored defender.
They achieve this by truly understanding the tolerances of their armor and what blows they can turn aside and which ones they can take head on without harm.
So if you plan on playing a tanky defender, this archetype may be for you, so let’s take a look at what it has to offer!
Normally shields and armor do no good against magic that merely has to make contact to be effective, but these warriors learn to use their shields to deflect at least some of these attacks in both ranged and melee capacities. (Though this only offers a better chance of protection, not true deflection.)
An armor master knows the toughest parts of their armor, helping them to reduce incoming damage even when an attack manages to slip in. What’s more, this compounds with the toughness of adamantine armor, making such armor the perfect fit for this archetype.
They even know how to use the armor to better protect their vitals, making critical blows increasingly unlikely.
This improves later so that they become totally immune to critical hits while in armor, and said armor is protected from being sundered by their skill in turning aside blows from both their vitals and the weaknesses of the armor itself.
With a defensive build like this, having both a reach weapon and a close-range weapon is a must here, as is quick draw and all manner of defensive combat feats to better protect themselves, as well as punish those that try to get out of reach, such as step up. Also, look through the advanced armor training options for fun stuff to further improve yourself. Try to also pick up a few offensive options though to round things out, and play with durability and inescapability in mind. Additionally, options that slow your foe down are a good idea.
Naturally, armor master usually arise from among the most elite front-line troops, as well as honor guards to nobles and royals, and other positions where staying alive to protect others is very important. Indeed, such figures are almost always very well respected, because who would not respect someone that stands tall between the enemy and those behind them?
Vernand Solia is a wandering warrior. His armor is outdated, but he has been seen to withstand blows that would kill men in the strongest of plate mail. He has become a local legend, many young warriors challenging him. He has become weary of both these and the assassination attempts of less honorable warriors. He would be eternally grateful to anyone who can find a way to escape his own legacy.
Rumor speaks of so-called walking bastions, dwarves wearing heavy stone plate, marching ahead of their armies on the battlefield, their bulk and armor blocking below, while their polearms forming a lethal fence for giants and other creatures large enough to otherwise bypass them. Some claim that the most elite wear modified stone golems, carved with the faces of their greatest heroes.
Rusttongue is an unusual goblin mercenary with a highly unusual fighting style. He wears hand-crafted mithral armor that allows him to leap into the battlefield with his blades spinning, trusting the armor to keep him safe. The most gruesome feature of the armor is the helm, built with a separate section for his jaws, hooked to piecing that are drilled into his very bone, allowing the bladed edge of the helm to add to his already painful bite.
