Save the Date – Pathfinder Playtest Stream Aug 31!

For the second pic: It’s Demigod. Or a Twin-based class, where you can play two characters who together are more powerful than when they are apart.

Maybe this character is the surviving twin based off of the mythology of Hunahpu and Xbalanque during their trials in the underworld of Xibalba?

One apparently gets beheaded by Camazotz in the real life myth and we know the latter will make an appearance soonish.

Edit: hero-gods?

*Continues wordlessly screaming as she did on all posts related to the playtest*

Oh no, nipples. Did anybody at Paizo think of all the children?

If these new Iconics really are Arcadian and Okaiyoan (would that be right?), I’d be giddy.

The second pic looks like someone from Arcadia. Maybe wearing their cotton armour?

Cultural background influenced perhaps by real life pre-contact Zapotec civilization?

We know that Camazotz is going to be be featured relatively soon…

Do we? I love Camaztoz! Where was that hinted?

Whoa! I'm completely blindsided by the fact that we're getting a PF playtest on September 1st!!! (I'm SUPER excited and really hope to be able to participate in this playtest).

I'm loving the speculation of who/what these new classes and their respective iconics are or represent. I'm seeing a trend or maybe I mean a theme ... but demigod and animist seem to be the most frequently used terms, and I personally like the ideas behind both.

Man oh man ... is it September 1st yet?

Dean; The_MInstrel_Wyrm

One important note that Michael Sayre mentioned during the GenCon Keynote when announcing the class playtest, was that a whole lot of him and James Case can be found within these classes. And given our knowledge of both of their cultural backgrounds, I can certainly see that.

Michael Sayre has roots from the Alaskan Tlingit, a group of indigenous people from the Pacific Northwest of North America. Originally, I'd have bet that Mike's class would've been a martial character like the Gunslinger, but perhaps he did the indigenous-looking caster class instead. "Animist" seems like a safe call then, especially when Mike has talked about wanting to redo the Shaman class in PF2E from the ground up with more culturally-relevant abilities to them.

James Case's roots are also relevant, as some have pointed out the Māori/Hawaiian/Polynesian look of the other class. Given James is in fact Hawaiian, I can see his cultural perspective being given form here. I would've bet, seeing as James worked on PF2E's Psychic and the Remaster's Wizard and Witch, that he'd do the caster class. But instead, maybe the tattoo'd martial class would be a better fit for him here. And the thought of a Rare Hawaiian-inspired "Herogod/Demigod" class (akin to Maui from Hawaiian myth) really gets me super excited to play!

EDIT: And for those pointing out how these Iconics might tie into Arcadia, that makes sense! A lot of Arcadia's influence comes from the fact it's based on the Americas, so Mike and James' cultural influences would make sense to have these characters hail from Arcadia!

One important note that Michael Sayre mentioned during the GenCon Keynote when announcing the class playtest, was that a whole lot of him and James Case can be found within these classes. And given our knowledge of both of their cultural backgrounds, I can certainly see that.

Michael Sayre has roots from the Alaskan Tlingit, a group of indigenous people from the Pacific Northwest of North America. Originally, I'd have bet that Mike's class would've been a martial character like the Gunslinger, but perhaps he did the indigenous-looking caster class instead. "Animist" seems like a safe call then, especially when Mike has talked about wanting to redo the Shaman class in PF2E from the ground up with more culturally-relevant abilities to them.

James Case's roots are also relevant, as some have pointed out the Māori/Hawaiian/Polynesian look of the other class. Given James is in fact Hawaiian, I can see his cultural perspective being given form here. I would've bet, seeing as James worked on PF2E's Psychic and the Remaster's Wizard and Witch, that he'd do the caster class. But instead, maybe the tattoo'd martial class would be a better fit for him here. And the thought of a Rare Hawaiian-inspired "Herogod/Demigod" class (akin to Maui from Hawaiian myth) really gets me super excited to play!

EDIT: And for those pointing out how these Iconics might tie into Arcadia, that makes sense! A lot of Arcadia's influence comes from the fact it's based on the Americas, so Mike and James' cultural influences would make sense to have these characters hail from Arcadia!

Oooh that’s super cool!

One important note that Michael Sayre mentioned during the GenCon Keynote when announcing the class playtest, was that a whole lot of him and James Case can be found within these classes. And given our knowledge of both of their cultural backgrounds, I can certainly see that.

Michael Sayre has roots from the Alaskan Tlingit, a group of indigenous people from the Pacific Northwest of North America. Originally, I'd have bet that Mike's class would've been a martial character like the Gunslinger, but perhaps he did the indigenous-looking caster class instead. "Animist" seems like a safe call then, especially when Mike has talked about wanting to redo the Shaman class in PF2E from the ground up with more culturally-relevant abilities to them.

James Case's roots are also relevant, as some have pointed out the Māori/Hawaiian/Polynesian look of the other class. Given James is in fact Hawaiian, I can see his cultural perspective being given form here. I would've bet, seeing as James worked on PF2E's Psychic and the Remaster's Wizard and Witch, that he'd do the caster class. But instead, maybe the tattoo'd martial class would be a better fit for him here. And the thought of a Rare Hawaiian-inspired "Herogod/Demigod" class (akin to Maui from Hawaiian myth) really gets me super excited to play!

EDIT: And for those pointing out how these Iconics might tie into Arcadia, that makes sense! A lot of Arcadia's influence comes from the fact it's based on the Americas, so Mike and James' cultural influences would make sense to have these characters hail from Arcadia!

Ah, I'd thought Animist too. Demigod might well be it, like chosen of a deity or half-deity. Good idea!

Mammoth Daddy wrote:

The second pic looks like someone from Arcadia. Maybe wearing their cotton armour?

Cultural background influenced perhaps by real life pre-contact Zapotec civilization?

We know that Camazotz is going to be be featured relatively soon…

Do we? I love Camaztoz! Where was that hinted?

look up the titled:

I really like thé dreaded necromancer like wotc tome of horror i think que

look up the titled: "Is Camazotz still canon?" thread

Is Camazotz still canon?

Linkified

One important note that Michael Sayre mentioned during the GenCon Keynote when announcing the class playtest, was that a whole lot of him and James Case can be found within these classes. And given our knowledge of both of their cultural backgrounds, I can certainly see that.

Michael Sayre has roots from the Alaskan Tlingit, a group of indigenous people from the Pacific Northwest of North America. Originally, I'd have bet that Mike's class would've been a martial character like the Gunslinger, but perhaps he did the indigenous-looking caster class instead. "Animist" seems like a safe call then, especially when Mike has talked about wanting to redo the Shaman class in PF2E from the ground up with more culturally-relevant abilities to them.

James Case's roots are also relevant, as some have pointed out the Māori/Hawaiian/Polynesian look of the other class. Given James is in fact Hawaiian, I can see his cultural perspective being given form here. I would've bet, seeing as James worked on PF2E's Psychic and the Remaster's Wizard and Witch, that he'd do the caster class. But instead, maybe the tattoo'd martial class would be a better fit for him here. And the thought of a Rare Hawaiian-inspired "Herogod/Demigod" class (akin to Maui from Hawaiian myth) really gets me super excited to play!

EDIT: And for those pointing out how these Iconics might tie into Arcadia, that makes sense! A lot of Arcadia's influence comes from the fact it's based on the Americas, so Mike and James' cultural influences would make sense to have these characters hail from Arcadia!

This is the only post I have read which makes me think demigod may be in the running.

Ezekieru wrote:

One important note that Michael Sayre mentioned during the GenCon Keynote when announcing the class playtest, was that a whole lot of him and James Case can be found within these classes. And given our knowledge of both of their cultural backgrounds, I can certainly see that.

Michael Sayre has roots from the Alaskan Tlingit, a group of indigenous people from the Pacific Northwest of North America. Originally, I'd have bet that Mike's class would've been a martial character like the Gunslinger, but perhaps he did the indigenous-looking caster class instead. "Animist" seems like a safe call then, especially when Mike has talked about wanting to redo the Shaman class in PF2E from the ground up with more culturally-relevant abilities to them.

James Case's roots are also relevant, as some have pointed out the Māori/Hawaiian/Polynesian look of the other class. Given James is in fact Hawaiian, I can see his cultural perspective being given form here. I would've bet, seeing as James worked on PF2E's Psychic and the Remaster's Wizard and Witch, that he'd do the caster class. But instead, maybe the tattoo'd martial class would be a better fit for him here. And the thought of a Rare Hawaiian-inspired "Herogod/Demigod" class (akin to Maui from Hawaiian myth) really gets me super excited to play!

EDIT: And for those pointing out how these Iconics might tie into Arcadia, that makes sense! A lot of Arcadia's influence comes from the fact it's based on the Americas, so Mike and James' cultural influences would make sense to have these characters hail from Arcadia!

This is the only post I have read which makes me think demigod may be in the running.

For me it is the most compelling and succinct post I have read that pretty much makes me think Animist and Demigod are the two classes. The names may be slightly different (Hero-god etc) but given the art and the points Ezekeriu makes, it seems highly likely.

Xenocrat wrote:

Sanityfaerie wrote:

Xenocrat wrote:

"Overdressed" fits the three vowel, three syllable, and the usual Wayne Reynolds art style on display, so I think we have one of our class names on the right side.

"Overdressed" has four vowels.

Not if you ignore the "o."

Overdress

o'rdressed

You guys are all missing it. The robed character with all the scrolls is obviously going to be the games namesake. No longer regulated to a mere dedication, the hour of the "pathfinder" class has come.

...

(Jokes asides, really would love an actual pathfinder league class that was fully fleshed out. Not the investigator route that's an omage to Sherlock, but more Indiana Jones explorer with a bit of Laura mixed in.)

I wonder if the two classes are going to be Pathfinder and Starfinder

I see a potion on the left, gun on the right.

Hmm.

Where does this demigod idea come from? How is this ever going to make sense as a class?

Where does this demigod idea come from? How is this ever going to make sense as a class?

The pieces people are putting together is that one of the classes is only possible because of something that happens in the big event they've teased, and they've also teased that during said event at least one of the Core 20 gods is going to die permanently. So people are putting 2-and-2 together here. Basically "a god asploded and some people got irradiated with god energy."

Zaister wrote:

Where does this demigod idea come from? How is this ever going to make sense as a class?

The pieces people are putting together is that one of the classes is only possible because of something that happens in the big event they've teased, and they've also teased that during said event at least one of the Core 20 gods is going to die permanently. So people are putting 2-and-2 together here. Basically "a god asploded and some people got irradiated with god energy."

That does not at all explain how "demigod" works as a class when that title is something that by lore not tied at at with class levels.

That is not even mentioning that mythic is already a thing in Pathfinder/Golarion with a lot of the high level NPCs being X class/Y mythic. So it breaks the hint of "it has not been in a setting" clue. It also breaks the lore of how people become demigods, as well as the lore on how you can have people who have 20 levels in a class and are demigods.

I think a demigod class could actually replace Mythic to build hero-gods.

With the multiclass archetype to cover ascending PCs who come from other classes.

And it would definitely be a never-before seen in PF1 class.

I though of something like Animist for the right too, but it sounds too close to the Shaman concept IMO.

Unless a completely different mechanical take on this kind of character counts as a new concept.
Bargainer ?

And the iconic is missing a finger. Maybe a ritual offering to gain an entity's favor ?

I noted that the iconic on the left seems to be wearing wicker clothes/armor. Is this a thing in some RL cultures ?

What's your basis to say the icoic is missing a finger? He literally has 5 fingers in his hand, just in a weird pose.

What's your basis to say the icoic is missing a finger? He literally has 5 fingers in his hand, just in a weird pose.

In this case there is something that looks weird at the base of the fourth finger. And the "fifth finger" seems to be on the same level as what the hand rests on, rather than on the same level as the other fingers.

I noted that the iconic on the left seems to be wearing wicker clothes/armor. Is this a thing in some RL cultures ?

Found that people from South China, Taïwan and Micronesia used rattan armor. The latter one would perfectly fit the rest of what we see from the pic IMO.

What's your basis to say the icoic is missing a finger? He literally has 5 fingers in his hand, just in a weird pose.

The stub in-between the pinky and middle finger looks like it's a finger missing, and the long shape to the right of the pinky has no fingernail like the other fingers.

Where does this demigod idea come from? How is this ever going to make sense as a class?

One of the two classes we're getting is Rare. It's a class that's never been seen in Pathfinder or Starfinder before (Michael Sayre said as much about Starfinder two days ago on Twitter). So, if it's not Rare due to Tech, it begs the question: What other reason would there be for them to be Rare?

And we turn to the books we're getting the classes in. It's a Rulebook that ties into a multi-book storyline that will deal with a War among the Gods. One of the Core 20 Gods will die, and a myriad of other Gods will also likely perish in these books. So, if there's a Rare class that has you play a fledgling Hero-god ala Hercules, that would be an interesting direction to go off of.

And seeing the images above, as I pointed out before, the left-side Iconic looking of Hawaiian/Polynesian descent, it'd play both into the thought of a potential Hero-god class, and also would tie a lot into James Case's cultural background as well.

That's why I'm sitting with Team Hero-god, and while I could see some issues for people about "main character syndrome" or not getting an adaptation of PF1E's Mythic rules, I think the concept is really exciting to see come about, especially in a Rulebook that's heavily tied into a long-standing story.

The stub in-between the pinky and middle finger looks like it's a finger missing, and the long shape to the right of the pinky has no fingernail like the other fingers.

I can see the nails in all the fingers though.

It's also entirely likely that the class being Rare and them saying the book will be all about a divine war could be red harring, as I think both Gunslinger and Inventor have the uncommon trait not only because they rely on tech but also because they are specifically from Alkenstar (to prove this theory, most of the eastern weapons also have the uncommon trait). The reason why the class is rare could likely be because it comes from a really weird region of the world (which IMO would be kinda disappointing) or straight up from other plane or other planet (as they literally advertised the class as something "not seen in Golarion before").

Does Demigod fit the criteria? Certainly it does, but if Demigod would serve as the equivalent of Mythic levels then it isn't a concept never seen in Golarion as there's ton of mythic characters there, as well as IMO being a concept that's kinda destined to not be accurate because characters demigods in mythology already fall under Barbarian or Fighter, not to mention that there would need to be skilled demigods and spellcaster demigods, and the only way I see Paizo making a class this flexible would be if they released it standalone like the kineticist. Clearly the Rare class is way more mundane (funnily enough) than people are thinking it would be.

So the 5th finger does kind of look like a prosthetic but that would mean the finger next to it would be a pinky finger but it looks a bit too big for that. Will probably just have to wait for colour version to see what the answer is

Exalted. Three vowels. Three syllables.

Probably divine based kineticist chassis.

Ezekieru wrote:

The stub in-between the pinky and middle finger looks like it's a finger missing, and the long shape to the right of the pinky has no fingernail like the other fingers.

I can see the nails in all the fingers though.

It's also entirely likely that the class being Rare and them saying the book will be all about a divine war could be red harring, as I think both Gunslinger and Inventor have the uncommon trait not only because they rely on tech but also because they are specifically from Alkenstar (to prove this theory, most of the eastern weapons also have the uncommon trait). The reason why the class is rare could likely be because it comes from a really weird region of the world (which IMO would be kinda disappointing) or straight up from other plane or other planet (as they literally advertised the class as something "not seen in Golarion before").

This is a pretty wild claim for a book that spends a lot of pagecount telling you about Gunslingers all over Arcadia and Tian Xia, to say nothing of all the other places it sticks them (the Shackles, Druma, Numeria, a few others in the Inner Sea).

I do not ever expect a PF2 class from one location in the setting, it's just too niche.

Exalted. Three vowels. Three syllables.

Probably divine based kineticist chassis.

I thought about that, but there's a whole other RPG called that so there might be brand-identity issues.

I do think "Hero-God" might be it, as it's a uniquely Golarion term we've now seen used for characters in Arcadia, Iblydos, and Vudra. Between that and two major Casmaron Ancestries coming soon-ish (Centaurs and Minotaurs in Howl of the Wild), I'm starting to imagine one shape for what all this might be building up to...

This is a pretty wild claim for a book that spends a lot of pagecount telling you about Gunslingers all over Arcadia and Tian Xia, to say nothing of all the other places it sticks them (the Shackles, Druma, Numeria, a few others in the Inner Sea).

All of those places which also aren't in Avistan (which is usually considered the "common" place in Golarion as even when Garund is being heavily explored in PF2e a lot of things which are associated with its nations tend to have the uncommon trait, like aforementioned Gunslinger and Inventor from Alkenstar, the Khopesh from Osirion, the Katar, Dandpatta, Donchak, and Kalis from the Impossible Lands, among other things).

Whether the classes be one thing or another I just hope that one of them (or both) is a skill-caster hybrid (in the way that Swashbuckler and Inventor are martial-skill hybrid and Magus and Summoner are martial-caster hybrid). Using skills with casting to get extra damage or debuffs or some other way to buff casting through skill use.

I suppose some sort of ritual based class kind of fills that role but only sort of and would step on the toes of the Ritualist archetype unless they have maybe short, combat focused rituals. Sort of like Inner Radiance Torrent or the like... multi-turn rituals that are extra powerful if they work.

Rarity is mutable. One thing Uncommon or Rare across the world may be Common elsewhere; like the aforementioned Gunslinger and Inventor in a place like Alkenstar.

On the flip side, something Common in one area is Uncommon or Rare everywhere else. Like say the various Tian Ancestries. Tengu and Kitsune are likely plentiful in Tian-Xia, but obviously Uncommon everywhere else.

So, I could see something like the Samsaran being Rare in the wider Golarion, but Uncommon in the whole of Tian-Xia and Common in the mountains of Zi Ha.

A theoretical Demigod Class, assuming it is Rare due to lore or location reasons, may be be Common in a place like Iblydos.

The traits are there to set a precedence for GMs, but can otherwise be added or removed to tailor the game as needed. More suggestions than hard rules. Add or subtract them as fits your game.

I think in this playtest case, the rarity tag is probably more related to the complexity and niche -ness of the system the class is interacting with than it is the common-ness of the class to region or lore.

Entourage is not rare for lore or power reason, but because it involves work on the part of the GM to make the mechanic of the idea fit into the campaign.

I’ve already talked about how mythic elements could be the other system (like there are archetype feats or other power feats that any character could get, but this class gets automatic access to), or how mass combat could fit the same way. What other broader mechanic could be getting introduced that would have one rare class heavily involved in, and a second class that could interact with them or be fine without them?

An intrigue/diplomacy system could fit the bill, but feels like an “after the godwar” kinda book, not a during the godwar book. Heavily revamping ritual casting? Doesn’t really feel like “long slow casting” really fits the newer theme either. Time traveling doesn’t really fit either and feels like it would incline towards being way to disruptive to the setting/adventure team to not be a headlining hint/theme. The whole using spirits not connected to a god source feels post-godwar to me at this point as well.

I suppose some sort of ritual based class kind of fills that role but only sort of and would step on the toes of the Ritualist archetype unless they have maybe short, combat focused rituals. Sort of like Inner Radiance Torrent or the like... multi-turn rituals that are extra powerful if they work.

I think rituals fundamentally serve to allow the GM to make something possible with magic that normal spellcasting doesn't allow, but only those things the GM specifically wants to allow.

Do you need the Party to have ready access to the Akashic Record for the story? You can give them a ritual that lets them go back there. But this should fundamentally be a GM-controlled sort of thing.

I got a lot of 3.5 Archivist vibes with the 2nd iconic (assuming he or she is carrying scrolls, though they also look like quivers) which would be something I would absolutely love if it was the case.

It would also probably be the caster that would meet the criteria that Paizo expects of casters since a skilled caster would likely have access to most if not all RK skills and be able to demoralize / bon mot effectively lol.

I'm pretty sure the hand has the standard 4 fingers and a thumb, they just happen to be posed with a gap between the middle and ring fingers. Same as if held in a Vulcan salute or something similar.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the reveal on the 31st!

It's also entirely likely that the class being Rare and them saying the book will be all about a divine war could be red herring, as I think both Gunslinger and Inventor have the uncommon trait not only because they rely on tech but also because they are specifically from Alkenstar (to prove this theory, most of the eastern weapons also have the uncommon trait). The reason why the class is rare could likely be because it comes from a really weird region of the world (which IMO would be kinda disappointing) or straight up from other plane or other planet (as they literally advertised the class as something "not seen in Golarion before").

Does Demigod fit the criteria? Certainly it does, but if Demigod would serve as the equivalent of Mythic levels then it isn't a concept never seen in Golarion as there's ton of mythic characters there, as well as IMO being a concept that's kinda destined to not be accurate because characters demigods in mythology already fall under Barbarian or Fighter, not to mention that there would need to be skilled demigods and spellcaster demigods, and the only way I see Paizo making a class this flexible would be if they released it standalone like the kineticist. Clearly the Rare class is way more mundane (funnily enough) than people are thinking it would be.

I don't think Paizo would hype everyone up for a new rare godly class and then release some kind of Starfinder-esc class or something else like that. (Unless there is precedent for them doing that kind of thing, I'm new here.) It would be cool to have that, but it's not likely. IMO the most likely name for the Rare class is probably Avenger, since it's probably a martial, though that kind of flavor overlaps with Champion and Inquisitor. Could one or both of these classes be for the Tian Xia books next year? I think there's a pretty good chance that the non-rare class is probably something like the 1e Shaman or Medium. I seriously doubt that either Bloodrager or Skald are coming back soon.

Also, the guy on the right is missing his ring finger.

Well I think that the dress is yellow and white.

Wait...

Zaister wrote:

Where does this demigod idea come from? How is this ever going to make sense as a class?

The pieces people are putting together is that one of the classes is only possible because of something that happens in the big event they've teased, and they've also teased that during said event at least one of the Core 20 gods is going to die permanently. So people are putting 2-and-2 together here. Basically "a god asploded and some people got irradiated with god energy."

I don't think Paizo will have a rulebook featuring a class whose existence is wholly dependent on some events from the Golarion campaign setting. The class would make no sense in other settings.

Also, what is "asploded"?

So if you hit a pumpkin with a baseball bat the pumpkin pretty much asplodes. It’s like..an internet…like…thang. Do keep up.

Also, what is "asploded"?

"asploded" is a humorous mispronunciation of 'exploded', simplifying the 'ex-' sound into 'uhs-'

PossibleCabbage wrote:

Zaister wrote:

Where does this demigod idea come from? How is this ever going to make sense as a class?

The pieces people are putting together is that one of the classes is only possible because of something that happens in the big event they've teased, and they've also teased that during said event at least one of the Core 20 gods is going to die permanently. So people are putting 2-and-2 together here. Basically "a god asploded and some people got irradiated with god energy."

I don't think Paizo will have a rulebook featuring a class whose existence is wholly dependent on some events from the Golarion campaign setting. The class would make no sense in other settings.

/QUOTE]

Well given Pathfinder 2’s ruleset is inextricably bound with Golarion, I’m not sure that bothers Paizo. On the flipside, given a broad enough theme (anything deity adjacent) such a concept could be easily slotted into any benighted campaign setting that has gods.

PossibleCabbage wrote:

Zaister wrote:

Where does this demigod idea come from? How is this ever going to make sense as a class?

The pieces people are putting together is that one of the classes is only possible because of something that happens in the big event they've teased, and they've also teased that during said event at least one of the Core 20 gods is going to die permanently. So people are putting 2-and-2 together here. Basically "a god asploded and some people got irradiated with god energy."

I don't think Paizo will have a rulebook featuring a class whose existence is wholly dependent on some events from the Golarion campaign setting. The class would make no sense in other settings.

Also, what is "asploded"?

A class for people touched / changed by divine energies would be very far from Golarion-setting only. It is a very wide and common trope.

I don't think Paizo will have a rulebook featuring a class whose existence is wholly dependent on some events from the Golarion campaign setting. The class would make no sense in other settings.

All the more reason for it to be a rare class.

Maybe the class is rare because they are the champions the gods personally choose for their war against each other. Clerics and paladins take dedication and training, 2e oracle is explicitly not powered by a god, and divine sorcerers were born that way because of some distant relative.

Maybe the hero-god/ascendant/exalted IS the distant family member who was touched by a god in the sorcerer's lineage. The fact it takes a god's direct intervention to create one would justify the rare tag without making it unusable in different settings.

2e oracle is explicitly not powered by a god

No? You literally put a curse on yourself so you can steal divine power without deities noticing it.

Maybe the hero-god/ascendant/exalted IS the distant family member who was touched by a god in the sorcerer's lineage.

This isn't a class though, it's a background or ancestry. I also find the concept of deities having thousands upon thousands of "champions" (not the class) is kinda weird when usually in fantasy deities tend to have a single champion, which also usually happens to be a 20th level character (another reason why I find the "demigod" theory to not be appropiate).

Still makes no sense to me.