Thoughts and ideas on how Archetypes could work

[Meophist]

Since archetypes are now going to be a part of the base game, this means everything can be made with it in mind. So, with that in mind, I think it could be better archetypes simply added to the base class, rather than replacing some features.

This can allow for "universal" archetypes that aren't connected to classes, as long as it's balanced properly. Which I think could be really neat. Something like Animal Companion can be something that can be added to any class.

So, there's a couple of things I think could be rather neat with this idea. First is having two archetypes in addition to your class. The base classes can be pretty basic but with two archetypes, you'll be able to mix and match and create all sorts of interesting things. This also helps against level dipping. You don't need to level dip into Barbarian to get Rage if you can just take the Raging archetype for any class. It'll be a weaker version than what the Barbarian normally gets, but it'll at least level up with your character.

Another thing that would be neat is if certain combinations of class and archetypes have special synergies. A Wizard's animal companion for example, could also serve as their familiar. This could go deeper, let's say letting a Barbarian get a Wild Shape-like for an archetype, this will allow the Barbarian to literally transform into beast when raging. We could also have the same Barbarian have a Draconic Bloodline archetype, which gives them access to some spells and lets them wild shape into a dragon when raging.

I don't really think that's going to happen, more likely it will be a bonus(instead of replacing existing features) with some universal archetypes, but only one instead of two and limited if any bonuses for having specific combinations. Will probably err on the side of more class-specific archetypes than universal ones as well.

Either way, what are your own thoughts and idea on how the archetype system could work?

[Fuzzypaws]

While I don't think this is how they will do archetypes, it is definitely how I want them to do archetypes. Everyone getting an archetype on top of their class instead of replacing part of it would be wonderful for flavor and character diversity, and the game can be balanced around it from the beginning.

[Cuttlefist]

I think it will more than likely be similar to Starfinder’s archetype system. Since all classes get class feats and skill feats at the same levels (or so it’s been shown so far?) archetypes will likely replace those class feats or skill feats with alternate abilities that are not available normally. So we could have generic archetypes that just replace the 2nd, 6th, and 10th class feats of every class, or archetypes for each class that replace specific class features. Or both and you can get two total archetypes for even more customization.

[PossibleCabbage]

Seems pretty simple to me-

If an archetype replaces only class feats, the since a 2nd level Rogue Feat should't be better or worse than a 2nd level Ranger feat, the archetype is universal and can be applied to any class.

If an archetype replaces a specific class feature (say sneak attack) then it can only be applied to classes with that feature (in this case, the rogue).

I imagine they will do both kinds. What I wonder though is if they will do archetypes that are restricted to several classes, written in such a way that, for example, an archetype which allows Sorcerers, Wizards, Clerics, and Druids from the CRB also allows Witches, Arcanists, Shamans, Psychics, and Oracles once those classes are added, but not other new classes (unless they are "full" casting classes).

[Meophist]

I don't mind replacing feats for archetypes too much, but I do think the first archetype should be free, and it can include stuff like Wizard schools for the Wizard or similar things like that.

I think an advantage of this system would be that they can make the base class the real core of the class is and what they can do, and leave other things for archetypes. For example, if there's a player who likes the Monk but doesn't like Ki stuff, they can just not pick the Ki-giving archetype for the Monk. If Paizo believes that Ki stuff is core of Monk, there can be another option of using the Fighter and a martial arts archetype to get that instead, or something.