How paths and specialties work and what heroic paths you can take.
The Cosmere RPG takes quite a different approach to classes and progression from other TTRPGs like D&D. Instead of following a fairly set progression through levels where each level brings the same new features as others of that class, the Cosmere RPG uses a path system with talent trees.
Each path has 3 specialties (kind of like subclasses) and you can take a new talent (feature) from that path as long as you already possess a talent that links to it on the talent tree and have any other prerequisites.
It gets even more flexible because you can also, easily, just pick from other paths too (known as multi-pathing).
There’s quite a lot to wrap your head around when it comes to paths and specialties in the Cosmere RPG. For this article, I’m going to focus on Heroic paths, giving an overview of each path and specialty to help you create the character you want.
The different types of paths
Overview
- Paths are like a more modular class system
- Specialties represent specific expertise within a path
- Heroic paths are a distinct path type from radiant paths and every character must have at least 1 level in a heroic path
- There are 6 heroic paths which are:
- Agent – Discreet and subtle operatives
- Envoy – Charismatic buffing specialists
- Hunter – Stealthy combatants
- Leader – Enhance others with leadership and strategy
- Scholar – Experts in gaining and using knowledge
- Warrior – Combat specialists
In the Cosmere RPG, there are 2 path types; heroic paths and radiant paths.
Every character must start with a heroic path. You can’t take a radiant path at level 1. But once you hit level 2, radiant paths then open up to you. I’ll tackle radiant paths in a future article.
Heroic paths
Heroic paths are the kinds of paths that, while heroic and impressive, represent more of the ordinary kinds of talents you might expect anyone to be able to develop. Things like warriors, scholars and leaders are not necessarily a rare thing, though as heroic individuals, you likely wouldn’t expect many people to achieve the levels of power and capabilities that these paths can eventually lead to.
There are 6 heroic paths in total:
- Agent
- Envoy
- Hunter
- Leader
- Scholar
- Warrior
Specialties
Each path has 3 specialties (for now). These are kind of like subclasses where you can specialise in a certain area of a path. Like with paths, you can mix and match as much as you like between specialties.
Agent
Path overview
Cunning, secretive and deceptive, agents tend to operate discreetly. They are masters of subtlety and subterfuge and tend to fit the role that rogues fill in other RPG systems
Specialties
Investigator: This specialty will grant you talents that will help you to piece together clues, gather information and find answers to questions. Investigators rely both on the capabilities that come from talent and experience as well as those that come from hunches and intuition.
Spy: Spies are deceptive by nature, but deceptive with a cause. They are able to both hide out of sight, as well hide in plain sight through the use of disguises and a clever tongue.
Thief: Thieves have the skilfulness and the physical capabilities to acquire those things they desire. Usually through less than lawful means. Whether that’s robbery, a swindle or a mugging, thieves have a range of tools at their disposal.
Examples
Nale fits the role of an investigator, while Shallan embodies a spy and lift fulfills the role of a thief.
Best attributes
Awareness, intellect and speed.
Best skills
Agility, deception, deduction, insight, light weaponry and thievery.
Strengths
- Stealth
- Deception
- Investigation
Envoy
Path overview
Envoys are skilled negotiators and politicians. Familiar with moving in political circles and being persuasive, they often represent a larger organisation or state to promote their desires with others. This tends to make them highly charismatic individuals.
Envoys are probably most akin to bards in other systems, but tend to be much more specialised in persuasive activities. The faithful specialty represents the clerics of the Cosmere, though they lack access to the divine powers held by D&D clerics, they can still enhance, recover from conditions and protect their allies. Despite their religious role, a faithful is more like a bard than a cleric in party role (if not personal traits).
Specialties
Diplomat: Political and persuasive adept’s that handle relationships and negotiations. While they might typically work as government representatives at an international level, many individuals in business ventures or as merchants will possess the talents of diplomacy.
Faithful: Adherents of one of the religions of the Cosmere. They follow the tenets of their faith and act in accordance with those beliefs.
Mentor: Trainers and teachers, mentors work to enhance the skill and capabilities of their wards.
Examples
Jasnah often fits the role of a diplomat while Kadash, as an ardent, is a faithful and Zahel tends to act in the role of a mentor.
Best attributes
Presence and willpower.
Best skills
Discipline, deception, leadership, lore and persuasion
Strengths
- Buffing allies
- Debuffing and nullifying enemies
Hunter
Path overview
Hunters are deadly combatants that excel against a single target (their quarry). Rather than being brute force combatants like warriors, hunters are more stealthy and precise.
They are most similar to the ranger class in D&D, though they also share some qualities of a rogue too (especially the assassin specialty).
Specialties
Archer: Ranged combatant able to deal lots of damage from a distance.
Assassin: Deadly fighters that know how to exploit the weaknesses of their quarry.
Tracker: Adept at wilderness survival and possessing the aid of an animal companion.
Examples
Despite his reluctance to use weapons, Rock appears to be an archer. And while primarily a warrior, Szeth also embodies the role of an assassin. Rysn, with her animal companion (Chiri-Chiri) is a tracker, among other things.
Best attributes
Awareness, strength and speed
Best skills
Agility, perception, stealth, survival and either light weaponry or heavy weaponry.
Strengths
- Dealing damage
- Stealth
- Scouting
Leader
Path overview
Leaders are those with the talent and skill to adeptly take command and influence others. They might be inspirational war heroes or political influencers or some other kind of leader.
While many leaders hold ambitions of leadership, many competent leaders are not necessarily willing leaders but those thrust into leadership positions out of necessity.
They are most similar to bards due to their charismatic and buffing capabilities. However, they’re also more geared towards combat than the average bard from D&D (though there are some combat-focused bards like Valor and swords bards). There’s also some similarities to paladins as well.
Specialties
Champion: Fierce warriors that lead by example in combat. Champions inspire through heroic acts of bravery and the admiration of their allies.
Officer: Military strategists that can organise large forces and utilise a tactical mind to sway combat in their favour.
Politico: Moving in political circles, politicos tend to favour influencing others towards their ends. Sometimes, this can involve sowing discord and malcontent among their opponents. As persuasive as politicos may be, they are not afraid of gossip or rumour-mongering to get their way.
Examples
Characters like the Mink, Jasnah Kholin and Kaladin Stormblessed all possess some levels in the leader path. The Mink leans more towards the officer specialty. Kaladin fits the champion role whereas Jasnah is more of a politico.
Best attibutes
Presence, strength and willpower.
Best skills
Athletics, deception, heavy weaponry, intimidation, leadership and persuasion.
Strengths
- Buffing allies
- Combat
- Social encounters
Scholar
Path overview
Studious individuals who dedicate themselves to a path of knowledge and curiosity. Scholars can dedicate themselves to a range of scholarly pursuits, including the pursuits of technology, medicine and military strategy.
Artificers in D&D most closely resemble artifabrians while clerics and druids are a more magical version of the surgeon specialty.
Specialties
Artifabrian: Part engineers and part artists, artifabrians possess knowledge of how fabrials work and are adept at creating their own fabrials designs with much greater success.
Strategist: Strategists use tactics their studied experience to know when to act and how. This can be especially useful in a military capacity.
Surgeon: Surgeons have training in field medicine. They’re able to quickly patch up wounds and keep allies in the fight longer.
Examples
Navani fits the role of an artifabrians while Sigzil is a strategist. Lirin (Kaladin’s father) is a surgeon and Kaladin himself possessed some levels from the surgeon path.
Best attributes
Intellect and presence as well as strength or speed.
Best skills
Crafting, deduction, lore and medicine.
Strengths
- Crafting
- Healing
- Buffs
- Knowledge skills
Warrior
Path overview
Warriors are highly trained combatants. They are the melee specialists of the Cosmere RPG as well as the tanks. They can deal more damage and endure more attacks than most others. They’re also trained in the use of weaponry, including, sometimes, in the use of shardblades and shardplate.
In the D&D universe, fighters tend to embody the same attributes and capabilities as a warrior.
Specialties
Duelist: Not only trained in the various arts of swordsmanship, duelists also vie for political advancement by competing in, and winning duels.
Shardbearer: Wielding shards requires a specialist form of training, otherwise you can be as much of a danger to your enemies as to your allies. Shardbearers are fortunate enough to own or be able to borrow shardplate and shardblades for use in battle.
Soldier: Soldiers are the most common form of warrior on Roshar. They are less accustomed to the specialist forms of combat that duelists and shardbearers possess, and more to the tactics that a military unit requires.
Examples
Adolin is trained in both the arts of a duelist and as a shardbearer. Teft is an example of a soldier, though most of Bridge 4 possess similar attributes.
Best attributes
Speed and strength are most important, followed by awareness and willpower.
Best skills
Athletics, light weaponry, heavy weaponry, intimidation, leadership and persuasion.
Strengths
- Melee combat
- Durability
- Defence of allies
What do you think of the Cosmere RPG’s path system? And what path are you planning on taking first? Let me know in the comments below.
