Tribal Warden (Fighter Archetype)
Noble protectors of their tribal homeland and its allies, Tribal Wardens are hardy and steadfast warriors. Roaming their people's homelands and abroad, the tribal warden seeks to protect not only his people but their allies as well.
Trained to endure and to inspire the Tribal warden is a welcome sight to any party that has not drawn their ire.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Tribal Wardens are not proficient in Medium or Heavy armor, or Tower shields.
Ancient Will (Ex): Tribal Wardens are trained to endure untold hardships through ancient rituals and mystic rites. They gain Endurance and Iron Will as bonus feats. This ability replaces the fighter’s 1st level bonus feat.
Deft Maneuvers (Ex): Tribal Wardens train to outmaneuver their opponents. Tribal avengers gain a +2 dodge bonus to AC when wearing light or no armor. This bonus increases by +1 for every 4 levels after 2nd level. This ability replaces the Bravery
Combat Honed (Ex): The Tribal Warden has learned to react with lightning reflexes. The Tribal Warden gains a +2 bonus to Initiative and gains a +5 ft. bonus to movement speed. This ability replaces the fighter 4th level bonus feat.
Savage Dictate (Ex): The Tribal Wardens zeal is unsettling to even the most stoic of heart. 3 + ¼ level/day the tribal avenger can declare a blood oath against one target creature. The targeted creature must make a Will save, DC equal to 10 + ½ level + Str modifier or become Shaken. The Tribal Warden also receives a +1 morale bonus to attack and damage rolls against that creature. This bonus increases by +1 every 4 levels. This ability lasts for a number of rounds equal to 1 + Cha modifier. This ability replaces weapon training 1 and 2.
Primal Surge (Ex): Tribal Wardens are condition to be the hardiest of their race, and can draw on hidden reserves of endurance. 1/day when brought to 0 hp or less, the tribal avenger gains temporary hitpoints equal to 2d8+1/2 level. The Tribal Warden also gains a +2 morale bonus to Strength, and a +2 morale bonus to AC. This ability lasts a number of rounds equal to 3 + Con Modifier. This ability increases to 4d8 +1/2 level at 12th level. This ability replaces Armor Training 1, 2.
Not a bad alternative.
Your abilities are generally better than the abilities they are replacing. Overall, I think the archetype is overpowered. You also do things like get rid of Bravery, but then grant Iron Will, which takes a lot of the sting out of losing Bravery.
You're replacing most fighter class features. Try pairing the your abilities with the most similar original ability and see if you think they still stack up. For instance, Deft Maneuvers should replace Armor Training, not Bravery (since Armor Training is less useful if you're wearing light armor, and both affect AC.)
You're also not specifying what levels various abilities are gained. I have no idea when a Tribal Warden gets Primal Surge: 1st, 3rd, or 7th level all seem possible.
Combat Honed is a feat and a half: It's Fleet, plus half of Improved Initiative. Is it wise to replace a single feat that way? Same question for Ancient Will.
Similarly, Savage Dictate could probably be more like a cavalier's challenge. Getting a Dazzling Display and a challenge on the same action is quite potent.
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Overpowered archetypes are a nice nod to the underpowered Fighter.
My only criticism is the name Tribal Warden. Little about the class features reinforce this name. You have bonuses to saves, AC, initiative and speed. Then we have special abilities to scare opponents and to gain temporary HP. There is nothing in here that grants bonuses to surviving in the wilderness (except Endurance), affinity with beasts, or benefits relating to other creatures of the same tribe, clan, race, etc. I suggest you think up a name that reflects a broader spectrum of character concepts, or amend a couple of the class features.
@Ross Byers: You made good points and i have been working on fixing them. Thank you again for the feedback.
@Cairan Barnes: Any suggestions on a name change? I have thought about Tribal Avenger, and a couple others. I am open to suggestions though.
Note: Man it has taken me a while to get back to this post.
Its the tribal part of the name that doesn't make any sense to me. I'm trying to think of something, but all I can think of when I read the class features is the Myrmidons from the movie Troy or the Spartans from 300. Neither of those is great fit either.
hmmm... definitely will have to think about it.
Have you considered changing any of the class features to support the tribal theme? Usually when people post home brew, it undergoes some changes.
What do you see as the use for this archetype? Was does it do that you cannot accomplish by, for instance, making a ranger who takes Fleet, Iron Will, and Dodge as he levels up?
Is is for a PC? For NPC foes?
It was originally intended to be for a homebrew race of elves, Sylvan Elves.
I was trying to create a type of tribal defender for the elves, considering their background and history. Something unique for them.