Question about level advancement / multiclassing with archetypes.

[t0pfpflanze]

Hallo everybody,

I'm playing Pathfinder for the first time and I'm planning to play a Cavalier. But I also want to multiclass into the Fighter for a few levels so I was wondering how exactly multiclassing works.

My plan was as follows:
lvl #1 Cavalier
lvl #2 Fighter with archetype Dragoon
lvl #3 - #7 Cavalier
lvl #8 Fighter but without the archtype Dragoon

Is that possible? Or do I have to choose the Dragoon archtype everytime I pick another level in Fighter? Could I change the archtype as long as they don't alter the same abilities?

-topfpflanze

[Sniggevert]

You are supposed to choose the archetype(s) at the first level you take a class (in this case fighter at your 2nd character level). If you want multiple archetypes, you would take them at this point. You can take more than 1 archetype for a class, as long as no class ability is modified by both archetypes.

Every time you take a level in a class that you have chosen archetype(s) for, you take a level with that(those) archetype(s).

[t0pfpflanze]

thank you very much for the quick answer

[David knott 242]

You cannot change an archetype at each level -- basically, you are stuck with whatever archetypes you picked at 1st level in a given class for all future levels of that class. So if you took your first level as a fighter with the Dragoon archetype, all future levels in the fighter class must also use that archetype.

The only flexibility you have is in regard to archetypes that have no effect at lower levels. Most DMs will let you pick an archetype at the earliest level where it could make a difference -- but you are then stuck with any archetypes you have selected for all future levels in that class.

[Troubleshooter]

David knott 242 wrote:

You cannot change an archetype at each level -- basically, you are stuck with whatever archetypes you picked at 1st level in a given class for all future levels of that class. So if you took your first level as a fighter with the Dragoon archetype, all future levels in the fighter class must also use that archetype.

The only flexibility you have is in regard to archetypes that have no effect at lower levels. Most DMs will let you pick an archetype at the earliest level where it could make a difference -- but you are then stuck with any archetypes you have selected for all future levels in that class.

I think PFS requires you to declare an archetype, if any, at first level though. In that case, 'most GMs' has no weight.

Granted, I'd let you wait to declare it until the first time you'd get a different ability. *Shrug*

[Sniggevert]

Troubleshooter wrote:

I think PFS requires you to declare an archetype, if any, at first level though. In that case, 'most GMs' has no weight.

Actually, for PFS, you just have to choose it before the archetype would change a class ability for the first time. They do give you that latitude.

[Zahir ibn Mahmoud ibn Jothan]

I didn't see anything from the OP implying he was playing PFS.