As the title suggests, I want to build a Medium sized archer who spends as much time as possible firing arrows from his mount.
I am leaning towards a Human Ranger for this build (PFS). I would prefer a flying mount (Roc?) but am considering the Monstrous Mount feat line to grab a Griffon. The issue is, this will burn two feats. Is there a better class option to do this that has access to more feats?
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PFS has a lot of dungeons in which your mobility may be limited. You can take narow frame as your mount will be squeezing in many places. If you choose not to let your mount become large/use reduce aninal instead, keep an eye on your encumbrance, as flying mounts need to be on light weight to fly. Wearing a breastplate, even with ant haul on, may be too much for him.
An odd, but powerful combination(if feat starved and skill starved) is to be a evangelist cleric of erastil. Feather domain. You getbow profeciency, have to burn a feat for boon companion but you get your roc mount. Side note, you get divine ffavour and bard song. Those just do silly things to archers. And you're one. At 7, after 1 round of buffing, you get a +4 to hit and damage (+5 if you used fates favored). +2 to attack and damages applies to your companions.
Wand of Gravity bow would be nice as a Ranger, but Im intrigued by the Inquisitor and Cleric options. Looks like I have some research to do!
Also, are there any traits available to add punch to archery in any way?
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Being medium sized with a medium flying companion will be very hard. Small sized people have very little weight left for gear so a medium player will he over the light encumbrance meaning your mount can no longer fly. You have to look at ways to increase your miunts carrying capacity if you really want this.
Monstrous Mount/Monstrous Mount Mastery was my idea if I as going for a flying build. Which is why I was curious what class with an AC might have the greatest number of feats available to them. Bonus feats.
Divine Hunter would be pretty good, you switch out all of your Teamwork feats for a Fiend/Celestial companion and a domain.
Plus you have the animal focus stuff to sort out any shortcommings you might have in your attributes.
I discuss this a lot in my archery guide for rangers
At this point, I'd recommend a greater hat of disguise for all day small status which will net you a +2 to hit, scent for pheromone arrows, and dark vision to make up for being human as well as letting you ride a medium mount.
Give up snapshot/improved snapshot if you're going for the flying mount, you won't spend as much time in the thick of things to justify it.
On the other hand, the early entry EK archer can have a familiar who can pilot a small flying carpet for your archer. This is a far cheaper way to get a flying mount IMO and the EK archer is more relevant later on in the campaign (IMO).
If you want a fancy mount you could go Summoner. A level of Dragoon (Fighter) for bonus feats (Skill Focus Ride) and weapon/armor proficiencies would go a long way too.
Lastoth's ranger guide is awesome.