Racial Archetypes: Rule or guideline?

[Xuldarinar]

Just a question I'd like to pose to the playground, looking for a consensus: Would you say racial archetypes are limited to their race as a strict rule, or would you say it is generally just a guideline? Would there be a problem with a member of a race other than that the racial archetype is for to enter into the archetype?


Im expecting an 'It depends'.

[Dusk Eclipse]

Considering that Paizo thought of clarifying that half-elf and half-orcs qualify for Human archetype based on their Elf/Orc blood racial feature, I think it is a hard rule that you need to be of the race or have an specific permission like the half-elves/orcs.

[Kudaku]

Generally speaking it's a rule rather than a guideline, but if a player has a good explanation for why his character should be a specific archetype despite being a different race I'd probably be OK with it.

[grarrrg]

It depends on the specific archetype, but -most- should have no trouble applying to other races.
As long as you can meet the Fluff requirements, and the occasional "physical" requirement, I see no reason not to allow them to other races. Keep in mind this is a still a case-by-case basis, not a blanket "go nuts".

Examples:
Allowable: Buccaneer (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/core-races/human/buccaneer-gunslinger-human) > Human-only, there is really no reason other races can't play "gun-pirate" just as well as a Human.

Foehammer (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/core-races/dwarf/foehammer-fighter-dwarf)> Dwarf-only, you're good with Hammers. Hooray.



Less allowable: Elemental Knight (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/other-races/uncommon-races/arg-suli/elemental-knight-magus-suli) > Suli-only, mainly due to running off of a Race-feature (Elemental Assault). With tweaks I could see it working for the 'elemental races' (Ifrit, Oread, etc...), but beyond that it should be a no.

Airborne Ambusher (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/other-races/uncommon-races/arg-strix/airborne-ambusher-fighter-strix) > Strix-only, considering Strix are the only race to get Flying right from the start, this makes sense as a Strix-only archetype. If a different race gains _permanent_ flying somehow, I could see allowing this class after that.


Considering that Paizo thought of clarifying that half-elf and half-orcs qualify for Human archetype based on their Elf/Orc blood racial feature

I thought Paizo only made that ruling due to the _massive_ player backlash of the original ruling that they could NOT take Human archetypes/stuff, which just spit in the face of common sense and "counts as a human" and all that.

[Dusk Eclipse]

I don't know, I just recently started getting into Paizo stuff and I just checked the half-elf entry in the PFSRD which has that ruling in a side-bar.

[CockroachTeaParty]

Isn't there a trait that lets you count as another race for prerequisite purposes? Or a feat? Maybe the trait was just to qualify for race-only traits...

[Psyren]

Here's what ARG has to say:


Typically, only members of the section’s
race can take the listed archetype, bloodline, or order,
though such options rarely interact with the racial traits
or alternate racial traits of that race. An archetype usually
features a thematic link to the race, granting it class
features that complement the abilities and the background
of the race. Because adventurers are often societal outliers,
sometimes these archetypes feature a theme that is the
exception to the norm for racial tendencies.

"Typically" gives your DM enough wiggle-room to say "okay, you're the exception to the rule, go nuts." And as the last sentence rightly states, adventurers have good reason to be exceptional.


Isn't there a trait that lets you count as another race for prerequisite purposes? Or a feat? Maybe the trait was just to qualify for race-only traits...

Adopted (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/social-traits/adopted) only applies to racial traits. However, Racial Heritage (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/racial-feats/racial-heritage) applies to anything, including archetypes. This gives you a lot of choices if your DM is being rigid about it, because humans are human, the half-races are human, and the planetouched races are all human.