From what I've been able to gather, you can take levels in two archetypes of the same class, provided that you wouldn't be gaining any duplicate class abilities in the process. I'm interested in taking one level of Unarmed Fighter for the free style feat, and then moving into Brawler.
The thing that I'm wondering is, for the purposes of being a fighter, do I get the first level of Fighter twice, or is my first level of Brawler technically my second level of Fighter?
This matters, of course, for the purposes of determining when I get the fighter Bonus feats and other class abilities. For things that I get at 3rd level in Brawler, do I get them after my third fighter level, or my third Brawler level? Since they replace fighter class features, it's a little confusing to me.
You can't multiclass archetypes. You can take as many as you want at first level as long as they don't replace or modify the same class features.
This means, for example, you could be a Songhealer Wordstriker Bard at level one.
You can't multiclass archetypes. You can take as many as you want at first level as long as they don't replace or modify the same class features.
This means, for example, you could be a Songhealer Wordstriker Bard at level one.
So....I would be an Unarmed Fighter/Brawler at level one, since Brawler doesn't modify anything you get at level 1? Okay, that makes way more sense than what I was thinking. The description of taking multiple archetypes in the APG isn't very clearly worded, IMO.
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You can be multiple archetypes. Each level applies to them at the same time, you do not gain 1 level of one archetype and then 1 of another, you become a level 2 fighter with the archetypes. In other words, archetypes do not gain levels themselves, it is the base class that gains levels. The archetypes just change the abilities the class gets.
HOWEVER, the Brawler and Unarmed Fighter archetypes are exclusive. You cannot be both a Brawler and Unarmed Fighter. Not even with a single level dip in fighter. In fact, the Unarmed Fighter is exclusive to all other archetypes.
At 5th level, an unarmed fighter gains a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls with weapons in the monk and natural weapon groups, improving by +1 for every four levels beyond 5th (to a maximum of +4 at 17th level).
This ability replaces weapon training 1, 2, 3, and 4.
At 3rd level, a brawler gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls and a +3 bonus on damage rolls with weapons in the close weapon group. Both of these bonuses increase by +1 for every four levels beyond 3rd (to a maximum of +5 on attack rolls and +7 on damage rolls at 19th level).
This ability replaces weapon training 1 and 2.
Close Weapon Group: bayonet [APG], brass knuckles [APG], cestus [UC], dan bong [UC], emei piercer [UC], fighting fan [UC], gauntlet, heavy shield, iron brush [UC], light shield, madu [UC], mere club [UC], punching dagger, sap, scizore [UC], spiked armor, spiked gauntlet, spiked shield, tekko-kagi [UC], tonfa [UC], unarmed strike, wooden stake [APG], and wushu dart [UC].
You can be multiple archetypes. Each level applies to them at the same time, you do not gain 1 level of one archetype and then 1 of another, you become a level 2 fighter with the archetypes. In other words, archetypes do not gain levels themselves, it is the base class that gains levels. The archetypes just change the abilities the class gets.
HOWEVER, the Brawler and Unarmed Fighter archetypes are exclusive. You cannot be both a Brawler and Unarmed Fighter.
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OH! So once you're an archetype, you're stuck with it forever. Gotcha. Well then, in that case...hmm. Brawler seems a lot better for an unarmed striker in the long run (Unarmed Fighter, for some reason, gives a lower damage bonus to unarmed attacks than brawler, and offers a bunch of benefits that are specific to grappling).
On the other hand, one level of Unarmed Fighter combined with the Martial Artist Monk archetype could work as well. Thanks for clearing this up for me, even if it is somewhat bad news.
I have a related question about the Master of Many Styles.
Master of Many Styles, at level 2, gets an ability called Fuse Styles which replaces Flurry of Blows. The description for the Monk class says that if you wear any type of armor or carry a shield, you lose Flurry of Blows. Does this mean that a Master of Many Styles would lose Fuse Styles, or does armor *only* specifically affect Flurry of Blows and the Monk AC bonuses?
It only affects Flurry of Blows, AC Bonuses, and Fast Movement.
IMO it probably affects Flurry of Maneuvers too but that's not RAW.
Thanks for responding. Doesn't seem like there are any objections...certainly it's possible to argue that this is the case by RAW, but I just wasn't sure if it would be allowed in PFS (guess I should ask in that forum)