Another question, inspired by Nihimon's first question:

What will the "level curve" be like? For instance, 4 people in my tabletop game (plus my out-of-state brother-in-law) have Adventurer level pledges. If I start playing today, then 11 months from now (or whenever) they get to start playing will we even be able to adventure together?

I hadn't really thought about that, now I'm debating waiting until the last month of Early Enrollment to begin playing...

I'm so sorry if this is something everyone knows and I'm being a bother - I just had trouble finding my answer looking through the forums.

[I've been off the forums for about 4 months due to being overwhelmed by planning (and successfully having!) my wedding.] :)

-Was there any word on being able to change race or role before Open Enrollment starts? I'm a Epic Brewmaster backer, so I have Destiny's Twin and could start today - but I do have a personal preference for playing Half-Elves, so I might want to wait to create my character(s).

-Are there still limits on roles? Like, can you only get to rank/level 20 in one?

I'm sort of battling between starting right away (woo!) and beginning to accrue XP (lesser but also woo!) and waiting until I can play a Half-Elf.

Thanks for your time, everybody!

Nihimon - congrats to you, too!

I don't think she plans on it, but maybe she can be convinced :)

She's not much of an electronic gamer, more into board/card games (and played D&D when she was a kid). She did enjpy Journey for the PS3, though, as well as casual games on her phone. The Pathfinder group I'm GMimg invited her (the guys love her), but she didn't want to intrude on "Guys' Night" so she said she'd join if we got a second campaign running.

Maybe I can tell her it's a way we can RPG together without her "intruding" on guys' night.

Neat! And thanks everyone!

She's a good one - she let me spend the equivalent of a tenth of what we're spending on our wedding on a Kickstarter for a Pathfinder MMORPG... and she got me a mini fridge for craft beer to keep in the livng room.

I hit the jackpot, boys and girls :)

Ryan,

You guys are awesome, take your time :)

For all the good reasons everyone above said, and because I'm getting married on October 12th, do I'd selfishly rather start playing on the 20th (after the honeymoon, lol)

I agree! Every dollar you spend now helps the project even more than a dollar you spend at launch.

I was too excited to wait, and contacted Customer Service to upgrade from Crowdforger Pioneer to Crowdforger Epic Brewmaster. I also added a second "Memorial of Honor" add-on, and will never adding a year of game time from the Goblin Store next month.

Goblin Squad, Assemble! :)

I really do wish that anyone in Early Enrollment would get at least one respec opportunity, post-open-enrollment.

We'll be building characters during what is in many ways a beta. 8 feel like smart character development choices during the first 3 months of EE will be vastly different from the same sort of choices during the first 3 months of OE. Let alone a year in, after new classes are intoduced.

Or perhaps a sort of "half respec" would be appropriate, I'd think.

Wurner wrote:

Is there any plan for an upgrade tool for the new store, to upgrade to a higher membership option?

If I decide at a later point that I would like a higher pledge level, I might not be willing to purchase it straight off since there is plenty of overlapping features that I already paid for...

If you are interested in upgrading your pledge level, just email customer.service@paizo.com and they can handle it for you. The amount of programming it would take to automate that function doesn't stack well with the number of people who would take advantage of it, so we will handle it with people power for now.

-Lisa

Awesome. I'm gonna make me an Epic Brewmaster.

Say Ryan and Lisa... any chance I can get a discount on "Goblin Squad Magic Master" for suggesting the idea back during the KS campaign?

Or hearken back to the AD&D days -- spells named after the archmage who crafted them!

Some new tier or add-on which lets you add a name (subject to approval) to a spell.

That way, if you play a wizard named Vaster whom you love in Pen and Paper, you can immortalize him by making it "Vaster's Acid Arrow" instead of just "Acid Arrow."

(Harking back to Melf's Acid Arrow, Mordenkainen's Disjunction etc).

Maybe a higher level to name a tier (aka Vaster's Faithful Hound, Vaster's Sword, Vaster's Disjuntion, etc).

(KIDDING, kidding. I'm just proud to have helped Crowdforge it, and that it made it all the way to the Goblin Squad store! This game is going to be unlike any other.)

So excited!!!! :) :) The two Kickstarters I'm most proud to have backed, and it's all coming to fruition!

I'm going to buy a 1 year game time add-on when my tax refund comes in! :) I've already pledged all the add-ons for both my primary and my Destiny's Twin, but I can always use Game Time at a steal like that!!

Paizo makes it clear in the errata statement that in all products, that details/description always trump overviews and charts. I so it's +5000GP, not +1 bonus.

@Ryan and Lisa:

Just an early idea, "Slacker Backer" Levels could be effective (Project Eternity did a similar thing). The rewards could be closer to the originally offered rewards, (no Destiny's Twin, no PDF pack, no extra month of subscription, etc).

Crowdforger-level slacker backers would get in at the last month of Early Enrollment.

And no Slacker Backer would be eligible for the add-ons (Honorable Title, Secret Salute, etc etc).
--------------

$35 (or $40) Adventurer Slacker Backer: Game, 1 month sub, New Player Pack, Goblin Squad, Name Reservation [after everyone from the Kickstarter reserves theirs].

$100 (or $105) Crowdforger Slacker Backer: Game, 3 month sub, New Player Pack, Alliance Pack, Goblin Squad, digital soundtrack, Name Reservation [after everyone from the Kickstarter reserves theirs] - and gets into the Early Enrollment at the *last* month. Maybe include the Emerald Spire PDF.

$500 (or $505) Crowdfoger Slacker Backer Guild: 6 of (Game, 3 month, New Player Pack, Alliance Pack, Goblin Squad, soundtrack Name Reservation [after everyone from the Kickstarter reserves theirs]) plus a Guild Starter Pack - and gets into the Early Enrollment at the *last* month. Maybe include the Emerald Spire PDF.

Maybe they'll only be available for 6 months on the Paizo.com website. And/or maybe they'll only be available until the sales bring the project to a certain stretch goal (perhaps $1.15 mil).

Just a thought! Mainly because I'm so bummed we didn't get Sean K. Reynolds, and because the more $$ you get, the better my game will be!!! :)

Calidor - This idea is partially designed to be the sword that puts the DD's to death. I'm already getting all DD's, and don't care much either way, but it's obvious from all the talk that it's a big deal to some people.

But it's looking like we're going to miss our mark by about 60K, so 10K is quite a lot at this point.

Amian on the Kickstarter had the idea of $30 to get all of the items you missed, or maybe $1/day. That way the people like me who backed from the beginning are still getting a sweet deal -- that wouldalso raise pledges.

What if we announce this, to encourage new backers, encourage $35's to bump up to $100's, and quiet all this discussion about Daily Deals?

Crowdforgers:
1st Character gets all daily Deals
Destiny's Twin gets daily deals based on pledge date.

Adventurers/Music Lovers/Loremasters:
1st Character gets daily deals based on pledge date (as it is now).
Destiny's Twin doesn't get any daily deals (as it is now).

This will still keep the earlier items more rare than the later, and still reward the earlier backers (while providing a way for new backers -- which we need -- to get the Daily Deals).

That will provide incentive for new backers to back at $100, and for current Adventurer level people to bump up to Crowdforger.

Thanks for listening!

(I post this idea as someone in for $300, who has been in at at least $100 since the first hour of the Kickstarter)

What if we announce this, to encourage new backers, encourage $35's to bump up to $100's, and quiet all this discussion about Daily Deals?

Crowdforgers:
1st Character gets all daily Deals
Destiny's Twin gets daily deals based on pledge date.

Adventurers/Music Lovers/Loremasters:
1st Character gets daily deals based on pledge date (as it is now).
Destiny's Twin doesn't get any daily deals (as it is now).

This will still keep the earlier items more rare than the later, and still reward the earlier backers (while providing a way for new backers -- which we need -- to get the Daily Deals).

That will provide incentive for new backers to back at $100, and for current Adventurer level people to bump up to Crowdforger.

Thanks for listening!

(I post this idea as someone in for $300, who has been in at at least $100 since the first hour of the Kickstarter)

Dear Lisa,

Thank you so much for considering our ideas! :)

And everyone - thank you so much for responding to Lisa's request and getting some price ideas up there -- I didn't get a chance to get on the forums, so i didn't see her post :)

p.s Lisa -- Also... Just an idea... I think Monte Cook as a stretch-goal author for the dungeon might be awesome.... maybe:) :) *wishful thinking to round out most of my favorite designers...

@Being -- I'm at the opposite end of my life from you, but our purposes mirror one another.

I'm 26 years old, in my second year as an elementary school teacher. Young whippersnapper, starting a career.

I'm backing because since Paizo came out with Pathfinder it has brought so much joy into my life, and I want to both pay them back for it and pay it forward by helping them make this game as good as it can be for the gaming community.

Also, *because* their effort is backed by the conceptual corporate heir of the original RPG systems.

I really feel like the team at Paizo are taking their responsibility as that heir very seriously and respectfully. And Goblinworks was born from them to do this thing.

So, I've got $225 in on it, which is probably more than I responsibly should on a schoolteacher's salary with a mountain of debt, but I'll cut corners because Pathfinder has brought me far more hours of entertainment and fulfillment than a person could possibly expect from the cost of a Core Rulebook.

Now, on the name reservations: would you consider an add-on that lets us reserve two names, one for each of our 'twins'?

@Ryan and DarkOne: Hmmm... the race issue is a sticky one.

I know I'll want to play a half-elf if it ever comes out (they're my favorite race in fantasy RPing, regardless of system) -- but I'll definitely be playing from day one of Early Access, and it seems that half-elves won't be in play that early.

Any word on respec-ing characters? Or a respec pass when a new race comes out?

Perhaps respec-ing has been addressed already somewhere and I missed it? I'm sorry if that's the case, I don't mean to waste your time.

Thanks!!!

Also, add-ons which Crowdforgers would be interested in could be beneficial as well.

As it stands, a person in for $100 who has no buddies to go in on the Buddy or Guild levels only has big-ticket increases. I bet a bunch of the Pioneers would gladly increase to $125 if there was a flavorful/cool $25 add-on. Or, if they're already in on the Print Pack add-on, increase to $225.

In for a penny, in for a pound (but jumping from $100 Pioneer to $400 Geography Buff is too much of an increase for most to afford).

So -- any more ideas for Add-ons? We know the GW team is reading these forums carefully, they'll be sure to see your ideas! :)

Awesome - I'm so glad there's good conversation going on (and thanks Nihimon for digging out those posts!) :)

I think people on KS love add-ons because it allows them some more choice about their rewards (while allowing the project creator to respond to the needs of the project flexibly).

For instance, the only extra reward you get for going from $35 to $50 is the soundtrack download. Which I think is cool, but I'm already in for $225. And 73 people right now think it's cool enough to back at the $50 level. However, I'm sure many of the $35 backers have $50 to spare, they're just not into music soundtracks.

But a $15 add-on of a different flavor might convince some of the currently 1049 $35 backers to bump up to $15.

Or it might convince some of the $50 backers who aren't interested in the pdf novel and flipmats (but can't afford/aren't interested in Crowdforger) to increase their pledge.

Here's a thread to post ideas for Add-ons that the GW folks can add to help the war effort! :)

I intend for this to be a consolidated place that Ryan, Mark, Lisa and the team can see all of our ideas. To that end, I scoured the forums to find other people's ideas (and included mine as well).

In my experience (having backed 90 Kickstarter projects, many games), add-ons have contributed much to the success of projects more often than not.

-Inspire This (Matthew Kovich on Kickstarter)

--------------
Inspire This

1) Start the game with some cool utility, non combat item.
2) Special mount/familiar/animal companion only available as a Kickstarter Add-on?
3) Something special for building construction – either some gold/construction materials to start with, or a special thing only available as a Kickstarter Add-on?

4) Lightly discounted additional months of gameplay.
5) Discounted additional 6 months of Early Enrollment playtime for Crowdforger tiers.

6) PDF Strategy Guide.
7) Autographed poster?
8) T-Shirt

9) $15 add-on to get all daily deals that you missed?
That's high enough of a price to make the people who backed early still feel like they get a good deal, but then allows later backers (including the $450,000K of backers we need to get) to not feel remorse or feel like they're unable to get the full rewards
That way it rewards everyone, and makes the earlier daily deals still more exclusive in a sense.

9b) Or maybe make the add-on include all daily deals but the Goblin Dogslicer -- to make that an exclusive reward for the earliest backers (and make it a super exclusive fluff item)?

----------------

TracerGod Goblin Squad Member Dec 4, 2012

Lapel pins:
Production cost is around $1.
Addon for $10.
Shipping difficulty: easy

Mugs:
Production cost around $2
Addon for $20.
Shipping difficulty: hard

Koozies:
Production cost around $1.5
Addon for $10.
Shipping difficulty: easy

Cloth Map:
Production cost ?
Addon for $20-$30
Shipping difficulty: easy

-----------

Myzmar Wed, Dec 5, 2012, 08:37

What we need is purchasable add-ons for people who have the money and would be willing to support this above the 100$ package, but are not really interested in having the higher tiers consisting basically in "x times the game". People like me. There is a reason why almost 60% of your backers purchased the 100$ tier.

Some ideas for add-ons:

- limited edition ingame items. No pay 2 win, just little things, time savers or cosmetics. Mounts immediately come into mind. Clan / group logos. Someone suggested some basic crafting materials, sounds like a good idea. Maybe a starter pack: slightly better weapon, slightly better amour than what you will normally get. A potion giving a limited boost to learning skills. This is by far the easiest way to make money, people want such things and are ready to pay now.

- collector's items. Signed game boxes, figurines, and yes, t-shirts. Check out other kickstarter projects: if they can offer t-shirts for 25$ and still make money on it, so can you. This works. You have almost 2000 backers already!

- discounted future game time. Get the money now, deliver your product later for a discount. Please, don't start a discussion that this "can't do". Yes it can, anyone with a basic knowledge of how cash flow works will understand.

- possibility to shape the game. Help design a quest. Name an npc or an item. Name and help design an NPC settlement. This costs you virtually nothing, and can get quite a few more bucks. No overpay though, as star citizen recently showed, even a game with almost 100k devoted backers could not find anyone to pay 5000$ for naming a star system.

--------

WampaX

An add on for a Gargantuan Green Dragon.

---------------

Mourn Blackhand

$1 each for every Daily Deal you missed (as an add-on).

-------------

Tharkune

Possible add ons should be things that don't give a "pay to win" advantage. Any in game items should really be cosmetic or very insignificant such as things like guild banners for your castle, a statue of with your guild name as a founding company or something like this. These types of things make cool additions that are unique, give identity but don't give an unfair advantage or take a lot of resources.

---------

I like Mourn's idea - if it's logistically possible.

Or maybe a flat fee? $15 add-on to get all daily deals that you missed?

That's high enough of a price to make the people who backed early still feel like they get a good deal, but then allows later backers (including the $450,000K of backers we need to get) to not feel remorse or feel like they're unable to get the full rewards

That way it rewards everyone, and makes the earlier daily deals still more exclusive in a sense.

-------------

Or maybe make the add-on include all daily deals but the Goblin Dogslicer -- to make that an exclusive reward for the earliest backers (and make it a super exclusive fluff item)?

In Discworld's city of Ankh Morpork, there is a thieves guild which is practically sponsored by the government. They participate in all sorts of thievery, from stealing coppers to crown jewels. And they do not allow anyone else to do thieving. Anyone caught stealing without express thieves guild permission is dealt with - and they have eyes and ears everywhere.

This is allowed by the government, because it actually keeps crime down, and makes sure the crime is evenly spread. Also they don't do killings - that's left to the assassins guild, which does no thievery.

Perfect little system.

Is there room for a CG member in your kingdom?

I'm envisioning a CG explorer/jack-of-all-trades type who is fierce with a blade, and attains a knighthood someday. Searching for the right guild.

I think I'm digging the vibe I'm getting here. I'm a long time PnP and computer-RPG player, (mostly been DMing Pathfinder for the past few years), with a little bit of MMO experience.

I'm also a published poet and writer, and could produce flavor text/In-character documents/songs for the kingdom.

Also - can a character be party of the military or militia *and* a guild in your kingdom? :)

Thanks!

Heya! I don't see the Golden Flask on the Guild rush list... are you guys still in business?

Testing?

So Excited! Congratulations, Ryan!

My girlfriend and I were watching Star Trek Voyager when I saw it flip to $400,000K out of the corner of my eye. I shouted "Pause! Four thousand! I must go look!"

Also, I'm excited for stretch goals!! (Monte Cook for a Emerald Spire Dungeon Level *nudge nudge*)

I vote for Aldori Dueling Swords. (my favorite) And falcatas (with a buckler, Taldor-style)

Seriously - If I win the lottery, I'm pledging for everything! I'd get the tavern and run a cleric of Cayden. Oh man.

Also - thanks so much, Ryan, for being awesome and reading the boards so faithfully. I'm glad my idea of the "Name a spell" tier is seeing the like of day.

Matt Kovich's Faithful Cuddle Kitty! (it's a bard cantrip... *cough cough*)

Thanks Vic!

Re: Darklord - here's my amendment (like we talked about on the K S comments) . :)

I say limit the $20 level to 8000 backers. Copy of the game, new player pack, 1 month subscription, NO Goblin Squad.

Then just add one month onto the $35 level, for a total of 2 months (plus Goblin Squad membership).

At $15/ month, 8 years would be $1440. Add $60 for the game, and you're at $1500.

So Ryan's $1500 price tag is perfect. 8 years worth of guaranteed revenue, and up front?

Check my post earlier in this thread. :)

Granted, they've said it will be cheaper to buy large blocks of subscription time (buying six month blocks, say, instead of month-to-month.) So, it's probably more like 8.5 years worth of subscription payment.

I figure offer 25 Crowdforger Alpha Lifetimer tier spots at $1500 or $2000. If (when) the game is a success and lasts longer than 8.5 years, the loss of 25 players' hypothetical subscription fees after that point will likely be worth the $37,500 or $50,000 in guaranteed upfront revenue.

Totally! Great ideas!

Vic - thanks so much, and sorry to be a bother, but one more question.

What if, at the end when most of the slots are filled, I finally convince my Pathfinder party to join in, and I change my pledge from to Guild? Do I retain my first month place in line,and my buddies get in at the later.month? Do we all get in at my original timestamp place in line? Do I then get in later like my buddies?

Thanks!

Namtarou - I am 99% percent sure you can :)

Vic -- Any official word yet on increasing pledge amount to get the print add-on and/or to change tiers changing "your place in line?"

You mentioned you think it goes by the original timestamp - any official word on that yet?

Mbando, Chiassa, Echilda and I are dying to know! :)

Elegy wrote:

- Goblin plushies

ooh. I want 1 or 5 of those.

Thirded.

Or hearken back to the AD&D days -- spells named after the archmage who crafted them!

Some new tier or add-on which lets you add a name (subject to approval) to a spell.

That way, if you play a wizard named Vaster whom you love in Pen and Paper, you can immortalize him by making it "Vaster's Acid Arrow" instead of just "Acid Arrow."

(Harking back to Melf's Acid Arrow, Mordenkainen's Disjunction etc).

Maybe a higher level to name a tier (aka Vaster's Faithful Hound, Vaster's Sword, Vaster's Disjuntion, etc).

Thanks!

And Vic - if you look into how that works and find out, an official statement in an update would be great (I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking this).

I might just add money as I look at my finances, I want to make sure my initial pledge gets me in at month one, if I decide to just at $12 to my pledge with no thought of additional reward. :)

Also - here's a scenario: We're down to the wire, just a few days left in the Kickstarter campaign. I get a windfall and have some extra cash. 250 guilds have already backed at the $500 level. I decide "I'll just bump up to $500 and worry about finding friends to play with me later." Do my five friends and I get to start at month one of early enrollment, even though we're not one of the first 200 "guilds" (since my timestamp shows I was one of the first 100 backers at the $100 level)?

Thanks!

Also, Ryan -- I'm "Matthew Kovich" on Kickstarter (since I know you're reading those comments as well!)

One thing to consider is making sure higher level tiers guarantee first-month access to the early release.

For instance, I'm in at $100 - I was something like the 61st person to back at that level. I wouldn't want to "lose my place in line" by moving my pledge away from that level.

But, if they offered something cool at $200 for single-copy backers like me, I'd gladly move up (so long as I still get in at the first month of beta.

Any thoughts on this, Ryan? :)

(This is why I'm thinking add-ons are the way to go, not additional tiers -- except we definitely need additional tiers above $1000)

Thank you so much, Mr. Dancey. I can't tell you how cool it is that you're in here working with us. I mean, this computer game has been my dream since my first silly little gnome cleric back in the Alpha release of the Core Rulebook. It's really an honor to be working with you on this.

Could a "T-shirt" be added as an add-on to a $100 level? So someone already in for $100 bumps up to $125 and can add a t-shirt?

Though I guess logistics would still be a headache...

Maybe a high-level tier where you get "Crowdforger Alpha" plus "Executive Founder" status (low cost, high value), and get to have a half hour phone call with you, Lisa Stevens, or Mark Kalmes to share your ideas(low cost, high value)?

I'll continue brainstorming ideas! :)

I like it. Very "A Song of Ice and Fire."

I'm sure there will be a limit on alts, or maybe a maximum amount of characters per account.

Maybe a stretch goal or add-on for backers at either $35 and up or $100 and up to have one or two additional alts/characters on their account?

For the $100 and up that makes additional sense, encourages them to experiment more during the early access beta.

I'll join in the chorus of Thanks to Nihimon -- This sort of awesome-person-ness in the community makes me even more excited for the game!

Some Ideas:

Stretch Goals

1) All core races at early enrollment or release, maybe some planetouched.
2) Additional "classes"/skill trees at early enrollment or release, maybe prestige classes?
3) Additional paid months of early enrollment for Crowdforger tier and up.
4) Leadership feat and/or additional stronghold options?
5) Quicker release time.
6) More weapon types (Aldori Dueling Sword, etc)

Add-ons
1) Start the game with an (unsellable) “Heward's” Handy Haversack! :) ( or some other utility, non combat item)
2) Special mount/familiar/animal companion only available as a Kickstarter Add-on?
3) Something special for building construction – either some gold/construction materials to start with, or a special thing only available as a Kickstarter Add-on?
4) Lightly discounted additional months of gameplay.
5) Discounted additional 6 months of Early Enrollment playtime for Crowdforger tiers.
6) PDF Strategy Guide.
7) Autographed poster?

Extra tiers:

--$1500 Crowdforger Lifetimer (Limited to 25 backers)
“All of the benefits of the 'Crowdforger Alpha' tier, plus a lifetime subscription to the game.

--$2500 Crowdforger Executive (Limited to 5 backers)
You’ll become a Goblinworks Executive Founder, and will receive a gorgeous granite plaque with stand and a leather messenger bag with an embossed Goblinworks logo and a nifty e-gadget portfolio for your tablet. You’ll also receive a special Executive Founder icon on the Goblinworks messageboards.

You'll also be welcomed to Goblinworks HQ in Redmond, Washington to meet the Goblinworks team. you will have both lunch and dinner with members of the Goblinworks staff, where you can brainstorm with the developers and Crowdforge in person! If there are enough backers at this level who can make it on a particular day, we will schedule them together—crowdforging with a larger group will be much more fun! Otherwise, we will work with you to find a mutually acceptable day. Also, the technology demo will be available to play. Backers at this level are responsible for their own transportation and lodging.

In addition, you’ll get all the benefits of the Crowdforger Lifetimer level.

--$5000 Crowdforger Ultimate (Limited to 3 backers)

You’ll get the ultimate one-on-one experience at Paizo and Goblinworks HQ! Bring up to five guests for a five-hour Pathfinder RPG gaming session with the celebrity GM of your choice: Rich Baker, Jason Bulmahn, James Jacobs, Erik Mona, or Wes Schneider. You’ll also enjoy a three-hour nine-course dinner at the world-famous Herbfarm restaurant with Ryan Dancey, Lisa Stevens, and your celebrity GM. We will regale you with stories from our times in this industry and answer your questions in an intimate setting. Backers of this level are responsible for their own transportation and lodging. In addition, you’ll get the $2,000 reward level.

You'll also become a Goblinworks Executive Founder, and will receive a gorgeous granite plaque with stand and a leather messenger bag with an embossed Goblinworks logo and a nifty e-gadget portfolio for your tablet. You’ll also receive a special Executive Founder icon on the Goblinworks messageboards.

In addition, you’ll get all the benefits of the Crowdforger Lifetimer level.

The blog post made things much clearer, and only served to stoke the fires of my excitement.

Thanks for all your hard work making the MMO I've dreamed of since the Alpha playtest of the PFRPG core rulebook!

-Matthew Kovich

Furthermore, this is a great class for the scholar of the arcane strike who simply didn't have "the gift ".

Typo: should read "scholar of the who simply doesn't have the gift"

You got it - considering that UMD.

And it's not that he's anti-magic - just doesn't get spellcasting. Paizo had an "archaeologist" bard archetype - supposed to be Indiana Jones - but I didn't get why he was required to get full bard spell progression. So, I was inspired to make this.

The class is designed to facilitate the making of an Indiana Jones. But I find many of these homebrew classes are too limited - aka, a class that could *only* be Indiana Jones. I have wanted to make sure you could be any sort of rough-and-tumble adventuring scholar who's a great shot/good in a fight.

In a high magic world. Knowledge of magic would be both practical (dealing with magical beasts. Dragons, and wizards) as well as a legitimate academic pursuit an archeology /anthropology professor like Indiana Jones might study.

Likewise Knowledge Planes - A) Demons etc are a real force in the world, especially when dealing with ancient mysteries/artifacts. Also, in a world where there *are* multiple planes to explore, such knowledge would be a logical pursuit for a professional explorer.

Furthermore, this is a great class for the scholar of the arcane strike who simply didn't have "the gift ".

I'm almost done with some adjustments to the class...It's adding something about academic/research specialization... (Indy was well rounded in his education, but was really an expert on anthropology/archeology). I'll post them soon :)

I'm thinking it's either balanced, or it might be just a *tad* underpowered.

Maybe I add a flavorful class ability that adds +2 to initiative? Maybe at level 9 or 13?

One Step Ahead (Ex)

At 9th level (or at 13th level?), an explorer gains a +2 bonus to initiative. This bonus stacks with any other initiative bonus, such as the benefit provided by the Improved Initiative feat,

What do you think?