Pathfinder Launches Playtest for Necromancer and Runesmith Classes

Paizo is launching a new playtest for two new Pathfinder 2E classes - the Necromancer and Runesmith - starting today. Announced during a stream last week, Paizo will launch the playtest on both its Pathfinder Playtest website and Demiplane starting today. The necromancer is described as a prepared caster class that can summon disposable thralls to the field to hinder (or explode in the vicinity of) enemies, while the runesmith is a martial class that buffs themselves and allies via etched runes or alternatively debuffing foes.

The timing of the new playtest is interesting, as it signals a possible second set of classes released for Pathfinder 2E in 2025. Typically, Paizo releases a core rulebook in the summer months that adds new playtests to the game. So far, Pathfinder has 25 classes, with two more (the commander and guardian) set for release as part of the upcoming 2025 rulebook Battlecry. The fact that this playtest is named Impossible hints at a return to the Impossible Lands next year or in early 2026.

The playtest will run from December 9th through January 31st, 2025.

 

[mewzard]

This is why I don't do multiclass, I will let a person use a feat to gain a single feature of one. But they have to meet the requirements of level and ability to do it, also it is locked at that level unless they devote another feat to increase it or improve it. I also will make sub-classes for players so they don't have to multiclass.

Well, bright side for Pathfinder Second Edition, that's not how multiclassing works in it. You always gain levels in your core class. You can choose to spend class feats (and sometimes skill feats) on the archetype of your choice, including Multiclass Archetypes.

Or your GM can let you use the Free Archetype variant rule for a free Archetype feat every two levels.

On the subject of the classes, looking forward to the Necromancer, it looks fun.

 

[Ramaster]

Just went over the classes and they look really fun! Low level Necros might be a bit iffy with the ammount of thralls they get, and the Rune Dude might run into issues with action economy, but they seem super fun in general.

 

[PvtTommyAtkins]

I'm excited to see this take on two ideas that I really love. Necromancers tend to be very gimmicky when a class is built for them and I often feel it is a good for for A necromancer, but not ALL necromancers. This looks pretty viable actually.

 

[SpellObjectEnthusiast]

Yet somewhere someone has a build that takes a dip in to everyone of them culminating in a 32nd level character that can cast a 69d6 fireball, burrow 120ft a round, and make knowledge (geography) skill test at +56..

Me critiquing 5th Edition D&D:

"Man, ThAC0 is really confusing and I'm not really a fan of the thief class."

 

[enrious]

No, PF2e isn't like 1e. Please disregard comments that imply otherwise.

 

[sevenbastard]

Me critiquing 5th Edition D&D:

"Man, ThAC0 is really confusing and I'm not really a fan of the thief class."

thief is a subclass in 5e, but I agree it's not optimal.

jokes aside I view all post 2e D&D to have leaned to far into the trap of charachter builds. When you tell me a game has over 20 classes I get anxiety about building my charachter.

 

[enrious]

And yet PF2e building isn't really like any other post 2e edition. That's why it's easy to spot the commenter's who know nothing about 2e because they make multiclassing in 2e seem the same as in 3, 5, or pf1.

 

[Velderan]

Guess I’d need my hero labs account again to keep up with it like I did with the pathfinder 1e. Or is it that complicated? The 1e was due to the 2k feats back then.

It's generally pretty siloed for which feats you can actually take, with your choices often limited by your previously selected feats. Probably worth mentioning we play online using Foundry VTT and use Pathbuilder for making characters which helps you find things easier. I imagine playing offline and allowing character options from any book would feel pretty overwhelming if you're not completely into the system. If I were new and playing offline, I would probably suggest limiting your source material to just Player Core and Player Core 2 or Core Rulebook and Advanced Player's Guide if you're playing legacy rules, unless you're playing some specific like the Season of Ghosts AP and want to allow Tian Xia character options.

As @Koloth mentioned, you can always export a Pathbuilder character sheet to PDF to print and use it offline. The developer Redrazors does great work!

 

[Superchunk77]

No, PF2e isn't like 1e. Please disregard comments that imply otherwise.

Correct, it's closer to D&D 4e, but still distinct.

 

[Vincent55]

Well, bright side for Pathfinder Second Edition, that's not how multiclassing works in it. You always gain levels in your core class. You can choose to spend class feats (and sometimes skill feats) on the archetype of your choice, including Multiclass Archetypes.

Or your GM can let you use the Free Archetype variant rule for a free Archetype feat every two levels.

On the subject of the classes, looking forward to the Necromancer, it looks fun.

have not really looked at this system i guess i many have to if what you say is true.