Archetypes, who many in PFS?

[ezrider23]

As the title states. How many archetypes can you take for a character in Pathfinder Society Play?
I'm playing an Urban Ranger in the PFS:First Steps adventure path. I'm looking into adding the "Skirmisher" archetype on top of "Urban Ranger", is this legal?

[Sniggevert]

As long as none of the archetypes modify the same ability, then you can add as many as you want. PFS follows the base rules in this regard.

Since, you're still in First Steps, your character would still be 1st level, and could still take advantage of retraining rules to change the character to anything you want (that's PFS legal of course).

[RainyDayNinja]

As Sniggevert said, as long as the archetypes don't alter or replace the same class feature, you can stack as many as you want. In your case, there's no overlap between Skirmisher and Urban Ranger, so that's perfectly legal.

[CRobledo]

One last thing to add is that in PFS you have to take any given archetype up to the level it modifies the first ability.

If an archetype's first modification is Divine Grace (lvl 2 class feature) for a Paladin for example, then you may take the archetype at any point before level 3.

[ezrider23]

Thanks for the quick responses.

[Pupsocket]

Same rules as for a home game, except the GM can't decide to allow archetypes that lose/change the same ability.

[RainyDayNinja]

CRobledo wrote:

One last thing to add is that in PFS you have to take any given archetype up to the level it modifies the first ability.

If an archetype's first modification is Divine Grace (lvl 2 class feature) for a Paladin for example, then you may take the archetype at any point before level 3.

Keep in mind that since the Skirmisher gives up spells, even though he wouldn't get spells until 4th level, he still loses the ability to cast from wands and such right out of the gate. So that archetype would have to be taken at first level (or use the 1st level retraining rules, of course).

[ezrider23]

Sniggevert wrote:

Since, you're still in First Steps, your character would still be 1st level, and could still take advantage of retraining rules to change the character to anything you want (that's PFS legal of course).

This is something i have been contemplating lately. I've only played two sessions so far with oversized groups and it's been frustrating and at time boring. Both DM's have been great but there are times where i'm sitting around doing nothing.

I've been playing a Switch-Hitter Urban Ranger and have been unable to do much in combat aside from aid another. Lucky/High initiative roles and the mob mentality of poor group dynamics keeps me in the back ranks but i was not focused on Archery (Power attack and Quick Draw as a Human).

I guess what i'm looking for is something more interesting. I'll definitely swap to pure archer build with a melee back-up.

TL;DR. Thanks for the Help.

[Fromper]

Yeah, that's the downside of playing a front liner in a large group. As an archer, you'll never have that issue. Or you can just make multiple characters, and use whichever fits the group best.

[Akerlof]

Fromper wrote:

Yeah, that's the downside of playing a front liner in a large group. As an archer, you'll never have that issue. Or you can just make multiple characters, and use whichever fits the group best.

Of course, the down side of playing a ranged character in a large group is that you're usually at a permanent -4 to attack due to soft cover until you get improved precise shot. (Worst group for me: 2 druids, a summoner and a sword and shield fighter. I think we had a cleric as well, but they sort of twiddled their thumbs the entire scenario.)

Large groups are frustrating for just about everyone. No matter how good you are at your main schtick, there's almost certainly going to be someone who is _good enough_ to fill that role, making you redundant and forcing you to share the spotlight when your moment to shine happens. Or, nobody else has your skills, but those skills aren't really needed (hellooo~~~ trapfinding rogue.) Very occasionally you'll be the only person in a big group that can do what you do, and it's great, but the frustration of all those other players not being able to do their thing still usually tones down the fun.

[Fromper]

Well, you can always start GMing and bring an adventure with you to GM on short notice if necessary. Then, the next time you're at a 7 player table, you can offer to be a second GM to split the party into two groups. That will give you a GM, 3 players, and a pregen at each table.

[blackbloodtroll]

Who many that there what again?