Martial Archetype: Treasured

"This, milord, is my family's axe. We have owned it for almost nine hundred years, see. Of course, sometimes it needed a new blade. And sometimes it has required a new handle, new designs on the metalwork, a little refreshing of the ornamentation... but is this not the nine hundred-year-old axe of my family? And because it has changed gently over time, it is still a pretty good axe, y'know. Pretty good."

-Terry Pratchet, -The Fifth Elephant





In many families and cultures, there is a weapon of great importance. A rusty axe and a pitted shield which brought grandfather home, a shining steel greatsword embedded in stone, a gilded and bejewelled set of daggers gifted many generations ago. This martial archetype for the fighter seeks to make you a wielder of a blade much like these. Some would call it a blade like any other, while you know it to be your destiny.

A Storied Blade

When you choose this martial archetype, you designate a treasured weapon, or set of treasured weapons. This may be any of the examples presented below:

One two-handed weapon.

A one-handed or versatile weapon and a shield.

Two weapons with the light property.

One martial ranged weapon.

You can use other weapons normally, but you greatly prefer your treasured weapon.

Despite the weapons sentimental value to you, it is an otherwise unexceptional example of the weapon type. For example, if it is gilded and covered with gems, careful inspection will reveal the gold to be gold paint and the gems to be made of glass, making it no more valuable than any other weapon of it's type.

Familiarity with the battles your treasured weapon has seen grants you proficiency in the History skill. You can double your proficiency bonus for any History checks to do with war or battle.

Additionally, thanks to the repair and attention you give your weapon, it cannot be broken by conventional means.

Familiarity

Long years of training and repair with your treasured weapon has granted you knowledge of your blade far exceeding that of the normal, allowing you to add true power to your strikes. Starting at 3rd level you add an additional d4 to damage rolls with your treasured weapon. This additional die increases to a d6 at 6th level, a d8 at 10th level, and a d10 at 17th level. These additional damage die cannot be rerolled through the use of other features.

Additionally, while you are holding your treasured weapon, you cannot be disarmed unless you are incapactitated.

Blood, Sweat, Tears

Your knowledge of your weapon continues to grow. The careful hours of upkeep you give your weapon give you confidence in the most dangerous of situations. At 7th level, weapon attacks with your treasured weapon now score a critical on a roll of 19 or 20. Additionaly, you have advantage on saving throws against being frightened while holding your treasured weapon.

Trust In the Blade

You know that nothing will keep you safer than your weapon. You can now expertly parry, defending your life while dooming others. At 10th level while you are holding your treasured weapon you gain the ability to use a reaction to add your proficiency bonus to your AC when you are attacked. If the attack against you fails, make a single weapon attack against the attacking creature. You can use this reaction a number of times equal to your Strength modifier or your Dexterity modifier, whichever is higher (minimum one). You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Confidence In the Steel

Nothing brings you confidence like the steel. You feel safer as you draw on the memories of past battles the blade has seen you through as a source of strength. At 15th level, while you are holding your treasured weapon, below half your maximum hitpoints and not incapacitated, you regenerate 1d4 hitpoints at the start of each turn. If you are holding your treasured weapon when you use your Second Wind feature, you can spend up to two of your hit-dice and add that to the total.

Perfected Bond

The ties between you and your weapon are unbreakable. It has become an extension of your body and of your soul. At 18th level you can double your proficiency bonus for one attack roll per turn and add your proficiency bonus to one damage roll per turn. You can use this ability after rolling, but before any outcome is declared.

Magical Weapons In games where magical weapons are frequent, you can consult with enchanters to transfer an enchantment to your treasured weapon. This process takes 8 hours. It costs 200gp to transfer the enchantment of an uncommon weapon, 500gp to transfer the enchantment of a rare weapon, 1000gp to transfer the enchantment of a very rare weapon, and 2000gp to transfer the enchantment of a legendary weapon. A sentient weapon's personality and benefits can be convinced to move to your treasured weapon at your DMs discretion. Your treasured weapon can only have one such enchantment at a time.