I was going through some of the books in my spare time and had an idea for something I thought would be interesting to see in a book down the line. I think the classes we have now fill a good range of concepts, but something I think would be interesting that is currently quite difficult to create is a kind of 'primitive' class (or maybe archetype/subtype of soldier). They could take relatively large penalties to using complex technology like computers and ranged weapons without the archaic quality, but in exchange get to ignore the archaic quality on all weapons and gain bonuses to hit or extra damage dice while using unpowered melee weapons. They could also have skills/abilities for getting around their lack of tech skills such as 'hacking' a computer by punching a hole in it and pulling out wires. I imagine this being a barbarian equivalent class who represent the more primal side of the galaxy and are useful mainly because they're so physically powerful despite being undisciplined.
Of course the concept is far from perfect, I'm not claiming otherwise, but I think it could be an interesting idea. It would need a lot of fine tuning to balance, for example the concept makes any character difficult to slot into ship combat. I just thought I'd put it out there as it's been stewing in my brain for a little while and I thought it could potentially be an interesting discussion point about new classes.
Wouldn't that basically just be bringing in a Legacy Barbarian? Maybe some time travel jumbo dumps a Barb onto Absalom Station, and everyone wants to "question" him for what he may know about pre-Gap Golarion?
Wouldn't that basically just be bringing in a Legacy Barbarian? Maybe some time travel jumbo dumps a Barb onto Absalom Station, and everyone wants to "question" him for what he may know about pre-Gap Golarion?
Functionally yes, but my image would be giving a flat bonus for using certain types of equipment (such as archaic or unpowered weapons) rather than using a rage mechanic. Also while time travel is interesting I don't think it needs to be so complicated. There are plenty of civilisations in the galaxy which haven't developed advanced technology or have regressed for one reason or another that could fit the concept. Maybe a colony of humans that crash-landed on a planet on the vast and slowly became more primal as they were cut off from civilisation? I definitely feel like the class would be similar in a way to a barbarian but with the underlying mechanics changed to feel more 'Starfinder-y' as it were.
I just think it'd be more interesting to see new classes other than the futuristic 9th level caster that comes up every few weeks (I feel completely indifferent towards this by the way, whether there are ever 9th level casters in SF or not doesn't bother me). I was just thinking about what kinds of classes could work with Starfinder and this was the first thing I came up with.
I can certainly see something like that happening. Warhammer 40,000 has some good examples of stuff like that, where planets got "lost" for some reason or other, and had whole civilizations that reverted back to Medieval times for most of society, while some nobles or rulers had very old laser guns and such.
I can certainly see something like that happening. Warhammer 40,000 has some good examples of stuff like that, where planets got "lost" for some reason or other, and had whole civilizations that reverted back to Medieval times for most of society, while some nobles or rulers had very old laser guns and such.
There's an example of it in book 4 of the Dead Suns AP and I think something similar happens in one of the worlds described in the CRB as well. I imagine the Gap probably contributes to this effect as well, with the mass amnesia and all. I feel like the character concept has potential but I don't necessarily know how you'd best implement it with the game as it stands (you could just have it be a soldier that never uses guns but I feel like it's neglecting a lot of the class with no real benefit to balance it out).
Why would someone from a primitive planet get to ignore the archaic quality? Their weapons and armor. . . still are primitive.
Note that an answer of "Because otherwise, why would you ever play someone like that?" is. . . not really relevant to anything.
Technically, a Vesk's claws are "primitive," but they still ignore the archaic quality for some weird reason.
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I like to think all Vesk get manicures involving carbon fiber reinforcement and sharpening.
I like to think all Vesk get manicures involving carbon fiber reinforcement and sharpening.
That's kind of my point. Besides, there are already longswords in Starfinder that are made of better material and craftsmanship that are not considered archaic while still looking like ye olde longsword.
I can understand wanting a Barbarian-type character from a less advanced world, but that can easily be done with a Blitz Soldier and then just sticking to old-style weapons forged from modern means.
Did any Paizo staff mention plans for new classes in the interviews they gave to promote Starfinder in the last months?
Did any Paizo staff mention plans for new classes in the interviews they gave to promote Starfinder in the last months?
Not that I've heard/remembered. I know they are going to add in new themes, feats, spells, and items. Though I think the chances of them NOT adding in new classes at some point are very, very low.
The Pact Worlds description mentions several new Archetypes, which is the closest I think we'll ever get to Prestige Classes or Alternative Class Features. It also mentioned feats and spells. The Armory is almost certain to contain new ships, items, and vehicles. I haven't seen any mention of new themes or classes, and certainly not NPC classes (since that isn't really a thing anymore with the way NPC's are built).
I'm hoping that after they release Pact Worlds, they'll announce the book coming out after the Armory (circa September), and I'm really hoping that next book will be something akin to an Advanced Players guide with more classes (and maybe races), themes, feats, et cetera. But I haven't heard anything either.
Only Paizo knows....
The Pact Worlds description mentions several new Archetypes, which is the closest I think we'll ever get to Prestige Classes or Alternative Class Features. It also mentioned feats and spells. The Armory is almost certain to contain new ships, items, and vehicles. I haven't seen any mention of new themes or classes, and certainly not NPC classes (since that isn't really a thing anymore with the way NPC's are built).
I'm hoping that after they release Pact Worlds, they'll announce the book coming out after the Armory (circa September), and I'm really hoping that next book will be something akin to an Advanced Players guide with more classes (and maybe races), themes, feats, et cetera. But I haven't heard anything either.
Only Paizo knows....
It's more than likely to be another Alien Archive. I recall hearing those would be annual rather than biannual like bestiaries.
Well, since AA dropped in Dec and the CRB in Aug I was hoping they'd keep the pattern and give us a Advanced PG in Aug/Sep and a proper bestiary (AA2?) in Nov/Dec. Then follow that up with a Veskarium or ASE setting book in Mar/April 19 (to complement the Pact Worlds book) and a Magic focused book around wherever the Armory falls in 18, so May/Jun 19.
But that's just how I'd do it if I were in charge.
Well, since AA dropped in Dec and the CRB in Aug I was hoping they'd keep the pattern and give us a Advanced PG in Aug/Sep and a proper bestiary (AA2?) in Nov/Dec. Then follow that up with a Veskarium or ASE setting book in Mar/April 19 (to complement the Pact Worlds book) and a Magic focused book around wherever the Armory falls in 18, so May/Jun 19.
But that's just how I'd do it if I were in charge.
AA came out in Oct and I believe I heard/read that AA is gonna be an annual book. I imagine the current release pattern is what to expect for the immediate releases at least (that is, hardcovers at the beginning and middle of the year with an AA around the end)