MCDs are very very broad, Archer and Beastmaster and whatnot are very focused.
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I think the short answer is that archetypes don't match each other because they do not have the same intent. The size of the pool of options granted is almost certainly taken into account.
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I think the half level is too much of a penalty for class archetypes.
A tax makes sense but idk why it scales instead of being say a flat 4 levels.
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It seams as if class feat access is very inconsistent based on the archetypes you choose. I am not sure why this is so it makes it feel arbitrary and less about consistency. I will provide 3 examples of the differences noticed.
Multi-Class archetype gives access to feats at 1/2 your main class level. Meaning at 20th level 10th level is the highest feat you can take.
Archer archetype gives you access to bonus feats you can take and these feats are at a 2 level penalty from when you get them with the class they come from and even provides access to as high as a 16th level fighter feat.
Beast Master archetype gives you access to druid animal companion feats at the same point as a druid.
I understand that Archer and beast master are selective about what feats you have access to unlike multi-class that has no restrictions on feats other then the level restrictions. So why do some give equal access others delayed access and multi class reductive access?
As you notice, multiclass archetypes give you access to any of the class' feats, but at a slow pace. Which makes sense, they want to make sure each class keeps it's special stuff to itself for long enough that other classes don't come and steal it so early that there's no reason left to play that class as a primary class.
But what about archer vs. beastmaster?
Well, it would be weird if archer got all the archery feats just as fast as the primary martial classes that do archery. But if being an archer is your thing, waiting for it forever would also be too long. So the 2 level delay instead of 2x level delay.
For beastmaster it's a bit different. If you even had to wait 2 levels for animal companions to grow stronger, they'd be extremely weak and practically useless. So it really needs to be on the fastest schedule.
Multi-Class archetype gives access to feats at 1/2 your main class level. Meaning at 20th level 10th level is the highest feat you can take.
In my opinion, it's a protective measure.
Developpers can easily release strong class feats without being scared of multiclass combos as long as they release them above level 6. Archetypes, on the other hand, are by definition there to provide multiclass combos. So they have to be conservative with the feats provided but at the same time it's easy to limit them.
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Multi-Class archetype gives access to feats at 1/2 your main class level. Meaning at 20th level 10th level is the highest feat you can take.In my opinion, it's a protective measure.
Developpers can easily release strong class feats without being scared of multiclass combos as long as they release them above level 6. Archetypes, on the other hand, are by definition there to provide multiclass combos. So they have to be conservative with the feats provided but at the same time it's easy to limit them.
In my opinion, its also a feature that is actually working very, very well.
I still see quite a few multiclassed characters. When I'm building my own characters I still strongly consider multiclass archetypes that fit. Multiclassing is still a very, very viable alternative for multiple builds (very often still the optimal or only alternative for a particular build).
Even with the very focused archetypes it is still the case that multiclass archetypes are still quite attractive. So, for example, let us assume that I want my fighter to have a familiar for <reasons>. Obviously, the Familiar Master archetypes is a very, very attractive option. But so is multiclassing into druid (or witch or ...). My familiar will definitely be better for less cost if I just go Familiar Master but there is a tradeoff. Spell casting is kinda nice and useful :-).
I think the system is working just fine right now. Lots of choices with tradeoffs, rarely is there one clearly optimal choice.
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In my opinion, the biggest assets of multiclassing are not the class feats, but the dedication feats. Getting Attack of Opportunity as a 4th level feat, or being able to cast up to 8th level spells and get Master Proficiency in casting, or grab a specific Focus Spell, etc...
There are, sometimes, low level feats worth multiclassing, like Dangerous Sorcery. But I think they are exceptions and may slowly be incorporated into archetypes (and I'll find that logical as I don't see why only Sorcerers would get a bonus to damaging spells).
I agree, the Archetypes get "earlier" feat access than the MCD's b/c it is more focused, so you can better control super-powerful combos.
Archers gets most of the fighter archery feats, but usually 2 levels later. But they don't get access to say, Stance Savant or Determination or Blindfight or Incredible aim or combat reflexes. While you get Advanced Bow Training, it is much more narrow than Advance Weapon Training. All of these are really good Fighter Archer feats that an Archer Archetype can't get.
What feats are there that are more powerful then giving access to 8th level spells. Yes feats are used every round in theory and spells are one time shots still they are not even in the same powers as what spells you may pick up.
They are not looking at the size of the pool because some archetypes have no bonus feat pool at all (ie Acrobat, Celebrity...).
I realize that animal companions would be bad at that point but lets say your a ranger it and want one it is better for you to get Beast Master Dedication at level 2 then animal companion feat at level 1 because the ranger animal feats are delayed by 2 levels. I see no reason for this difference.
Also some of them are arbitrary archer does not have access to Impossible volley but Eldritch Archer does.
You just named a feat that is stronger than ONE 8th level spell per day. Literally every round you get an AoE with an attack likely higher than the MCD Wizard. I think that most level 18 feats (and many level 16 feats) are going to be as strong or stronger than a single level 8 spell.
Beast Master feats are a bit of a wash vs. Ranger, some feats come ahead, some come behind.
Yes, some of them are arbitrary, but maybe an archetype shouldn't be better than the native class? Maybe the Fighter should be allowed to have nice things too?
But 8th level spells just utterly outclass it. Horrid Wilting for example does an average of 55 damage, about twice as much, and even on a failed save does comparable damage. And it can target *any* number of targets within 500ft. And that is just one choice you can make and you get the other spell levels as well.That is part of my problem is fighters don't have enough nice things but that is a different thing entirely.
Once. Just once. Yes Horrid Wilting is GREAT. But you only get the one spell, at 20th level. I am saying that a level 18 feat is much better than any 8th level spell because you can use it more than ONCE per day.
All the increase your companion feats you come out ahead on in beastmaster over ranger. Not some ahead and some behind. The only thing that is delayed is getting the companion at 2nd level rather then 1st. If you are a ranger there is no reason you should take Animal Companion over Beastmaster Dedication.
Yes the increases are at a higher level, but the other Companion feats are at lower levels. I agree that seems like a problem, but not a major one.
Why have multi-class dedications at all if you are going to limit the feat pools or have to take other dedications as well. The class archetypes really only work for the caster classes. And maybe champion and Barbarian. This also shows why fighters and rangers don't get enough cool things of their own. Maybe fighters need more feats or entry into an archetype for free at first level. But again this is really a different problem. The question is why the inconsistency with feat access levels.
Why would a fighter need to get an archetype for free? Most of these archetypes just grant access to a subset of fighter feats.
Once. Just once. Yes Horrid Wilting is GREAT. But you only get the one spell, at 20th level. I am saying that a level 18 feat is much better than any 8th level spell because you can use it more than ONCE per day.
Well, the power of that an 8th level spell has depends on your number of encounters you have per day. In a sandbox exploration type game where you where you only have 1 encounter a day means you can cast an 8th level spell for every encounter of the day.
On the flip side, more encounters makes a single spell less powerful as it's usable less often in the day. It's hard to pin a specific weight to the spell because of this outside a specific game. And then you have to take into account that fighter HAS 1/day feats like Determination too.