[RPG] If an ability replaces Armor Training, is it all Armor Training, or just that level of Armor Training

archetypeclass-featurefighterpathfinder-1e

The Viking archetype (People of the North, p. 25) have:

Shield Defense (Ex): Starting at 3rd level, a Viking learns the art of fighting with a shield. Whenever she is wearing medium, light, or no armor and wielding a shield, the Viking's shield bonus to AC increases by 1. Every 4 levels thereafter (7th, 11th, and 15th), this bonus increases by 1. This ability replaces armor training.

I am inclined to believe that it only replaces the armor training gained at 3rd level, not the subsequent levels. My DM disagrees with me.

The basis for my reasoning, is the next ability for the Viking archetype:

Berserker (Ex): At 4th level, a Viking gains the rage
ability as the barbarian class feature, but her barbarian level is considered to be her fighter level –3. This ability replaces weapon training 1, 2, 3, and 4.

That ability states it replaces all 4 levels of weapon training, not just the one.


What is correct? Is armor training completely lost for Shield Defense, or is only Armor Training for 3rd level lost?

Best Answer

This seems to simply be a case of inconsistent wording.

All of the training is lost in place of Shield defense. One of the easier ways to confirm this is to check each level you would normally gain Armor Training, 3rd, 7th, 11th, and 15th. You gain the Shield defense at the same levels.

Also if you scroll to the bottom of the fighter class to the archetype chart, there are Xs and Cs which represent features that are removed in favor of another ability, the 'X', or which are changed, the 'C's. Looking at the Armor training on the chart each of the 4 levels of Armor Training are labeled with Xs on the Viking archtype.

Related Topic