Is an (archetype) still a (class)?

[gamerdork]

I tried to find this in the rules but could not; apologies if I missed it.

In my case, I need to know if a Zen Archer is a Monk? I.e., is she a Monk with the Zen Archer archetype, or is she only a zen archer? The reason I ask is because a feat I want to take has a prerequisite of "monk" and I am not sure if she qualifies.

Similarly, is an Infiltrator a Ranger with the infiltrator archetype, or simply and only an infiltrator?

Etc., ad nauseum.

Thank you in advance for your kindness!

Game on!
- Corey

[Kazaan]

Yes, taking an archetype doesn't mean you're no longer the base class. A Zen Archer still qualifies as a Monk.

[Rynjin]

Yes. That's why they're listed on the class' page instead of as a separate class.

[Joe loves Rules]

yep! :)

[Kazaan]

Arguably, even the Alternate Classes (Cavalier/Samurai, Rogue/Ninja, Paladin/Anti-Pally) still count as their base class, given that if you have levels in one, you can never take levels in the other. So if a feat had lvl 7 Cavalier as a prereq, that would, logically, be open to a lvl 7 Samurai as well. Same goes for the new combo classes in ACG; a Brawler (alternate to both Monk and Fighter), should qualify for prereqs as both a monk and fighter.

[Drejk]

Weren't Paizo supposed to drop the idea of hybrid classes and make each of the new base class just a new base class instead?

[claudekennilol]

Drejk wrote:

Weren't Paizo supposed to drop the idea of hybrid classes and make each of the new base class just a new base class instead?

Yeah, in one of the blog posts they said they dropped the multiclass restrictions because, well, because it was too restricting..