Would a Wizard or Druid (Or any Arcane/Primal caster) who archetyped into Elementist still be a valid target for Halcyon Speaker?
Maybe.
It depends on how strict the GM wants to be.
The requirements for the Halcyon Archetype dedications don't require you to be a spellcaster at all. The Halcyon spells section does specifically mention Arcane and Primal spell lists.
So it wouldn't be a big invasive or game balance changing houserule to allow Halcyon spells to use Elementalist list instead. But it is a houserule. Getting the Magaambyan Attendant or Halcyon Speaker archetypes is not a houserule - though it may be of limited value without being able to fully use the spells.
It seems that by RAW I could make an Occult or Divine caster a Halcyon Speaker. Feels both fascinating and TGTBT.
In what way is it TGTBT? The dedication line uses its own spell slots and spell mechanics, it works the same for everyone.
Also "It seems that by RAW" kind of implies this is somehow an exploit or cheese? The feat has no spellcasting requirement. Its pre-requisite feat has no spellcasting requirement. The adventure path it was made for is basically built around the idea that everyone, regardless of class, takes the feat.
Why are we acting like this is some kind of esoteric exploit? It's no more noteworthy than taking Wizard Dedication on a fighter or cleric.
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It seems that by RAW I could make an Occult or Divine caster a Halcyon Speaker. Feels both fascinating and TGTBT.In what way is it TGTBT? The dedication line uses its own spell slots and spell mechanics, it works the same for everyone.
Also "It seems that by RAW" kind of implies this is somehow an exploit or cheese? The feat has no spellcasting requirement. Its pre-requisite feat has no spellcasting requirement. The adventure path it was made for is basically built around the idea that everyone, regardless of class, takes the feat.
Why are we acting like this is some kind of esoteric exploit? It's no more noteworthy than taking Wizard Dedication on a fighter or cleric.
It's merely that I always saw this archetype as aimed at primal and arcane casters who could use it to get spells from the other Tradition. I did not realize before that any Divine or Occult caster (like my Bard) could take it to get spells from 2 additional Traditions.
I feel it is too good to be true because it would give less benefits to the traditional students of the Magaambya (Druids and Wizards) and also because adding yet more Traditions to the halcyon mix is specifically a 10th level feat for Cascade Bearers only.
I honestly do not think a GM would allow my Bard to take this.
And I really believe the requirements are not well adjusted to the archetype nor to the school and should be changed to Primal or Arcane spellcaster. As Is, a pure martial could take it even though IIRC they would get zero benefit.
Also a few notes :
Halcyon Speaker was released on October 2019, whereas Strength of Thousands was released on august 2021. So the archetype was not created for this AP.
SoT gives a free Druid or Wizard archetype because Druids and Wizards are the traditional students of the school. So any PC of any Class is true but all PCs are also either Druids or Wizards or both.
Upside is that the Arcane/Primal caster can prepare spells in their base slots up to their max Halcyon Spells. Divine/Occult simply can not.
I feel it is too good to be true because it would give less benefits to the traditional students of the Magaambya (Druids and Wizards) and also because adding yet more Traditions to the halcyon mix is specifically a 10th level feat for Cascade Bearers only.
It's not 'adding more traditions' though, Halcyon is still arcane and primal, you're just using it on a different base class.
Disagree about 'less benefits' either, none of the arcane/primal/halcyon effects interact with a Bard's existing spell slots, so you're getting a lot less benefit from all of those options. And the "too good to be true" benefit you do get is... a first level spell slot at level 6.
As Is, a pure martial could take it even though IIRC they would get zero benefit.
Why wouldn't they? The dedication comes with its own spell slots.