Stalwart Defender!

[Twohand]

Am I the only one saddened by the racial nature of the Earthkin Defender class restrictions? I think its update was pretty awesome, it made the class very competitive and fun, but unfortunately, according to the last player counts in January, only 19% of the current characters are eligible, race-wise, to even take Defender levels. Many developer hours were spent testing and making updates for a class that on its own is available only to a small niche portion of the playerbase.

So I just want to bring to light what Pathfinder did. As I came to find out in Pathfinder: Kingmaker, a popular RPG game released three years ago, the Pathfinder system changed the Dwarven Defender class into Stalwart Defender, a PrC with no race limits! Although its lore still admits that Dwarves make the best Defenders, what is true both culturally and mechanically even in Arelith where the race, due to its stats, very easily reaches the requirements to unlock the Epic Damage Reduction feats, a popular choice that goes very well with the Earthkin Defender class. What do you guys think?

(If anyone wants to read more about it: https://pathfinder-kingmaker.fandom.com ... t_Defender)

[Dreams]

I’d love to see it more widely available to other races. The expansion from dwarf-only was already a great step, having it be generally available for a tanky defensive character would be cool.

[Waldo52]

I must say I disagree with the OP. If anything I think there isn't enough race restricted material.

Race restricted classes like AA and ED give a lot of flavor to the world and make the races feel special. In WoW a gigantic humanoid bull and a gnome can be practically equal as warriors, there's probably a microscopic difference in strength. In the D&D tradition races feel somewhat different, if not quite different enough for me.

I'd prefer to see all races get more race restricted feats and or classes to ensure that half orc and dwarf martial characters or human and elf casters feel different.

[Good Character]

Gotta mimic the above post. The dwarves have a specific deity tailored to dwarven defenders, even. Existing lore helps to facilitate why now gnomes and halflings can also be defenders due to the Earthkin agreement.

[Drowboy]

Just do what Amia did: The classes should clearly not be race-locked for any real reason other than making dwarf or elf players feel special (if you were nothing without the suit etc), but the salt was otherworldly, so AA and Defender over there are seperate classes with different prereqs, one for dwarves/elves, one for everyone else. They're the same, of course, other than that.

[Twohand]

I'd prefer to see all races get more race restricted feats and or classes to ensure that half orc and dwarf martial characters or human and elf casters feel different.

None of the many new classes added have been race restricted, and I'll bet we won't see a new one like that too soon. I mean, it's all cool in theory, but what incentive is there in creating a brand new class from scratch that only a small portion of the playerbase will get to enjoy?

Gotta mimic the above post. The dwarves have a specific deity tailored to dwarven defenders, even. Existing lore helps to facilitate why now gnomes and halflings can also be defenders due to the Earthkin agreement.

You don't think a Human who worships Helm would make a good Defender too?

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Also, +10 points for the Fifth Edition, they unlocked Arcane Archer for everyone!

[malcolm_mountainslayer]

This aint 5th
Much how paladins must be LG some things are race tied. The devs have done a good.jon retaining that OG feel while stillmadding new and flexible content that doesnt contradict. Like we have Hexblades and blackgaurds instead of anti paladins. (To 5es credit the diff oaths have very diff abilities).

There are some days i do conjure up a human concept that could utilize defender concept and quite frankly I am fine that I can't and happy to let earthkin feel special.

[Good Character]

You don't think a Human who worships Helm would make a good Defender too?

I see your point given the one I brought up. Allow me to clarify. The dwarves have had an extensive history being raided by orcs, goblins, etc. which is why the in-game item waraxe and hammer provide damage bonuses against those races. Furthermore, shield dwarves are encouraged towards becoming dwarven defenders early on and many do gravitate to it, so one can assume that their culture and traditions help facilitate that at a young age. Humans, however, are quite the opposite; expansionists and curious whereas shield dwarves, until the Thundering Blessing, are the almost the complete opposite. The reasons gnomes and halflings are rewarded with the class is because they also face similarities but now have the culture and tradition of the dwarves offered to them a la Brogendenstein and the Earthkin agreement.

So, I don't think so in the sense of the class' flavor, intent, and history that it should be provided to other races beyond what it is already provided to.