Talk:Archaeologist (Pathfinder Class)

I don't know what to say about the class balance, I'd love someone else to take a look and give it an assessment. Thanks!

Will hopefully take a look at it tomorrow, but for what it's worth, Pathfinder generally stays in Moderate range for much of the game, with spellcasters venturing into High range and VERY rarely into Very High range. Seeing as this is a non-caster, and assuming that you've balanced it according to what similar Pathfinder non-spellcasters can do, I'd peg it at Moderate. With that said, don't take my word for it as I've yet to read the class, but hopefully that should give you a general direction. --Ghostwheel (talk) 00:09, 30 September 2015 (UTC)

Alrighty, let's take a look at this. I'll give it a level-by-level breakdown.

1. Grit: Since you're doing the gunslinger route, shouldn't you add a free firearm, like the gunslinger does? Polyglot: People who invest heavily in Linguistics are going to use up virtually all the languages in any campaign. With a high starting Int, I'm not sure this is really needed. Perhaps instead have this start as Comprehend Languages by spending 1 grit, upgrading to Tongues at some level? Encyclopedic Knowledge: Skill checks are ridiculously easy to pump up. At higher levels, there are items that give up to +30 to a knowledge skill. I would make this a bonus scaling by level if you make an Intelligence + Level check (DC 15 + CR of targets) with the bonus starting at +1 and increasing by +1 at level 5 and every 5 levels hence. Plus, take into account that guns virtually auto-hit at high levels. Thus, Twist the Knife is INCREDIBLY powerful, and I'd tone that one way down. Compare to the Pistolero archetype which needs to spend a grit point to do something similar. Perhaps spend a grit point to auto-succeed on the check?
2. Clever Explorer seems fine, though a bit unneeded since in general it's very easy to boost skills if you really need it. Plus you're kinda stepping hard on the rogue's toes. Danger Sense looks fine. Very Indiana Jones-y. Whip Mastery: Yep.
3. It Belongs in a Museum is waaaay powerful since you can effectively stack things tons of times, especially what with wealth being a river (craft items, trade them for super-bonuses). Imagine +10 to AC and saves, or an ability score, or 10 bonus feats, and so on. At the very least, make them not stack, and expect the entire list (up to artifacts) to eventually be added to the character. Take that into account on how much power the class should have. I would also bump Pistol Training up to level 5 to put it at the same level as the Gunslinger, but honestly with Encyclopedic Knowledge it's unneeded, and the combination of the two plus gaining all the Gunslinger's tricks makes this power creep compared to the Gunslinger.
4. Quick Draw seems fine at this level. Favorite Professor now puts the Bard to shame as well, especially if you roll high on the check and get +4 to attack or +4d6 (more likely) to everyone's attacks. If you really want to keep it, I'd keep it at +1 at all levels. Lore Master seems fine, if you make the above changes to Encyclopedic Knowledge. Improved Whip Mastery is strong for free, but makes sense.
5. Obtainer of Rare Antiquities is quite strong, but I think it's fine since you're focusing on that. Reasoned Defense on the other hand is probably too strong for Pathfinder. I'd limit it to no armor, since Indy never wandered around in armor.
6. Not much at this level to comment on.
7. Greater Whip Mastery is very powerful, but makes sense.
8. Favored Enemy is more powerful than the Ranger version, but I think it's fine.
9. Not much at this level to comment on.
10. Not much at this level to comment on.
11. Whip Controller should be bumped to a lower level in my opinion, if you want Int-focused archaeologists. Put it at level 8 so archaeologists can use it as soon as they can make CMB checks with a whip.

Hopefully that helps. As it is, I'd balance it as Unquantifiable due to the semi-infinite stacking bonuses. --Ghostwheel (talk) 23:52, 30 September 2015 (UTC)

If it's alright, I'll update the balance to unquant, since it has so much variability depending on whether you can sell huge items using It Belongs in a Museum. Feel free to change it when you come back :-) --Ghostwheel (talk) 16:51, 2 October 2015 (UTC)