IIRC, Pathfinder provides options for specialized subclasses that players can take as they march towards omnipotence. And there are also special classes reserved or NPCs that are not quite as good as the PC classes but provide advantages over being Level 0.
Are either of these going to exist in Starfinder at some point? Should they? And would people use them if they did?
I don't see much call for NPC classes. NPCs don't use the same mechanics as PCs after all.
I don't think Starfinder will ever have NPC classes or Prestige classes.
As Ikiry0 said, NPCs don't use the same underlying mechanics as PCs, so there's no need for NPC-specific classes. There are three "implicit" NPC classes - combatant, expert, and spellcaster - that work like an NPC class would in Pathfinder, providing the NPC with the appropriate skills and abilities for its role.
Starfinder has, I think, replaced the concept of Prestige classes with the new archetype system (which should not, under any pretense, be confused with or compared to Pathfinder's archetypes). The archetypes in the CRB have not proven to be terribly popular, but the underlying system is, I think, quite robust and can support the niche flavor and abilities that Prestige classes provide in a more consistent and player-friendly fashion.
Starfinder has, I think, replaced the concept of Prestige classes with the new archetype system (which should not, under any pretense, be confused with or compared to Pathfinder's archetypes). The archetypes in the CRB have not proven to be terribly popular, but the underlying system is, I think, quite robust and can support the niche flavor and abilities that Prestige classes provide in a more consistent and player-friendly fashion.
I think a chunk of it that they are just not particular unique or interesting. They are 'Generic explorer' (Something that the skills already cover fine) and 'Sorta half baked psionic stuff'.
I think a chunk of it that they are just not particular unique or interesting. They are 'Generic explorer' (Something that the skills already cover fine) and 'Sorta half baked psionic stuff'.
I can't really disagree with that. Hopefully the Pact Worlds' new archetypes ("including the Star Knight, Skyfire Centurion, and Divine Champion") will be more interesting. I would love to see some archetypes in APs that allow PCs to take them at later levels.
If the new archetypes coming out do a better job of providing something unique and flavorful that isn't already available or weaker than what else exists in the classes, I don't think we'll need PrC's. Especially if any of them allow you to combine the abilities of two or more classes in novel ways the way (some) PrC's did in 3.5/PF.
I really just want more (and more varied) base classes and options for base classes, first, though. But I seem to be in the minority on that.
I really just want more (and more varied) base classes and options for base classes, first, though. But I seem to be in the minority on that.
I think more options for the core classes is going to be a large part of Pact Worlds, actually. The classes are very deliberately designed for easy expansion; I would expect to see new additions to to every talent library and collection of subclasses.
New classes, though? That will be some time, I think.
Yeah, I'm not holding my breath. I expect it'll happen at some point in 2019, if I'm lucky.
Pact Worlds is end of March.
Armory in July.
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I would like to see an archetype created for each class to act as another version of multi-classing. Basically giving you a taste of a second class to go with your main.
Example Technomancer Archetype:
2nd Level: Gain Technomantic Dabbler as a bonus feat, even if you don't meet the prereqs.
4th Level: Gain a 2nd level magic hack
6th level: Learn an additional first level spell with technomantic dabbler. learn a single second level spell. You can cast it once per day per 5 levels.
9th Level: Gain a magic hack of 5th level or lower
12th level: Learn an additional 1st and 2nd level spell. Learn a 3rd level spell you can cast third level spells once per day once per 8 levels.
18th level: Gain an 8th level magic hack.
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Cyber mage, I tried to do this and have created achetypes for all but the caster classes. Here's a link to the thread where I posted it. Take a look and let me know what you think. I would love to see an official version, but for now homebrew will have to do.