If you take levels in multiple Archetypes for the same Class, do you essentially just gain one level in your second Archetype, and thus have to keep taking levels until you reach the level at which you get Special Abilities for that Archetype, or do you learn each Archetype's Special Abilities at their respective level? Say that you learn a Special Ability at 5th level for one Archetype, and another Special Ability at 6th level for another Archetype. Is it dependent on your character level, and thus you could learn both Special Abilities by character level 6, or does it depend on your levels in those Archetypes, and thus you'd need to take 5 levels in the first Archetype, and 6 levels in the second?
By the way, from what I understand, you can't take multiple Archetypes whose Special Abilities replace the same Special Ability of the base Class. Is that the case, or do you just pick which Special Ability you take? In the case of the former, if you have to level the Archetypes individually, does that mean you flat-out can't take levels in your second Archetype?
Concerning shields, is it possible to have two shields equipped at once? Like, could you have a Tower Shield equipped on one arm, and, say, a Light or Heavy Shield on the other arm? If so, would the AC stack?
Speaking of AC stacking, in the description for some pieces of armor, it says they can be worn with chainmail. Is this just flavor text, or can certain kinds of armor be worn with others? Because Chainmail already has an AC of 6, and if that stacks with other armor, that seems a tad broken.
First lets tackle stacking bonuses.
In Pathfinder, if you have two versions of the same type of bonus, such as a morale bonus from both a bards song and a cleric bless, only the higher one counts. So when it comes to wearing chain mail and plate at the same time, you can do it, but you only get the armor bonus from the plate. This is why there is no point in wearing Bracers of Armor when you are wearing any type of regular armor, because the armor bonus doesn't stack, even though one comes from physical armor and the other is magic.
Same with a Shield bonus, you can wield two shields if you want, but only the higher shield bonus counts towards your AC.
Now for Archetypes. When you take an Archetype it modifies the base class you have taken. Basically it adjusts the class. So when you level up that class, the level applies to all modifications made due to archetypes. IF you have two archetypes that can both be applied to a class, when you gain a level in that class the increase applies to both archetypes. It's not like multiclassing where each class is separate, archetypes are not separate classes, they are modifications to the same class. So as in your example, when you reach level 6, you would have learned both abilities.
But if two archetypes both replace the same features of the base class, you can not take them both, you can only trade out a class feature once. You do not get to just pick one. If you have two rogue archetypes that both replace trapfinding, you can't take both. However, if you have one archetype that replaces trapfinding and one that replaces sneak attack, then taking both is fine, because they are replacing different features.
First lets tackle stacking bonuses.
In Pathfinder, if you have two versions of the same type of bonus, such as a morale bonus from both a bards song and a cleric bless, only the higher one counts. So when it comes to wearing chain mail and plate at the same time, you can do it, but you only get the armor bonus from the plate. This is why there is no point in wearing Bracers of Armor when you are wearing any type of regular armor, because the armor bonus doesn't stack, even though one comes from physical armor and the other is magic.
Same with a Shield bonus, you can wield two shields if you want, but only the higher shield bonus counts towards your AC.
Now for Archetypes. When you take an Archetype it modifies the base class you have taken. Basically it adjusts the class. So when you level up that class, the level applies to all modifications made due to archetypes. IF you have two archetypes that can both be applied to a class, when you gain a level in that class the increase applies to both archetypes. It's not like multiclassing where each class is separate, archetypes are not separate classes, they are modifications to the same class. So as in your example, when you reach level 6, you would have learned both abilities.
But if two archetypes both replace the same features of the base class, you can not take them both, you can only trade out a class feature once. You do not get to just pick one. If you have two rogue archetypes that both replace trapfinding, you can't take both. However, if you have one archetype that replaces trapfinding and one that replaces sneak attack, then taking both is fine, because they are replacing different features.
When you say "same type of bonus," I'm assuming you mean like armor and shield? Like, armor and shield are two different types of AC bonuses, yes? So they both count towards AC? I know this should be obvious, but your wording just kinda made me uncertain. I'm still new to tabletop RPGs in general, and my group only plays once every week or two.
First , there are some bonus that do stack like dodge or just untyped bonus , you can check that later on , but in general , typed bonus to the same thing cant stack.
So lets say you have 2 spells:
One says: Climb +2 morale bonus
Another Climb +4 morale bonus
Both bonus are to the Climb and both are morale bonus so they dont stack.
BUT if you had:
One says: Climb +2 bonus
Another Climb +4 bonus
They would stack since they are untyped kind of bonus.
Ofc:
One says: Climb +2 bonus
Another Climb +4 morale bonus
Would also stack.
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To further add, Pathfinder created different "types" of bonuses. These are listed in the Core Rulebook, and include "armor bonuses" (provided by armor), "shield bonuses" (provided by shields), "morale bonuses" (provided by many spells and abilities), and many others.
If you ever have two of the same type of bonus, such as the +6 armor bonus from wearing chainmail, and the +9 armor bonus from wearing platemail, only the greater of the two will count towards your Armor Class.
But since Shields and Armor provide different types of bonuses, they "stack" together.
Of course, just as with any in-depth gaming system, there are always exceptions. Bonuses that are of the "dodge", "racial", or "circumstance" type stack with all other types of bonuses (unless otherwise stated), including their own types. So if you took the Dodge Feat (which grants a +1 dodge bonus) and the Mobility Feat (which grants another +4 dodge bonus when moving), the two bonuses would stack together for a total of +5.
When you say "same type of bonus," I'm assuming you mean like armor and shield? Like, armor and shield are two different types of AC bonuses, yes? So they both count towards AC? I know this should be obvious, but your wording just kinda made me uncertain. I'm still new to tabletop RPGs in general, and my group only...First lets tackle stacking bonuses.
In Pathfinder, if you have two versions of the same type of bonus, such as a morale bonus from both a bards song and a cleric bless, only the higher one counts. So when it comes to wearing chain mail and plate at the same time, you can do it, but you only get the armor bonus from the plate. This is why there is no point in wearing Bracers of Armor when you are wearing any type of regular armor, because the armor bonus doesn't stack, even though one comes from physical armor and the other is magic.
Same with a Shield bonus, you can wield two shields if you want, but only the higher shield bonus counts towards your AC.
Now for Archetypes. When you take an Archetype it modifies the base class you have taken. Basically it adjusts the class. So when you level up that class, the level applies to all modifications made due to archetypes. IF you have two archetypes that can both be applied to a class, when you gain a level in that class the increase applies to both archetypes. It's not like multiclassing where each class is separate, archetypes are not separate classes, they are modifications to the same class. So as in your example, when you reach level 6, you would have learned both abilities.
But if two archetypes both replace the same features of the base class, you can not take them both, you can only trade out a class feature once. You do not get to just pick one. If you have two rogue archetypes that both replace trapfinding, you can't take both. However, if you have one archetype that replaces trapfinding and one that replaces sneak attack, then taking both is fine, because they are replacing different features.
As someone else already mentioned, when I say same type of bonus I mean bonuses that share the same 'type' spelled out by the rules of the item. Like, yes, an 'armor' bonus and a 'shield' bonus are two different types of AC bonus, and thus stack, so both count towards AC.
So if you have one item that says it adds and armor bonus, and one item that says it adds a shield bonus, they stack and you get both bonuses to your AC.
If you have one item that says it adds an armor bonus, then a second item that says it adds an armor bonus, they do not stack, and you only get the higher armor bonus towards your AC.
First , there are some bonus that do stack like dodge or just untyped bonus , you can check that later on , but in general , typed bonus to the same thing cant stack.
So lets say you have 2 spells:
One says: Climb +2 morale bonus
Another Climb +4 morale bonus
Both bonus are to the Climb and both are morale bonus so they dont stack.
BUT if you had:
One says: Climb +2 bonus
Another Climb +4 bonus
They would stack since they are untyped kind of bonus.
Ofc:
One says: Climb +2 bonus
Another Climb +4 morale bonus
Would also stack.
Ah, all right... Now, this reminds me of another question. A Tower Shield only allows a maximum Dexterity Bonus of +2 to AC. If you wore a set of armor that allowed a higher Dexterity Bonus than that, would you only be able to take the lower bonus? It makes sense to me, but you can never be too sure.
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Ah, all right... Now, this reminds me of another question. A Tower Shield only allows a maximum Dexterity Bonus of +2 to AC. If you wore a set of armor that allowed a higher Dexterity Bonus than that, would you only be able to take the lower bonus? It makes sense to me, but you can never be too sure.
It isn't a bonus, it is a limiter to what you can use, so you should take the harsher limiter.
Just to satisfy my sadistic streak ;-) and add more complications:
note that enhancements to armor and shields aren't a separate bonus. They increase the armor and shield bonus.
Magic items have "slots" on your body that limit how many of a certain type of magical item you can benefit from at one time. This is simple for armor, but shields can also be a weapon, so you could benefit from a second magical shield, but only from using its abilities as a weapon.
This is really old, but I figured I'd ask here, since it's relatively relevant to the topic, and I'm here anyways: does the Armor Bonus to AC that the Mage Armor spell provides stack on top of existing armor, or is it the same as putting a set of armor over another set of armor (i.e., the bonuses don't stack)? The description says bonus and not enhancement, so I'm assuming the latter...
Both are armor bonuses, no stack.
Both are armor bonuses, no stack.
Crap. Well, thank you.