Archetype as trade unions, military units, secret societies and more

[Bwang]

Does anyone else use either archetypes or PrCs as social, military, economic, or other groups? Several of them seem to cry out for a background beyond what is given, even provoking a local game to restrict them to membership in certain 'in-game' organizations. While I think this might be a tad extreme, the players are all for it.

So, I'm interested in any experience in this or ideas on how to integrate such into a game. I've spent an hour of 'lunch' surveying possibles and getting weird inspirations jotted down. Might post a few tomorrow if life cooperates.

[Greylurker]

I think it's a great way to customize your setting. There are some that I look on as just kind of General stuff, like most of the Fighter and Rogue ones but there are others that I feel make great world building tools.

Bard Flamedancer for example. To me this looks like a Setting Archtype, something limited to a specific culture or race.

Ultimately like all options it's up to the DM to decide how they fit into the game. If you want to use them for world building I think it's a great idea. You might use the various Fighter Archtypes as a way of definine the Fighting styles of diffeent nations and cultures.

"Yes there are fighters in the world who fight Sword and Shield but only the Fighters of the island nation of Mirados have perfected the style and have access to the Archtype"

All rules are tools used to create an adventure your group imerse themselves in

[Aralicia]

Reserving some archetypes to specific group/nations/other is IMO a good way to give more weight to your setting.
It allows major groups to have identifying features that makes them both unique and recognisable, which can give results like :
'- That Phalanx Soldiers against us; It means it's the Solix Empire that's trying to invade us !'
'- So the thief was "flying on the roofs as if magic" ? that was probably one of Melaix's roof runners, then.'

If you implements downtime and retraining, reserved archetypes can also be special rewards :
'- since you saved the temple, the master have accepted to teach you their philosophy and techniques (you can now train for the Monk of the Lotus archetype'

All in all, it encourages the players to immerse themselves more in your universe, wich is generaly a good thing.

[Amanuensis]

In my opinion, a PCs affiliation to an organization should have its own benefits, independent from class features (material rewards, political favors, access to information, safe house, transportation, etc. - see the fame and reputation system presented in the Faction Guide).
Unlike prestige classes, archetypes are general enough to represent many different concepts - they shouldn't be restricted to certain organizations. But if you restrict them, make sure you players have some say on the nature of the organizations they are involved with.

[kestral287]

Depends on the archetypes. Some fit beautifully, but a lot don't-- an order of Kensai Magi is cool, and most Monk archetypes are perfect for this. An order of Thugs... not so much.

[Mark Hoover]

I sort of did something like this. Before there was the Viking fighter there was the shielded fighter so I built a PC in that archetype to represent a sort of Viking-esque dude. I only got to play him once and then the campaign ended but I used him as a historical figure in an area of my homebrew. Now the Shields of Middenvar (the area he was from) are a tough breed of professional soldier that protects the small but prosperous region of the same name from the incursions of its jealous neighbors.