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Question about the free archetype optional rule (lemmy.ca)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I've noticed that many archetypes with a level 2 dedication feat simply don't have any level 4 feats. How does this work with the free archetype variant rule? Do you just discard the bonus feat slot at level 4? Also, does playing with this variant rule essentially make it impossible to take a level 4 dedication feat at level 4?

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[–] panachemidi 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

~~You can still take a feat from your regular class at level 4, you don’t need to exclusively pick feats from your archetype once you have its dedication.~~ I was wrong on that, I forgot that you get more free feats as you progress with your free archetype

There’s also nothing stopping you from picking any level 2 feat you’re eligible for at level 4, same goes for dedications. The feat level is really just a minimum level requirement.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

You can still take a feat from your regular class at level 4, you don’t need to exclusively pick feats from your archetype once you have its dedication.

No. Feat from free archetype has to be from its dedication and it cannot be skill feat. And unless the GM says otherwise, normally level 4 dedication can't be taken with free archetype at level 2 or 4 (level 6 is possible since in certain dedication you can get 2 feat in level 4).

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

My question is specifically about playing with the popular "Free Archetype" variant rule. With this variant rule, you gain an extra class feat slot every even level, but the slot can only be used on an archetype feat. That's where my question was coming from.

[–] panachemidi 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Ah got it. Though I’m surprised about those archetypes you mention with no lvl4 feats. What are those?

I’m guessing those archetypes are simply not compatible with the rule?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Sentinel was the first one I noticed with this property, but I'm sure there are others. Bastion almost has the same problem but it has 2 uncommon level 4 feats. I am not considering archetype skill feats to count since they cannot be taken as class feats per the free archetype rule, and even if they could, they can require skill proficiencies that a character may not have.

Edit: Red mantis has a similar problem if you are untrained in Religion, since the only level 4 feat for that archetype has "trained in religion" as a prerequisite

[–] panachemidi 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sentinel does have Steel Skin at level 4, no? I don’t see where it says that you can’t pick a skill feat if it also has the archetype trait on it

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Steel Skin is a survival skill feat. you can't take it if you are untrained in survival