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I have a thematic concept, and am toying around with the mechanics of making it interesting and could use some suggestions or ideas.

I'm trying to find synergies with the shove mechanic and difficult terrain on specifically a Human/Oread Ranger (Melee) who uses a Badger Animal Companion. I think the theme is pretty obvious - a deep connection with earth and earth magic.

It's a Strength of Thousands campaign so I'll get a free Druid Archetype (Giving me access to the very intriguing Scatter Scree cantrip, plus a bunch of utility spells).

I have a feeling like I'm just missing some connection or option wherein I can make the shove action, when positioned correctly near or around difficult terrain, to cost an enemy two actions to return to me. Treacherous earth is a single action Oread ability that creates a 5 ft burst of difficult terrain. If I create the difficult terrain (or open with scattering scree), then somehow skirmish strike then shove (with reach), is there some way to get them to eat the 2 actions to get back to me?

Or maybe some other synergy with the difficult terrain I can create and use with a Ranger's inherent combat bonuses in difficult terrain?

Any ideas or brainstorms or suggestions? Maybe some archetype shenanigans? Mauler is an obvious pick I think.

1: Trappings of the warrior occultist and I think the dandy ranger also qualifies. It is the only full BAB full spellcaster level arcane caster though.

2: You won't be able to trade in levels of armor training for advanced armor training the way that changes it, but you can spend feats on AAT if you want.
4: Arcane strike works. Crafting items works too. Fighter only feats work, but they don't impress me much.

Ki-rin style is a terrible fit. It wants all your swift actions (while CAA wants swift actions to reduce/negate spell failure), and it wants a lot of skill points to identify monsters (also a problem on a 4-level spellcaster melee goon w/2+Int base), and it wants feats which CAA loses many of. And it's not good in the first place. Forget it exists for your fighter.

Other ideas - artful dodge switches Dex prereqs to Int which you might be able to find a use for. Weapon trick (one-handed) isn't terrible. In a gestalt game you might be able to make it work one way or another to make an Int-based character more robust.

1: Dandy - good call. Forgot they get cantrips. Plus bard spells are fun. Ive gone back and forth about whether Trappings of the Warrior can actually take feats based off the "treated as" BAB level or not? RAW I don't think they technically can? But that's hand-waived away I think by most DMs?

Also, I would point out that the CA&A get 4+Int skills/level, rather than 2+int. Skills make adventuring fun and interesting.

Voodist and avr are both completely right about the Kirin & Arcane strike action economy issue. What if you built around Kirin Style, instead? It comes online later anyway (when your bonus feats become more common). Your 6,7, 9, and 12 feats are Improved Unarmed, Kirin Style, Kirin Strike, Kirin Path. Means early levels you build typical power attack. CA&A gain knowledge arcane & religion as class skills. Fighters already have dungeoneering as a class skill. For IDing monsters you're missing Nature and Planes? That's it, I think. Very available via traits or alternate racials. With 6-7 skills/level (more if Background Skills are in play), you can pretty easily keep most of these at max level and have room for a few other skills. The last feat in the chain (Kirin Path) is particularly strong if you have 16-18 intelligence (assuming headbands of int +2 or 4). Adding 8 damage, and then being able to move 15-20ft every turn without provoking AOOs sets you up for easy flanking. Tack on the low hanging fruit of Power Attack/Furious Focus + 2 or 3 (if human) other feats to play around with, and you're looking at level 12: +12 dmg for power attack and +8 damage for your int of 18 (assuming int +4). That's without adding your 1.5 strength mod or your weapon damage die. And you can self-haste? Plus you're a knowledge beast - both in and out of combat. Those are pretty respectable numbers, considering you're full BAB with enhanced out of combat utility. *Edited to add* Self Haste, Fly, Phantom Steed, mirror image, resist energy, see invisibility all depending on the situation - without spending feats for item masteries*

I had completely forgotten Artful Dodge. That opens up some options, doesn't it? Artful Dodge + Two-Weapon Fighting is possible. Arcane strike is your static damage bonus that can make Two-Weapon Fighting equitable. Armor spikes or a spiked gauntlet works pretty well here too, allow for casting. Still a huge feat suck, I suppose. I can't really think of any other high Dex prereq feats.

The general consensus around the forums seems to be that the Child of Acavna and Amaznen (CA&A) is just a watered down Bloodrager. That opinion, I think, is not egregiously wrong, but it fails to recognize that they have very different strengths. I would argue that the CA&A has a few unique characteristics that make it worthwhile and an incredibly interesting chassis on which to build a true Tank Caster rather than the Bloodrager's Smash Caster:

1 - As far as I can figure, it is the only other full caster level and full BAB class in the game without the need for traits, racial abilities, or feats. Straight up full CL and full BAB.

Besides Arcane Strike, can anyone think of other feats that scale with CL or BAB that would benefit the other discipline? (A CL scaling feat that benefits melee, or a BAB scaling feat that benefits spellcasting)

2 - A CA&A has full Armor Training and does not lose Advanced Armor Training. Therefore, the CA&A has the potential to quite easily pump up AC and the various defensive benefits of Advanced Armor Training. Thanks to Advanced Armor Training, the CA&A gets the AC of a normal fighter PLUS the DR of a barbarian, while a bloodrager must choose either heavy armor (Steelblood) or DR.

So the rules question is, am I reading this correctly that armor training is just modified to add arcane spell failure reduction and therefore advanced armor training remains unchanged? It ONLY talks about adding a benefit - it makes no mention of changing any other aspect. I think I'm reading this correctly.

3 - A CA&A is a prepared caster meaning its spell casting is far more versatile. This is a bit of a push - some people prefer spontaneous, but I like the versatility.

4 - Combat Expertise is no barrier. I don't really love combat maneuvers, but all those things blocked by Combat Expertise become a bit more palatable as you are already invested in Int.

Thinking about these things, I've found a few synergies that I'm toying with for a build:

Arcane Strike + Bodyguard + Gloves of Arcane Striking makes way more sense here than on a Bloodrager. An AOO that scales, increasing an adjacent ally's AC by 2 + 1 per 5 levels. While a bloodrager can do this as well, they can't avoid a hit like a CA&A can. In other words, disincentivizing hitting allies is disproportionately more beneficial to the CA&A because the CA&A ALSO is a tough target to hit. The monster is unlikely to hit the ally, but also unlikely to hit the CA&A. On the other hand, the Bloodrager is just absorbing damage (necessitating healing/resources later).

Crafting Magic Arms/Armor (or maybe Wondrous Items). Prepared casters are just better at crafting because they don't have to waste a spell "known" on something they only need for a crafting check. Fighters are extremely item dependent, and this overcomes that issue without the need for the Master Craftsman investment. (The advanced armor craftsman option only works for armor.)

(Just like a bloodrager) Can self enlarge person, but can also easily craft an impact weapon for himself (Unlike a bloodrager).

Kirin Strike/Style is a natural fit - adding Int x 2 as damage (In addition to your strength). Outpaces Bloodrage damage bonuses.

Fighter Only Feats (Or early entry for fighters): Great Weapon Focus/Penetrating Strike/Etc.

Can anyone think of any other good synergies?

Hurdles:
A - Feat Loss. Still the same number as a Ranger or Bloodrager, but can be any combat feat (Not limited by bloodline or combat style lists).
B - Two Handed Martial Proficiency. Easily overcome with Half-Elf or Half-Orc racial proficiency (Or Human Bonus Feat). Or just use a longsword in two hands.
C - Early level Arcane Failure. This is just a matter of time until you can afford mithral around level 7.
D - MAD. It's slightly better than a Bloodrager because CHA is a far more palatable dump stat than INT or WIS.

Am I wrong here? Does this spark any other build ideas for this unloved underdog archetype?

Our group just pivoted from a really slow dungeon crawl campaign into the War for the Crown campaign. I'm building a bannerman type martial paladin that has the Senatorial Hopeful trait. This trait really creates some interesting opportunities because once a week I can get a single piece of equipment or consumable magic item worth (level) x 25p. At level 10, it expands to include spellcasting services and wands and increases to (level) x 50gp.

I want to maximize and find things that are ideally (1) useful, and (2) as close to the max gp as possible. If I use a thing, great. If not, I want to be able to sell it later (for 1/2 value) and it will go towards regular equipment and gear upgrades.

So far I have the following and need suggestions for additions:

Level 1 - 25gp
-Scroll Cure Light Wounds

Level 2 - 50gp
-Potion Cure Light Wounds

Level 3 - 75gp
-Ioun Torch? Is that equipment?
-Sweet Rest
-Banshee Ballerina Firework

Level 4 - 100gp
-Stout Solution
-Fuse Grenade

Level 5 - 125gp
-??? Four Mirror Armor I guess??

Level 6 - 150gp
-Scroll Cure Moderate Wounds

Level 7 - 175gp
-Liquid Courage?
-I guess just more scrolls of cure Moderate Wounds?

Level 8 - 200gp
-Nimble Nectar
-Leaper's Libation
-Spellscorch

Level 9 - 225gp
-Nothing... I dont know.

Level 10 - 500gp
-Elixir of Truth
-Campsite Feather Token
-Whip Feather Token
-Elixir of Amnesia
-?? There's gotta be more interesting/useful stuff here

Level 11 - 550gp
-Paladin 3rd Level Scrolls? (525gp)

Level 12 - 600gp
-???

And beyond I have no idea until I start hitting wand territory.

So what are the best more interesting items I could get for this thing? What am I missing? What is maybe more useful but not exactly the max gp value?