Please give me your opinions on this problem so I might move on with my life, for in all honesty I see no problems with playing a duergar Forgemaster.
Most racial archetypes don't actually have anything to do with the race's racial traits and could feasibly be used by another race. Especially for dwarves vs. druergar, they aren't really that much different. Anyways, take bonded witch for instance. Apparently Half-Elves are the only witches ever who make a connection with items instead of familiars. Nothing about Half-Elves really screams "Makes bonds with weapons!" but somehow RAW they are the only ones.
Your friend is the DM? That does make a difference.
Duergar are humanoids with the dwarf subtype
So by raw you count as dwarf for feat traits reqirments. It is not strictly clear (or at least i cant find it) if you need to be the race or have the subtype dwarf to take levels in this archtype. But as i read the rules it is engouh to have the subtype ...
Racial Heritage: Can a human with this feat take levels in an archetype that requires you to be of a specific race?
Yes, the Racial Heritage feat allows you to qualify for archetypes that have the chosen race as a requirement, assuming you still meet all of the other requirements to take levels in the archetype.
—Jason Bulmahn, 07/27/12
Racial Heritage is like you gain the suptype and it allows you to take archetypes that have the chosen race as a requirement. So i am quite sure the dwarf subtype a duergar already has qualifies to take Forgemaster archetype.
Why does you friend say you have to come up with the hell of a background ?? Even if he disagrees on my reading ... this archtype seams to fit well. Or has your friend a problem with you playing an evil race ?!
Breiti
I see no reason why a duergar wouldn't fit the Forgemaster archetype. I would allow it with no fuss, but your GM is the final arbitrator. Have you spoken to other players in the group? I often find that if all players agree, I'm more likely to allow it as GM.
Duergar are humanoids with the dwarf subtypeSo by raw you count as dwarf for feat traits reqirments. It is not strictly clear (or at least i cant find it) if you need to be the race or have the subtype dwarf to take levels in this archtype. But as i read the rules it is engouh to have the subtype ...
Racial Heritage: Can a human with this feat take levels in an archetype that requires you to be of a specific race?
Yes, the Racial Heritage feat allows you to qualify for archetypes that have the chosen race as a requirement, assuming you still meet all of the other requirements to take levels in the archetype.
—Jason Bulmahn, 07/27/12
Racial Heritage is like you gain the suptype and it allows you to take archetypes that have the chosen race as a requirement. So i am quite sure the dwarf subtype a duergar already has qualifies to take Forgemaster archetype.
Why does you friend say you have to come up with the hell of a background ?? Even if he disagrees on my reading ... this archtype seams to fit well. Or has your friend a problem with you playing an evil race ?!
Breiti
I agree, although to be fair that feat outright declares you to be treated as a member of that particular race as well as gain it's subtype. I don't think RAW the subtype itself is the qualifier or picking racial heritage (goblin) would qualify for hobgoblin archtypes like the iron-whatever monk. Personally I remove all the racial prereqs from archetypes, with only the cavern sniper requiring at least a darkness spell-like ability.
