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?
I don’t see a specific rule for this, but I would just let them ignore the restriction of picking a certain number of archetype feats before selecting a new archetype. There’s nothing preventing you from picking a 2nd level feat at level 4.
I would just let them ignore the restriction of picking a certain number of archetype feats before selecting a new archetype
That seems reasonable.
There’s nothing preventing you from picking a 2nd level feat at level 4.
I realize now that my question was a bit ambiguous, but I was specifically talking about the bonus feat slot from the variant rule.
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 archetypeThere’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.
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).
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.
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?
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
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
Steel Skin is a survival skill feat. you can’t take it if you are untrained in survival
Playing with free archetype almost inevitably requires making house rules to accommodate it. You level 4 issue can actually start at level 2, as there are sub-classes that can grant a multiclass dedication feat as a class feature, and at least 1 racial feat that can grant a multiclass dedication.
Yeah good point. It wasn’t top of mind when I made this post but elves and rogues are another big blind spot.
