NPC Class Archetypes?

[Mark Hoover]

Is this a thing? Is there even a need? I know there's nothing by RAW, but what about an alternate Adept that's more wizardly than divine; a Warrior on the verge of palidanhood or perhaps an Aristocrat that blurs the line into rogue?

[SmiloDan]

NPC classes don't have enough class features to trade out.

[EldonG]

It's an interesting concept, though I'm afraid that SmiloDan is likely correct. Just think of the variety of specialists there actually are...that would be the perfect class to do it with...if it was feasible.

[SmiloDan]

Maybe remove some weapon and armor feats from the aristocrat and give them some Skill Focus or non-combat related feats, like Alertness.

Maybe remove Familiar and give an Arcane Bond or Divine Bond to the adept.

[David knott 242]

Epic Meepo came up with some archetypes for NPC classes, but rather than swap out their limited features, he enhanced them to PC class levels.

But there would be a few possibilities inherent in each class:

Commoner: As the minimual class, there is not much to swap here. Maybe changes to the class skill list?

Expert: Maybe trade out light armor proficiency for more skills?

Adept: Maybe change spellcasting stat or add a domain in place of the familiar?

Aristocrat: There should definiely be a non-combatant option that trades in armor and/or weapon proficiencies for skills and/or bonus feats.

Warrior: Perhaps trade in heavy armor for an exotic weapon proficiency?

[Arcanemuses]

http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2oh5v?Commoner-Class-Abilities-and-an-added-Arc hetype#1

This is all I got for ya^^

[Mr.Goblin]

I am currently playing in Kingmaker adventure path and we have found a need for this. especially when it comes to warriors. But really why do the npc classes have to be so bland.

We have a book in my father's archives, "Warriors: A Comprehensive D20 Sourcebook for Fantasy Role-Playing Games". This is probably one of the first places you see archetypes in d20 system. The archetypes in this book act as feats that give a minor primary benefit while allowing you to exchange weapon, shield, and armor proficiency for new skills or feats. For example the levy peasant archetype makes all the commoner skills class skills in exchange for medium and heavy armor porf. AS well as martial weapon proficiency. This would make an easy archetype conversion and allow GM and players to better determine stats for militia peasants trained to defend their home vs peasants form a more peaceful country.

Other forms of archetypes that could be converted are bandits, pike-man, marine, Templar est..

The commoner is a tough one to make archetypes for because they don't have much to work with any way. Though Arcanemuses has a good class design that would make the commoner on par with an adept or warrior. You could also use some of those class abilities as "common" feats. To keep the commoner on the same power level as before but with a bit more customization.

As for the rest of the npc classes I would suggest playing with saves and base attack progression as a means to gain new abilities. as well as codes of conduct and oaths that limit behavior as a source for abilities too. An adept sworn to a vow of poverty may gain access to the cleric spell list for example. Or one sworn into a dark pact may gain access to the witch spell list. Also you may want to allow your npcs to gain a trait. I would only allow one and preferably limited to background or race.