The book 5/5 aces its objective, which is adding context to the ACG classes and framing them to the world of Golarion. The fact that the Greenskin Stalkers exist made me add one more star to this review which would have been otherwise a 3.
The issues I have with this book are exclusively on the playing material. I feel a great part of the archetypes were done with "lose the general bonus, gain a higher bonus against a specific foe" mindset, which I honestly can't get behind of.
The ACG classes are really new and what they need is something to benefit every possible playstyle.
However, the score is still high because some times, Paizo shows they know how they can be done. The Sczarni Executioner is a great implementation of a specific specialization that still shows some local flavor. There's the whole issue with Intelligence being too low for Slayers for Assassinate to ever work, but that's something that the devs should see on their own.
Other great play-style explorations in the book are the Studied Ally talent (which allows for more defensive Slayers, perhaps a Vanguard?), Shackles Corsair archetype (skill-based Swashbuckler), Leipstadt Inspector archetype (Perception-based Investigator), and the Kyton Bloodrager bloodline (based on defense and harrying enemies).
Then there's the let downs. Some classes had glaring issues that did not get patched here.
Namely:
- Brawlers are a low AC and low mobility class that relies on full-attacks and high Strength. With Pummeling Charge banned on PFS, I expect these vulnerabilities to show themselves more. They can be partially balanced with high Dex, but I see no support for this playstyle (you'd need to make a deep investment into Weapon Finesse and Agile Maneuvers).
- I'm also sad that no Brawler archetype for small races was released.
- Feats seem hastily done and they are really underwhelming. Fencing Grace has a bonus to disarm CMD, but Swashbucklers can't be disarmed. Unfair Grip has Power Attack as a prerequisite, but Unarmed fighters have little incentive to take Power Attack. Know Weakness seems wonky - why does the bonus last for one round?
- There's a new archetype for Swashbucklers which grants Dex-to-damage with any Swashbuckler weapon, so clearly the developers don't think it overpowered... but still, other classes can't do it for some reason.
- I expected to see more rewards for high STR playstyles now that Dex-to-damage is more widespread, but I saw none. Still expecting an Armor Training feat with high STR as prerequisite.
- Another huge issue is the lack of anything to reduce the Swift Action glut of Swashbucklers.
Overall, it has some nice archetypes and bloodlines/blessings (I'd expect War Drummer and Winding Path Renegade to be staples of every Skald and Brawler, not because they are great but because they are mostly straight upgrades), some great fluff...
But I feel there's some wasted potential here.
