I'm a bit fuzzy on how the archetype rules work.
One of my GMs I regularly play with says I can combine the Sohei and MoMS archetype, while anther GM I play with regularly says I cannot. I'm not sure which is correct.
Does anyone know which it is?
You can, but you can't use the Sohei options for bonus feats (using mounted combat feats) because they get replaced for the MoMS.
Generally, you can't use 2 archtypes if they replace the same thing, or change the same thing. The only time you can if the same things are affected is if one archtype makes an optional change to something that another changes, in which case you can't use the optional change.
Ok, that makes sense.
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A character can take more than one archetype and garner additional alternate class features, but none of the alternate class features can replace or alter the same class feature from the core class as another alternate class feature.
The trick with this one is that technically the Sohei alters the bonus feats by adding the Mounted Combat feats to your selection options, and MoMS replaces your standard selection of Bonus Feats, so a strict GM might prevent you from taking both on that grounds. However I see no problem with simply saying that the Sohei's extra feat option is also replaced by the MoMS' style feats, and this monk guide agrees with me.
Do you know if your second GM is forbidding the combination on the grounds that they both affect bonus feats, or does he/she just think that you can't take more than one archetype?
EDIT: Ninja'd, and the "optional change" rule makes a lot of sense in these situations.
Where can I find the "optional rule" for archetypes?
So no one else knows where it says that if one archetype makes an optional change and another does not that they can both be applied?
So long as you have all the things an archetype replaces, you should be set. If all it does is give you extra options for your class feature, it's within the spirit and probably the letter of the rules to combine the archetypes.
This is one of those issues that you need to ask the GM about. Make sure he understands that you don't lose or gain anything and hope he interprets the rule sensibly.
The rules as they are written seem to not allow it, unless there has been something posted on the forum that says otherwise because both archetypes modify or replace the bonus feats a monk gets.
Now one of my GM's says that's ok saying there was a clarification on the forums, but I can not find it.
What I have found is numerous threads that combine MoMS and Sohei or other archetypes where they mash the feats together of their characters.
So no one else knows where it says that if one archetype makes an optional change and another does not that they can both be applied?
Look for the ruling on the qingong monk, where it is stated to stack with other monk archetypes despite allowing the removal of many monk class features (if not, qingong would stack with literally no other archetypes because of the number of features it "alters" by allowing them to be removed--obviously you don't remove the ones replaced by your other archetype). The stacking archetypes rules are meant to prevent powergaming by selecting two archetypes that both trade out one ability and getting extra benefits from both for losing one thing (or trying to cherrypick one or the other), but in this case, like the qingong monk, the sohei is only adding another option, not requiring the feature to be replaced.
Very strict RAW, adding options is "altering", but I think that's bs and would expect most players/DMs to agree. If a DM doesn't....I'd be leery of his rulings in general. There's a lot of really ugly things that happen if you adhere to the absolute RAW like a mind slave. Like taking actions while dead or never being able to do more than take a readied action while mounted if you want the mount to move (since two creatures can't act on simultaneous initiative).
Qingong has language that it only changes or removes the features that you choose.
Strictly, MoMS and Sohei both alter your bonus feat selection, so are incompatible.
Many GMs will allow it, since both archetypes just add choices to the bonus feat list so never contradict each other. However, the archtype stacking rule is clear that any modification to the same ability is not allowed.
I don't think this is a situation where RAW counters common sense, but a deliberate balance choice. There's a big gap between trying to game the definition of death, and following the rules for archetype stacking over allowing a more powerful monk dip.
No, I think using the term alters was a mistake. The issue should be contradictions, replacing the same thing, and so forth. Two archetypes that add options to the same thing but niether replace it should not be incompatible, that's just really silly.
(Note: MoMS does in fact replace the feats list, but Sohei just adds to it. You said neither replaces it, which is technically incorrect.)
Sad news for me. I just found this by James Jacob.
http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2l7ns&page=447?Ask-James-Jacobs-ALL-your-Qu estions-Here#22328
It looks like they are incompatible based on that and the rules as written.
Yes, strict RAW they are incompatible, so it's a no-go for PFS.
But I would expect most DMs would allow it, because the reason it doesn't is incredibly flimsy and technical. DMs weedling out of allowing reasonable player requests by going with incredibly strict RAW is just as bad as munchkins / rules lawyers exploiting what's "technically correct" (but clearly not supposed to be) to benefit their character builds.
Unfortunately I play almost exclusively PFS so I guess MoMS and Sohei is out for me unless I can find something that rules the other way.