What do people feel about this now that there are a whole bunch of archetypes to pick from?
How in general do the non-multiclass archetypes stack up to the multiclass ones? (I am aware that for some class combinations the multiclass ones are pretty sub par but I mean in general)
I guess I wonder whether in implementing this variant it would be fine for it to be "all" archetypes or just the non-multiclass ones...?
I am talking about a "free selection" version of this rule rather than a superhero/pirate/knight etc game where everyone gets the same archetype
I really love Free Archetype. In my game, I only gave people a free Dedication (not all the extra feats), but that's mostly because my players are somewhat new and would be overwhelmed with having so many feats and decisions to make. The complete rule is just as awesome.
Well my group have been playing in a short Sunday evening slot in a sandboxy game so are not yet level 2 after 8 weeks so I am hoping the decisions are sufficiently staggered
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Free archetype with no limitations is pretty sweet. I'm finding it might be my default rule system, since it's easier to pitch than double class feats but has similar build opening benefits.
I highly recommend trying it out.
its my favorite way to play 2e. maximum options with minimal power boost.
I asked mainly because it seems like a couple of my PCs don't have obvious archetype fits from the new ones
Well, archetypes are usually taken via class feats, so the obvious alternative to taking an archetype is taking more feats from your original class.
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Just a couple of ideas for campaigns in which everyone gets a free archetype:
- The PCs are all students at the Magaambya Academy in Garund (Magaambyan Attendant + Halcyon Speaker)
- The PCs are all members of the same knightly order (Cavalier)
- The PCs are all the children of an ancient dragon and want to help their parent out/take their parent down (Dragon Disciple, with access granted to all classes)
- The PCs are all members of an Assassin's Guild (Assassin or Poisoner)
- The PCs all studied under one of the foremost weaponmasters in the world (Duelist, Dual-Weapon Warrior, Martial Artist, or Mauler)
I asked mainly because it seems like a couple of my PCs don't have obvious archetype fits from the new ones
What are their builds? Maybe we can suggest some good options.
I really love it. Archetypes seem like the main way to enable things that your class doesn't normally do or expand upon a specific element or feature that's not normally a central idea.
Feats are kind of a big bottleneck in PF2 so free archetype works really well imo, as otherwise a character is often spending a lot of resources just turning a build on without actually feeling like they're making forward progress per se.
its my favorite way to play 2e. maximum options with minimal power boost.
Is it really minimal (genuine question, not rhetorical or sarcastic)? The free feats every other level seem like they could be very powerful.
its my favorite way to play 2e. maximum options with minimal power boost.Is it really minimal (genuine question, not rhetorical or sarcastic)? The free feats every other level seem like they could be very powerful.
Before the APG, it was a very mild power boost. With the APG, and the archetypes like Sentinel which enable certain things, the power boost has grown a bit.
Overall, however, the total boost in power is not alarming, especially if you maintain the 3 feats per archetype before moving on thing.
I've found in frequent cases a character that went all in on archetypes under the default rules is far weaker than a single classed character, because they have to spread their stats around, take feat taxes, and still only have the same 3 actions a round as everyone else. With free archetypes, a multiclassed character starts to feel viable, and before level 14.
In short, the action economy provides a significant cap on just how much trouble a character can get into round to round, and archetypes tend to increase power in modest ways while expanding options and staying power.
