We've heard our fans loud and clear and a lot of you want some Pathfinder content. So, we're starting slow by going over some more basic stuff for those who don't dabble in Pathfinder a lot. We're still going to feature 5E content, too, just less of it for now. We've previously gone over the basic character classes featured in the Pathfinder 2E core rulebook, but there are a few other classes featured in other Pathfinder source books which players are free to use at the discretion of their GMs. We're going to go over them here.
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GUNSLINGER
Found in the pages of Guns & Gears, the Gunslinger class brings a touch of the old west into your fantasy campaign. Gunslingers savor the searing flash, wild kick, and cloying smoke that accompanies every gunshot, and their accuracy is extremely deadly. Their primary attribute is Dexterity, although a high Constitution would also help. Choose a Gunslinger if you want to strike your enemies with firearms from range and put them down before they have a chance to pose a real threat.
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INVENTOR
Found in the pages of Guns & Gears, the Inventor class brings a bit of ingenuity to the table in the form of unique inventions. Inventors dream up wonderous experiments and contraptions to help the party in various ways. Innovative and extremely intelligent, Inventors make a great support class. The primary attribute for an Inventor is Intelligence, but depending on the type of Inventor you wish your character to be, you may want to raise other stats based on your needs. Choose an Inventor if you want to constantly be tinkering and coming up with new gadgets to try on your friends OR enemies.
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INVESTIGATOR
Found in the pages of the Advanced Player's Guide, the Investigator class doggedly pursues leads to reveal the plots of nefarious villains, discover ancient secrets, or unravel other mysteries. Analytical and highly intelligent, Investigators wield knowledge as a weapon. The primary attribute of an Investigator is Intelligence, and depending on what sort of Investigator character you'd like to play there are lots of options for a secondary attribute to prioritize. Choose an Investigator if you want to be the fantasy equivalent of Sherlock Holmes, finding clues and exploiting your knowledge of the situation to come out on top.
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MAGUS
Contained within the pages of Secrets of Magic, the Magus class is what happens when you combine the martial prowess of a Fighter with the spellcasting abilities of a Mage. Magus characters seek to perfect the art of fusing spells with their hard-hitting strikes, creating a formidable double-specialty hybrid that enemies will learn to fear. The primary attributes of a Magus character are Strength and Dexterity. Intelligence should also be as high as you can make it, too. Choose a Magus if you want to be a Warrior who has more versatility under their belt.
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ORACLE
The Oracle class, found within the pages of the Advanced Player's Guide, is a conduit to divine power that shoves aside the necessity for the traditional channels of prayer and servitude and replaces them with an innate understanding of the complete universe and all the gods within - and the Oracle's powers could be considered both a miraculous gift but also a double-edged sword from the gods, as the Oracle's abilities to cast miraculous spells are balanced by a curse that grows stronger the more they draw upon their powers. The primary attribute of an Oracle is Charisma. Choose an Oracle if you want a character with powers similar to Clerics and Paladins, but don't want the religious undertones.
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PSYCHIC
From the pages of Dark Archive, the Psychic class are individuals who possess the power to cast spells not through incantations and hand gestures, but through the power of their minds and sheer will alone. With Psychics, anything is possible within the realm of imagination. The key attributes of Psychics are Intelligence and Charisma. Choose a Psychic if you wish to be a formidable foe to supernatural threats that may go unseen by normal adventurers without the benefit of a mind's eye.
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SUMMONER
Summoners, who are found within the pages of Secrets of Magic, possess the ability to summon a powerful magical being called an Eidolon to their side. Eidolons fight at the side of the Summoner, allowing them more room to cast spells and focus on the battle at hand without being embroiled in hand-to-hand combat on a personal level. The primary attribute of a Summoner is Charisma, although as with all spellcaster classes, having a high Dexterity and/or Constitution is very helpful. Choose a Summoner if you like the idea of being friends with a magical being who will fight for your preservation at all costs.
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SWASHBUCKLER
For Swashbucklers, found in the pages of the Advanced Player's Guide, battle is a dance where they move among foes with style and grace. Their more uptight counterparts like the Fighter or Barbarian rely on brute force, weighty armor, or cumbersome weapons. By contrast, Swashbucklers dart among combatants with flair as well as some insults and quips to keep their enemies enraged and off balance. The primary attribute of a Swashbuckler is Dexterity. Choose a Swashbuckler if you want to be the center of attention as a roguish braggart or a heroic daredevil.
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THAUMATURGE
The Thaumaturge, found in the pages of the Dark Archive, has seen every creature and knows every secret. Each Thaumaturge combines their skill at arms with their ability to exploit a monster's weakness which makes them a very good support class - buffing allies and weakening enemies. The primary attribute of a Thaumaturge is Charisma although the higher you can raise all your other stats, the better. Choose a Thaumaturge if you wish to support your allies in battle and like the idea of possessing a special and powerful object with supernatural abilities.
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WITCH
The Witch class, found in the pages of the Advanced Player's Guide, commands powerful magic not through study or devotion but from a mysterious otherworldly patron that even they do not fully understand. Witches also all have a connection to a Familiar - an animal directly linking their power to that of the patron. The primary attribute for the Witch is Intelligence. Choose a Witch if you like the idea of having a pet and being able to unleash a slew of magical abilities against your foes.
Well, that's all for the Pathfinder specialty classes. Within the short description for each, I've included a link to the books where each class is found, which should come in handy to newer players of Pathfinder like me. Remember, we've also done a blog post detailing all the main classes found in the regular Core Rulebook. With the sheer number of possibilities at your disposal for Pathfinder character classes, there shouldn't be an issue with creating the exact character you want to roleplay for your game. Let us know about your favorite Pathfinder characters or source books in the comments below! - Joe