Free Archetype for AV?

[SerraAngel]

I've started the Adventure Path, and so far am loving it. I have a 5th player who will be along, and after learning about the Free Archetype Variant Rule, they were very insistent on wanting to use it. The rest of the players agree, but ultimately care about my input as a DM, and all are willing to play with or without it. I personally love Free Archetype as a DM and as a Player, but I am nervous about using it in a AP. Should I use it? Would I have to change the modules if I did? Or just be slightly more of a "hardcase" when it comes to the rules?

[Zapp]

That variant has a far lesser impact than having 5 heroes in your party.

It's nothing like old gestalt rules or something.

You already need to consider tweaking the encounters because of five players; I don't think you need additional worry because of Free Archetype.

[SerraAngel]

Oh I already have been adjusting encounters for 5 people(even have a Gunslinger. Added a Dwarven Gunsmith NPC to sell guns and teach the 'slinger how to use them.). I was mainly concerned that the extra feats might give them more power since there is 5 people. Thanks for your input :D

[vagrant-poet]

Only in a very small set of situations does free archetype result in a power increase.

[Zapp]

SerraAngel wrote:

I was mainly concerned that the extra feats might give them more power since there is 5 people.

I don't see Free Archetype giving more power to a 5-man party relative to what the variant gives a 4-man party.

If it adds 10% oomph to one character it adds 10% oomph to a party.

What you could consider is asking your players to not select two combat-related archetypes.

For instance using Free Archetype to allow a character to, I dunno, both be an Acrobat and an Assassin might be okay, since one archetype deepens your character backstory and explains what she's doing between adventures, while the other adds combat options.

But taking two minmaxed combat options might be something you could ask your players to voluntarily stay away from. Likewise two multiclass archetypes. And so on.

Have a look at the Archetypes landing page over at Nethys:
https://2e.aonprd.com/Archetypes.aspx. Notice the categories, the Combat Style category, the Core category and so on.

When I offered Free Archetype I limited the offering to the Profession category. Meaning you got a Profession archetype for free. You could still select another Archetype (any one) at the same time.

Note that the rulebooks doesn't seem to use this categorization - I only find it at Nethys. I find it quite neat tho.

You just couldn't choose two minmaxed combat archetypes.

Anyway good luck with your game. Remember: with five players the actual NEED for the Free Archetype variant is greatly lessened, since five heroes have a much easier time covering every important skill and ability without compromising the core character idea.