What is the difference between Pathfinder and Starfinder archetypes?
Unlike Pathfinder archetypes, which must be designed for a single specific character class it can be added to, Starfinder archetypes are designed to be applicable to any character class.
What is an archetype in D&D?
An archetype generally grants abilities that aren’t otherwise available to characters through a class, or it may grant easier access to a specific set of appropriate abilities. In general, these abilities aren’t tied to the background of any one core class or theme and aren’t available to characters via other sources.
Do Starfinder archetypes and themes tie your shoes?
They do not, however, tie your shoes. Archetypes and Themes are an extra layer of customization on top of that. Archetypes work differently than they do in Pathfinder (Pathfinder Archetypes are probably closer to Starfinder’s specializations), so let’s take a closer look at those.
How do archetypes work with classes?
An archetype thus becomes part of the class you attach it to, and that class loses a pre-determined ability at the levels the archetype grants you an alternative. For example, the Starfinder Core Rulebook has two archetypes—the phrenic adept and the Starfinder forerunner.
How do I get an archetype?
You can gain an archetype when you achieve a new class level in an eligible class matching the earliest level for which the archetype offers an alternate class feature. The archetype is then considered part of the class you gain a level in when you level up.
What is the difference between an archetype and a theme?
Archetypes work differently than they do in Pathfinder (Pathfinder Archetypes are probably closer to Starfinder’s specializations), so let’s take a closer look at those. According to the core rule book: An archetype is a character concept more specific and involved than a theme, but not as comprehensive or broad as a class.