
MaxAstro |
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This is something I've been using in my campaigns for a while now and I like the extra flexibility it gives players to do various character concepts. It does result in slightly more powerful characters compared to just using bonus archetype feats, but it's not generally a huge difference.
I should note that I use a houserule that Advanced Muse's Whispers and equivalent feats have a level limit of level-4 instead of half your level; obviously the Dedicated Multiclass option would need to be tweaked if you don't want to use that houserule (or perhaps it could just switch to level-4!)
Archetype Styles
At 2nd level, characters choose from one of three archetype styles, which defines the kind of bonus feats they gain. A character may also to forgo this choice, in which case they are a Generalist: They use the normal bonus archetype rules, gaining a bonus feat with no restrictions at each even level.
Once a choice of archetype style is made, it cannot be easily retrained; only a major character development or significant undertaking should allow retraining into a different style. GMs may wish to be more flexible with allowing characters to retrain into or out of Generalist, however.
Archetype Specialist: Fully embracing a couple specific archetypes to augment their playstyle, an Archetype Specialist gains two Dedication feats as bonus feats at 2nd level, with the restriction that these cannot be multiclass dedications. From then on, all of their bonus feats must come from the chosen archetypes (although there is no limitation on how they spend their regular class feats). At 12th level or higher, the Archetype Specialist may choose a third Dedication to gain; this ignores the normal required number of feats to gain a new dedication, but still costs a bonus feat slot.
Dedicated Multiclass: Some individuals have two true callings in life, and the Dedicated Multiclass is one of those people. At 2nd level they gain the Dedication feat for a multiclass of their choice. From then on, all of their bonus feats must come from that multiclass. However, they treat their level in the multiclass as their level-2 instead of their level-4 for qualifying for class feats from the multiclass. A Dedicated Multiclass has no restriction on how they spend their regular class feats - they could choose to gain an archetype or even another multiclass that way.
Class Paragon: Forgoing versatility to becomes the ultimate expression of themselves, Class Paragons cannot gain archetype feats at all, by any means - including through regular class feats. In exchange, they gain a powerful benefit: At each even level except 4th and 14th, they gain a bonus class feat. At those two levels they gain no bonus feat. Even with these drawbacks, eight bonus class feats is a potent benefit, and GMs running very high level campaigns may wish to limit Class Paragons to only spending their 16th level and higher bonus feats on class feats 2 levels lower than themselves, unless the expectation is a high-power game.