I am currently working on my own supplement for PF2 with a little Island setting heavily influnced by ancient greece.
You will in the next weeks probably read a bit more about it in the homebrew section, so you if you curious keep your eyes peeled.
As a little start I want to share the first Archetype that will be part of the Setting. Unfortunately I don't exactly have a crowd to playtest it, so - I would appreaciate feedback and help in balancing the whole thing.
The Phalanx Archetype has a heavy Emphasis on Formation, Teamwork and Protecting your allies. It should be a Natural addition for Fighters and Paladins, but can probably work for most Martials who focus either on Shields or Spears
Phalanx Dedication – Feat 2
Prerequisities: Shield Block General Feat
You become trained in Athletics and Warfare Lore. If you were already Trained, you become Expert instead. You also gain the Reactive Shield Fighter Feat.
Shield Wall – Feat 4
Your coordination while using a shield allows you to protect your allies.
Whenever you raise your shield your adjecent allies gain a +1 shield bonus to AC. If they use the raise shield action, they instead increase the shield bonus they gain by 1.
Spear Wall – Feat 4
You have learned to keep the enemy always on the edge and look how to spot openings when they are distracted.
When an enemy is in Melee range of you and an adjecent ally it counts as flat footed for you. If your adjecent ally also has the spear wall feat the enemy is flat footed as long as it stays within your Melee range.
Stabilization – Feat 4
Requirements: You are wearing a shield.
You know how to balance Long Weapons while still keeping your defense up.
While you are wielding a Shield you consider all two-handed Weapons of the Spear group as one-handed.
Stay in Formation – Feat 6
Staying in the close formation of a Phalanx may decide between life and death.
Reaction – Trigger: An adjecent ally is moving.
You may move up to your speed as long as the movement ends in a square adjecent to the moving ally. You may only use this Feat once per turn, no matter how many reactions you possess.
Advance- Feat 6
You gain the Shielded Stride Fighter Feat.
Bulwark – Feat 8
You, and allies who benefit of Shield Wall, gain their Shield bonus as Item Bonus on Reflex and Will Saves of Harmful Spells.
Always Prepared – Feat 8
You gain an additional Reaction. You may use this Reaction for an additional Shield Block. You also may use this Reaction for the Stay in Formation Movement.
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Looks pretty cool, I look forward to your progress!
I don't really understand the last sentence of Spear Wall. The feat says if a foe is in melee range of both you and an ally it becomes flat-footed. to you. If your ally also has this feat, it seems to say he also gets the flat-footed foe benefit because you are threating the foe too. But that is not really necessary to state.
There are no "Shield bonus" per say, they are Circumstance bonuses.
For Bulwark, helping Will saves sounds strange. The Bulwark armor feature only helps your Reflex saves. I could MAYBE also see it helping Fortitude as a feat. But why Will?
Maybe I have to rephrase it
spear wall makes the enemy flat footed if in melee range to yourself and an ally
Thanks for the shield bonus reminder, got it mixed up
and bulwark, I thought of it as 'we stand strong together' mentality that is invoked
IMO, the fighter already covers most of this just fine, as these are all pretty much fighter feats. But...
Phalanx Dedication – Feat 2
Prerequisities: Shield Block General Feat
You become trained in Athletics and Warfare Lore. If you were already Trained, you become Expert instead. You also gain the Reactive Shield Fighter Feat.
Skills + a full feat is a bit much IMO.
Maybe something like "When you draw your shield, you can also use the Raise Shield action."
Shield Wall – Feat 4
Your coordination while using a shield allows you to protect your allies.
Whenever you raise your shield your adjecent allies gain a +1 shield bonus to AC. If they use the raise shield action, they instead increase the shield bonus they gain by 1.
I would avoid giving out +1's so freely. So just have the Shield Warden feat here.
Spear Wall – Feat 4
You have learned to keep the enemy always on the edge and look how to spot openings when they are distracted.
When an enemy is in Melee range of you and an adjecent ally it counts as flat footed for you. If your adjecent ally also has the spear wall feat the enemy is flat footed as long as it stays within your Melee range.
That second line is a bit redundant.
Also, might just want to give the Gang Up for the rogue.Stabilization – Feat 4
Requirements: You are wearing a shield.
You know how to balance Long Weapons while still keeping your defense up.
While you are wielding a Shield you consider all two-handed Weapons of the Spear group as one-handed.
Seems odd, but ok.
Staying in the close formation of a Phalanx may decide between life and death.
Reaction – Trigger: An adjecent ally is moving.
You may move up to your speed as long as the movement ends in a square adjecent to the moving ally. You may only use this Feat once per turn, no matter how many reactions you possess.
Personally, I would do it like... Keep your reaction for blocking.
Stay in Formation (1 action, Flourish): Select an adjacent ally. If they take a Stride action before the end of their next turn, you can also move along with them, upto your speed. All your movement must be adjacent to them.
Honestly, I think it would make a pretty nice general feat.
Bulwark – Feat 8
You, and allies who benefit of Shield Wall, gain their Shield bonus as Item Bonus on Reflex and Will Saves of Harmful Spells.
Reflexive Shield
Always Prepared – Feat 8
You gain an additional Reaction. You may use this Reaction for an additional Shield Block. You also may use this Reaction for the Stay in Formation Movement.
Quick Block
1. at least one archetype of the lost omens guide does that
2. It is supposed to be a little stronger then a regular class feat since it is not just a (basic-)class archetype, it is thought to be a little more
3. already noticed that i have to redo the wording - and I totally forgot gang up - it still has a somewhat (if only slightly) different niche, it starts to shine if the enemy is standing in front of a phalanx (i.e. multiple people using the feat and archetype) since others can easily profit from it
4. Inspired by PF1 Phalanx archetype
5. I think it works better as a reaction, the other one is a good thought too, but this is more flexible
6. it'S a bit different and made to work in concert with shield wall, but it is maybe a little bit much, thanks for pointing out reflexive shield
7. slighty different, the additional option is important for everyone who has different ways to use his first reaction
I am aware that there is some overlap with fighter feats (after all, what else would a soldier like that be?) But many of those feats have somewhat of a twist or special purpose that I put a lot of thought in
Even though I somewhat agree with you on many points, thanks for the input
1. at least one archetype of the lost omens guide does that
Specifically, the Lastwall Sentry gives a skill, Lore, and Reactive Shield.
I don't agree with the premise that archetype feats should be generally stronger than base class abilities. Actually, I think they should be generally weaker, but have an ability that makes it shine in a specific circumstance. Standing next to an ally while you raise a shield is not specific enough to justify it being stronger IMO.