Advice on how to build my Houndmaster?

[DΗ]

Here's what I've got figured out:

So I have the flavor figured out: An orcish kennelmaster, with Wolves, and perhaps some Wargs or a Winterwolf thrown in (whatever I can manage via Leadership) 9+Cha+2(Special Power - Speak w Animals, Generosity)-2(Animal Companion).

Hound Master Archetype, Order of the Dragon.

And FYI, here's what I'll get from Hound Master Cavalier:
Hound Master 1: Challenge 1/day, War Hound, Order: Order of the Dragon, Tactician (??)
Hound Master 2: Aid Allies
Hound Master 3: Pack Tactics
Hound Master 4: Challenge 2/day, Expert Handler

I intend to grab 5 levels in the Beastmaster PrC(WoWd20) and have them work for the build, and flavor I'm going for.
Here's what it provides:
BAB, Good Saves, and Skillpoints are the same as with the Cavalier.
Beastmaster 1: Wild Empathy
Beastmaster 2: Charm Animal 1/day
Beastmaster 3: Empathic Link (Animal Companion)
Beastmaster 4: Natural Weaponry(1d6 bite), Charm Animal 2/day
Beastmaster 5: Speak with Animals
It has Animal Companion as druid, and I can use it to just continue increasing the familiars from Hound Master. It requires skill focus(handle animal) or skill focus (survival).

From next level forward I'll just keep taking Hound Master Cavalier.

I'm looking for advice on how to capitalize on all of this well in combat, and what to give the character himself for combat.

I was thinking of giving the wolves (companions And any from Leadership) Tandem Trip and Paired Opportunists, (I could also give them Coordinated Maneuvers if I dont find anything better) but beyond that I'm not really sure what to take for Combat stuff.

If I go for a Winterwolf mount, the GM said I can take Hound Master AND Emissary, and just use the HoundMaster Capstone Ability. - If I go that route.

Should I go for reach weapons? Maybe Archery? THF? I'm going to be moving around alot of minis on my turn, so range/reach may help in terms of attacking from behind 3 wolves, but I dunno.

I can give buffs like other Cavaliers as well, obviously, and can grant teamwork feats to people. Any tips on which ones to take for tactician and greater tactician?

Thanks Guys.

[DΗ]

[Bump]

Can I get a bit of help with this build?

[Cheapy]

Welcome back, haven't seen you on the boards in a while.

Just a note, the HM has animal companions, not familiars.

I playtested something really similar to the houndmaster. What I did was focus on high-crit ranged two-handed weapons (falchion) and also Outflank and Paired Opportunist. Paired Opportunists and Outflank work well for these guys. If you can grab those, and use a falchion, you can tear enemies up from all the AoOs that'll be generated.

Save up some money for items that'll let your wolves fly. Being a melee character who needs to fly is tough enough. Needing to buy stuff so three things can fly is even harder!

[DΗ]

Sorry Cheapy, I meant companions.

I've been back for about a week, but yeah, I was gone for about a month or two. I haven't gamed since mid-summer. Joining a game as of tomorrow though, and starting a V:tM game next week.

Maybe I'll nag the GM to give us a flying collapsible Palantine that the whole party can fit on. :P
High Crit two-handed weapon eh? Alright.

So basically I'm looking for the typical THF Fighter type of build, with some teamwork feats then?

[Cheapy]

Yea, something like that. Maybe even focusing on Greater Trip, but between that, power attack, and the teamwork feats, you'll be starved as it is.

[DΗ]

Hmm. One question re: Outflank.

I was thinking of not taking it, as the Hound Master gets the +4 part as a class feature.

Is the crit part really worth spending a feat on by itself?