Is there no way to increase proficiency with weapons / armor outside of class features?


Skills, Feats, Equipment & Spells


Is there no way for a character to gain increased proficiency in weapons/armor outside of level?

I understand the Barbarian not getting armor proficiency for free, or high level weapon proficiency for free, but is there no option for it even with feat investment?

Or that the fighter can't gain expert in armors lighter than heavy no matter what, even with their feats?

It doesn't seem right to me that classes have no way of bolstering their weaknesses even with feats.

Maybe I'm missing something but shouldn't their be ways(at least for martial classes) to boost their proficiency(even if at a slower rate than classes who have it as their main schtick) outside of what is directly granted by their class?


You have the fighter archetype. And it is a play test. Though I am hoping there are more options for things like that. Considering it isn't a large bonus anyway. But I'm not positive. It's still pretty early.


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The fighter archetype only allows you to become expert at a weapon type — at level 12!

I can’t find anything outside of a class that allows you to improve armor proficiency.


BretI wrote:

The fighter archetype only allows you to become expert at a weapon type — at level 12!

I can’t find anything outside of a class that allows you to improve armor proficiency.

Gray Maiden prestige archetype.


Pathfinder Pathfinder Accessories, Starfinder Accessories, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
Xenocrat wrote:
BretI wrote:

The fighter archetype only allows you to become expert at a weapon type — at level 12!

I can’t find anything outside of a class that allows you to improve armor proficiency.

Gray Maiden prestige archetype.

It actually doesn't. The prerequistes are : "Strength 16, expert in Fortitude saves, trained in heavy armor and all martial weapons, member of the Gray Maidens," so you have to be a class that has proficiency in heavy armour in order to take the dedication...at 6th level. (page 281)

The fighter dedication feat does let you become proficient in armour types though! "You become trained in light armor, medium armor, heavy armor, simple weapons, and martial weapons. Athletics is a signature skill for you." So there's that, but you have to spend 2 more feats on it before you're allowed to learn any other archetypes so there's an argument to be had that there's feat taxes involved. (page 280)


epicmusic42 wrote:
Xenocrat wrote:
BretI wrote:

The fighter archetype only allows you to become expert at a weapon type — at level 12!

I can’t find anything outside of a class that allows you to improve armor proficiency.

Gray Maiden prestige archetype.
It actually doesn't. The prerequistes are : "Strength 16, expert in Fortitude saves, trained in heavy armor and all martial weapons, member of the Gray Maidens," so you have to be a class that has proficiency in heavy armour in order to take the dedication...at 6th level. (page 281)

I didn't say the Gray Maiden dedication feat, I said the archtype. Read further, you can go to Master and Legendary with shields and Gray Maiden plate armor.


I used that Fighter Archetype to Gray Maiden Archetype path to build an all in Strength monk, using Maiden Plate and Shield. Works out okay (top-tier AC with 10-12 dex), except for having a lot less neat special moves to throw around. And also being slow as molasses for a monk.

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