Looking for idea for a kind of "Forest Mage / Scout"

[sunbeam]

Okay, I really haven't played any D&D/Pathfinder for close to two years, but I may be playing a game in a week or so.

I quit buying books even before that, so I am limiting myself to what is in the d20PFSRD thing.

Anyway I want to play something like a Sorcerer/Ranger(or a Cavalier Archetype/Barbarian?).

You know like one or two levels to accumulate some outdoorsy skills and abilities. And I actually want to use a mount (so Sylvan Sorcerer archetype?).

Okay, I know this concept is in no way optimal for anything, but I had this idea for a mounted wilderness scout/messenger guy, who relied a lot on spells.

One of my big things would be to be really stealthy (you know the guy you pick to go 50 miles into Mordor to see what's going on kind of thing). But I really can't see any good way to do that with an Animal Companion. I really want to be mounted, but I think I want to sneak more. Dunno maybe go for Phantom Steed?

As for combat kinds of things, I had some notion of doing things like casting Web between trees (will be forest/mountain terrain for outdoors stuff), and maybe casting an illusion of a honking big spider. Okay that is more like a trick/ambush thing, but you get the idea.

Anyway I realized I had a lot of questions about how things worked. If I want to share spells like Spider Climb, Jump, Expeditious Retreat, Fly, Tree Stride I still have to train or somehow convince my mount to go along with this?

And if anyone has any ideas about tactics and gear I'd appreciate it. Think we will start at 3rd level, maybe go to 10 or 12.

Was thinking Human, Half-Orc, or Half-Elf for race. Might be open to Halfling or Dwarf, but not my first pick.

Really want to avoid single classing, so definitely want something with a few levels in an outdoors class with weapon proficiencies.

Was actually thinking maybe Survivalist Rogue or something? I could use wands and spells to cast ray spells, but I won't have enough rogue levels for it to really matter. Plus I was really thinking to be the guy who cast a Pit Spell or Wall of Stone at the right time.

Kind of attached to the mount/Sylvan Sorcerer thing, but was also thinking that a Shadow Sorcerer archetype or even one of the Oracles might work better (if I did Oracle probably wouldn't multiclass).

Wow, I didn't expect to write this much stuff, but if anyone has any ideas I'd love some feedback. This really is more of a roleplay kind of thing than optimized, but was hoping to find some things that might make it interesting.

[Java Man]

Look at a hunter with a companion that is rideable. For added stealth the stealth synergy teamwork feat will be very handy. And you get free teamwork feats that are shared with your buddy.

If you feel you need more fighting on that basic chassis, consider a dip into wildchild brawler. Full bab, animal companion still advances, and neat brawler tricks.

[Brother Fen]

Just go with Ranger who gets limited spellcasting but all of the terrain abilities that you're looking for. Then add the magic user class that appeals to you.

[Claxon]

Ranger/Hunter/Druid

One of these is what you're after. Perhaps a combination.

[MrApollinax]

Wood Elementalist Wizard might go nicely. With a Scout Rogue archetype, perhaps? The Wood Elementalist has some useful powers for a skirmisher-type forester.

[sunbeam]

I looked at the d20PFSRD and totally missed the Hunter. Have to check that out.

Really want spells to be a focus though, and never been keen on druids.

That Wood Elementalist/Scout Rogue sounds interesting though. But definitely not a combat monster.

Plus thinking about things some more, I can't see this particular campaign going high enough to worry about high level spells. But the Sorcerer essentially getting spells a class level later than the wizard (plus I most likely will multi-class slowing it down even more) makes wizard look even better.

[Dave Justus]

If you want to be mounted, and you want to sneak, one of the best options is being a small character with a familiar that has the mauler familiar archetype. That way you get a mount that can be medium when you need it to be, but tiny when you don't and it also shares your skills, so if you can sneak so can it.

I generally recommend against multi-classing unless you have a specific build plan, usually a single class character is better.

What you should build depends heavily on what you want to do in the game, what role you want to fill. If you want to be the pit or wall of stone guy, that sounds like a controller, and the best controller in the game is the wizard. That nicely comes with the familiar for you, but it doesn't have the class skills to be a good sneak. It does have enough skill points that you could be an acceptable sneak though, and that alone might meet your needs. A level of ranger and going into the Eldritch Knight prestige class would be a possible idea as well.