Griffon Rider (for PFS)


Advice

Grand Lodge

Ever since I got Inner Sea Combat I have wanted to make a griffon rider. Now, I know that large mounts are not optimal for PFS, but I am not overly concerned about that. I will buy some hosteling full plate and have the griffon pop out whenever possible.

Anyway, I have been throwing around several ideas for this and I wanted to get feedback from the community. Here are my thoughts so far:

Lawful Good crusader type. I envision him as a switch-hitter that can mix it up in melee and also be decent with a shortbow while flying around on the griffon.

As far as classes go, this is what I have looked at:

Cavalier - I like teamwork feats, I like that the cavalier can bestow teamwork feats on their allies, but I feel like it is a little TOO mount-centric. I would like to be effective on or off my mount.

Samurai - Would make for a good switch hitter with mounted archery and extra combat feats. Not overly fond of the flavor of the class.

Paladin - While I want to be a lawful good crusader type, I would like to show that you don't have to be a paladin to be one.

Ranger - Favored enemy, combat styles, good skills, and spells. A good combination, but with a big drawback (in my eyes). Because I really need to get boon companion, I can't get monstrous mount until 7th level and Monstrous Mastery until 9th level. That is a little too late for my taste.

Warpriest (Divine Commander archetype) - So far this one is in the lead. Sacred weapon, fervor, 6 levels of spell casting, heavy armor, and some cavalier like abilities. It gives up the blessings in order to get the mount, but I honestly wasn't too impressed by any of the blessings.

What do you think? Did I overlook anything?


Well Ranger has the Sable Company Marine archetype and it's a ball of fun.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Summoner. I currently have a griffon styled eidolon.

Grand Lodge

KingmanHighborn wrote:
Well Ranger has the Sable Company Marine archetype and it's a ball of fun.

This is my Plan B. If I can't figure out a way to make the griffon work to my satisfaction, I will go with the Sable Company Marine and a hippogriff.

LazarX wrote:
Summoner. I currently have a griffon styled eidolon.

There is some potential here. The only problem is that I would like a more martially inclined character that plays more than a support role to their pet.


Using the retraining rules from Ultimate campaign you can retrain your 3rd level feat at 5th level for Boon Companion. THis would put the ranger option on the same track. Not saying its the best option but its there.


What about Hunter? They get teamwork feats to share with their pets.


While a lot of cavalier skills are designed to be used on a mount, there are several archtypes and playstyles which can be built around not riding. I was building one myself until I noticed that the Worg never geets a size increase to large :(

Grand Lodge

thegreenteagamer wrote:
What about Hunter? They get teamwork feats to share with their pets.

I didn't think that the griffon was on the list of druid animal companions. If it is, then that opens up some more options (a wild child brawler could be interesting).

Slacker2010 wrote:
Using the retraining rules from Ultimate campaign you can retrain your 3rd level feat at 5th level for Boon Companion. THis would put the ranger option on the same track. Not saying its the best option but its there.

Good call on the retraining. It certainly makes the Ranger a more viable option.

Paizo Employee Design Manager

Hunter, like Druid, technically doesn't qualify for Monstrous Mount. That being said, Cavalier is really solid and while they are very incentivized to be mounted they're far from worthless off the mount. They've also got some of the best synergy since Tactician shares their TW feats with the mount as well.

Grand Lodge

Ssalarn wrote:
Hunter, like Druid, technically doesn't qualify for Monstrous Mount. That being said, Cavalier is really solid and while they are very incentivized to be mounted they're far from worthless off the mount. They've also got some of the best synergy since Tactician shares their TW feats with the mount as well.

That is correct. I also checked and it does not appear that druid can have a griffon as an animal companion.


Sable company marine is not available for pfs.

Paizo Employee Design Manager

lostpike wrote:
Sable company marine is not available for pfs.

There was a re-release of it in the Inner Sea Combat book which I believe is PFS legal.


Ssalarn wrote:
lostpike wrote:
Sable company marine is not available for pfs.
There was a re-release of it in the Inner Sea Combat book which I believe is PFS legal.

Just looked through book and couldn't find it...


The re released version is quite terrible though, as it gives you a griffon that cannot fly with you riding it until your 9th level and only if you take monstrous mount mastery.
If you were willing to settle for something slightly less cool than a Griffon you could be a sacred huntmaster Inquisitor who takes the Undersized Mount feat. That would allow you to have a Roc companion you could ride at first level, albeit only with a wand of Ant Haul for a few levels. The archetype trades away Judgements for a full advancing animal companion so it is quite nice.

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