Bob Jonquet wrote:
And if you are referring to a re-build in order to drop something existing and add from the new book, that is typically not approved.
Usually the only time you can "rebuild" is if the existing ability is re-written in a more recent publication, changing the way it works. In those case, you would probably granted the ability to drop the changed ability and replace it. But this is a relatively rare occurrence.
Sigh...that's a shame. I was referring to the "archetypes", yes...(I had forgotten the term for it.) If the Chirurgeon archetype had existed when I had created my PC in the first place, I would have chosen it. I don't use the poison capabilities of the Alchemist anyway.
It's a shame that there's not a way to make this work. I guess this doesn't fit into the category of "if the existing class is altered..." It seems to me from a game-mechanic perspective, there would be no unfair advantage gained or adverse impact to the game caused by this small change to meet the new archetype (especially since new alchemists are already allowed to use the archetype.) And from a role-playing perspective, if the Alchemist suddenly discovers that there is another way to conduct the business of alchemy, then he could immediately foreswear the creation of poisons and create only healing elixirs instead. Still, I realize that most organized play games sadly do not allow any rebuilding, even when the rules are updated or material is added.
It's an odd situation. Mark's post seems to lean toward giving the ability to re-build, if things are significantly changed. And Pathfinder Society has consistently stuck to an excellent philosophy of "play, play, play." The game and the fun are the focus. That's what I love about this particular organized play system. Oddly enough, if my Alchemist were to multiclass into another class, he could take one of that class' archetypes. If some other PC were to multiclass into Alchemist, they could take one of the archetypes. But my PC, who has studied alchemy all his life, cannot change his method of conducting alchemy.
I have a suggestion, though. Perhaps the rules could allow a PC to spend a feat or Alchemist Discovery on the ability to switch to an archetype? That way there would be a vector and cost for the change. I would do this if I could, because for role-playing purposes, it would be worth it.
- Kevin