Pathfinder offers a lot of classes for players to choose from, and some of the best are those that can't be found in Dungeons and Dragons. The variety of flavors on display can fit almost any roleplaying approach, and the classes provide plenty of bases to design interesting characters. The unique classes of Pathfinder are particularly strong in that aspect.
When building a character in Pathfinder, players have to select from an array of classes to assign to them. Many of these classes are classical fantasy archetypes like barbarians and wizards, like Dungeons and Dragons. Where Pathfinder gets more interesting though, is in its more unique classes. There are a few classes that have a slate of distinctive abilities, helping to differentiate Pathfinder from Dungeons and Dragons through their existence. The unique traits of these classes can help players make a more interesting set of adventurers in their next campaign.
Pathfinder's Witches Are A Thoroughly Unique Spellcasting Class
Wizards have been a mainstay in tabletop RPGs since the beginning, being present way back in the first edition of Dungeons and Dragons. Pathfinder's witch class is far from being a copy of the classic wizard, though. While both are arcane casters, the witch is more similar to a warlock, receiving powers from an otherworldly source. The witch also has a few tricks of their own, making them a class that can do things that other casters cannot.
One unique trait of a witch is their familiar. The familiar can not only travel alongside the witch and fight against their enemies, like animal companions from Pathfinder: Kingmaker, but they also provide the witch with a variety of class-specific bonuses. These include the ability to have the familiar assist in spellcasting, or skill bonuses that depend on the familiar in question. The witch has a good amount of followers to choose from, including some interesting and unusual options such as vipers, large centipedes, or even a tiny dinosaur. These familiars are not only helpful, but they also form a part of the witch's identity.
Just as important as a witch's familiar is their hexes. Hexes are a set of spell-like abilities that witches have access to, similar to an extra set of cantrips. Hexes have a wide variety of effects, ranging from granting themselves new powers to debilitating enemies. High-level witches can also obtain major and greater hexes, many of which have powerful effects that can completely turn an encounter when used. These extraordinary powers can make the witch one of Pathfinder's best magic-using classes.
The witch is a unique caster variant that gives players a lot of options to play around with. Their spell list and class skills make them highly versatile, and the basis of their class offers them just as many possibilities as Dungeons and Dragons' warlock class, if not more. Players who love magic will find a lot to like about Pathfinder's witches.
Gunslingers Bring Daring, Dynamic Combat Feats To Pathfinder
Guns feel like a concept that would not appear in a game like Pathfinder unless they were added through homebrew builds. In actuality, there is an entire class based around firearms. They're essentially a fighter that uses guns instead of melee weapons to fight, a choice that seems odder than even Dungeons and Dragons' most obscure weapons. They even get a starting weapon that only works in their hands, emphasizing their rare weapon choice and mechanical brilliance. Even more impressive than the gunslinger's weapon is the tricks they can employ in a fight.
Gunslingers have a unique resource called grit. Much like a monk's ki, gunslingers use their grit to perform impressive feats in the heat of battle. These include trick shots, as well as single shots precisely aimed to deal maximum damage. They can even stem the bleeding of their own wounds with a hot gun barrel. As a bonus, gunslingers have several methods to restore their grit. Landing critical hits, slaying enemies, and performing acts that are deemed sufficiently brave can all recover grit. The more exciting the gunslinger, the more effective they can be.
Combat in tabletop RPGs should be fun, and gunslingers are designed to ensure that it is. They benefit from turning every fight into a cinematic shootout, with every maneuver granting them the chance to go for another trick shot. Players familiar with playing fighters or monks will be able to apply many aspects of those classes to the gunslinger. They may seem anachronistic at first glance, but the fantastical world of Pathfinder suits such a dynamic warrior perfectly. Anyone looking for ways to make combat more exciting would benefit from giving a gunslinger a try.
The Investigator Is Pathfinder's Most Intellectual Adventurer
Most RPG classes focus on the sheer might of the character in question. Be it the crushing strength of a barbarian or a wizard's destructive magical potential, a character's potential power is often emphasized in their description. On the contrary, Pathfinder's investigator class that is characterized not by its combat prowess, but by its cleverness and wisdom. Those learning Pathfinder's classes for the first time will see a unique flavor in the investigator.
Investigators are highly trained in several fields, and that comes through in their class skills. Their Inspiration ability can give them a bonus on any skill check, and they combine the alchemist's knowledge of alchemy with the rogue's skill in finding traps. Despite their combat ability being their weakest aspect, they even receive some assistance with Studied Combat and Studied Strike, giving the investigator a bonus against enemies that they specifically focus on. These skills can be improved as the campaign goes on thanks to investigation talents, which grant a new bonus every two levels.
Investigators are the ultimate utility players in Pathfinder. They can be an archeologist, a detective, or any sort of character who could play a jack of all trades. A mystery-themed campaign in Pathfinder would be ideal for an investigator, but they can thrive in almost any environment. In a way, a good investigator can play like Batman without martial arts skills. The investigator's relative lack of combat abilities makes them an unusual choice for some, but their keen mind ensures that they will always be an asset.
Pathfinder's selection of classes offers players a lot of ideas to work with. They can play more traditional character archetypes, or take some of the game's more eclectic classes to make a completely new type of adventurer. Pathfinder gives players a chance to make characters that wouldn't be able to exist in other systems like Dungeons and Dragons.
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