Is it possible to get Arcane Spell Casting (Eldritch) or (Elder) at creation using an Expert archetype? I thought there was but, looking now, I can't find a way to do it. Arcane Spell Casting is Limited and I only see backgrounds that unlock Primal (or sort of Psionic).

Nope, there is not at this time. You can get it by Tier 1.2 with some fiddling, but not at creation that I've been able to see.

Arcane Spell Casting generally is hard to "fall into." For the most part you either have to be born "right" or you need to devote serious/obsessive study to unlocking the keys to the cosmos through experimentation...or both. So as said there is no* way to start with Arcane Spell Casting out the gate unless you have embraced the Arcane Archetype.

*Did I say a flat "no?" Okay we know that isn't true. I know of four exceptions. You can become an Expert Shaman through Shaman Initiate, You can become an Expert Psion through Undisciplined Psion, and you can become an Expert Sorcerer Priest (of Sarish) through Initiate of the Gods or Templar. But no options currently exist for Eldritch and Elder.

That probably doesn't help you. Though the spell list for Sorcerer Priest is very similar to that of Eldritch. You might look at that for a possible option.

I'd say this was the one 'shortcoming' I found with the system in terms of building a character you wanted. I had envisioned my original character as a 'rogue/arcane caster' but was unable to do so for a while and with a very specific path. I decided to go with 'rogue/divine caster' but using Cadic and making him more of a 'bard'.

John

Personally I think Arcane works perfectly fine as a platform to become rogue like. You get deceit and stealth skill bumps when you also bump Arcanum X. Larceny might lag a little, but you can also take a talent from Codex of Heros to include perception with your core skills.

Expert can also work fine for creation a rogue caster, though you are right that you have to build a little bit to get there. My secondary/Blessed Lands primary(?) Tukufu is an expert psion & "tomb raider" ... he has great skills but getting all the talents he needs is very tight.

Eric
It does work well as a foundation and with the (banned) Talent that lets you have your Background Skills added to the advancement, taking something like the minstrel background that gives Persuasion or Larceny would be the perfect fit. However, you do loose out on the cool Rogueish Talents (or at least it becomes harder). I had wanted a 75% rogue with a few Arcane Battle spells thrown in for support.

John

John,

If you're just looking to add in a few Battle skills in support then adding the Path at 1.2 (sorry, name's escaping me at the moment) should get you there just fine. You can easily already have Prestidigitation and the casting skill ready to go.

With a sweep of his...

Hat

I am not aware of any way to begin play with Arcane Spell Casting for the Eldritch or Elder specializations at character creation without the Arcane Archetype. But you can have it with your first advancement out of Expert and possibly the 2nd advancement as a Martial Archetype.

Eric is right

it was a design choice to make Eldritch and Elder casting something you had to "shoot for" if you started out as anything other then a Arcane Caster type.