Feral Child Druid Archetype

[Sodapop]

I guess I'm just wondering what everyone thinks of this archetype and any suggestions anyone might have for how to build one well. I've been wanting to play a monk-like unarmed character who is feral and runs around with a lion and this seems like the closest I can pull off until Animal Archive comes out in December I guess. It seems like this archetype aims to make an unarmed melee druid possible, but I can't see it being effective in that role, 3/4 BAB and nothing added to make it more viable. Wild Shape gone makes melee even less viable for this archetype if anything...

The concept is exactly what I've been wanting, but it seems like the only effective build would be to just focus on casting and be a druid who doesn't shapeshift, can't get domains and can't read. But you can punch stuff hard if things get dire. Am I missing anything here? I know full-spellcaster is still a great thing for a class, it's just not what I would've hoped for from this theme and it just seems categorically worse than a regular druid.

[gnomersy]

Why not just run a Monk with a reskinned combat horse as the lion?

[Sodapop]

Wouldn't really work as the powerful combat buddy I was imagining. I'm thinking Ka-zar type deal.

[gnomersy]

Ah I see well in that case I'd say don't do it. None of the classes can run unarmed and have an animal sidekick and do both with any sort of competence in the game system. Maybe get a double reskin on a cavalier and hurl all of your feats into unarmed combat, and get your mount to be a lion through the beastrider archetype?

It's really not good but it's the best I can think of to be honest.

[blackbloodtroll]

Start with Racial Heritage(Catfolk), then take the Catfolk Exemplar feat. Later, you can take Aspect of the Beast, to up claw damage, and wield Claw Blades, so your claws can be enchanted.

By the way, who is Ka-zar?

[Sodapop]

He's a character from marvel comics, here's a good comic cover that gets the point across:

edit: idk if it's allowed so I removed the link. Google images and wikipedia both have information / pictures.

If you look into the pathfinder campaign setting about the Mammoth Lands I think it's called, and the underground part where there are dinosaurs and mammoths and sabertooth tigers, that's basically exactly where Ka-zar is from. The Savage lands underneath Antarctica in the marvel universe.

@gnomersy, the cavalier beastrider suggestion is actually probably the best way to do it. Boon Companion + 2/4 level monk dip would go a long way toward making it work as well. Maybe 1 level Druid right off the bat to begin play with the lion... I just was hoping there was more viability to the Druid archetype than there apparently is. It comes so close to what I want =P

[Hecknoshow]

I'd focus on the companion if your aiming for a melee type character. It could be the main damage dealer while you become the flanking buddy, maybe with some combat maneuvers to back it up. Basic strategy would be for you to rush in and trip, followed by the lion who flanks and gets an extra attack when the mob tries to get up. Teamwork feats might be an interesting way to go.

[blackbloodtroll]

Read up on Ka-zar.
He uses spears, daggers, and shields.

I suggest the Mounted Fury barbarian as an alternative.

[c873788]

Sodapop wrote:

I just was hoping there was more viability to the Druid archetype than there apparently is. It comes so close to what I want =P

Why don't you just play the Lion Shaman Druid archetype. It seems pretty close to what you're after. The Lion Shaman is extremely effective in unarmed combat from level 2 onwards with Totemic Transformation which will give you 3 natural weapon attacks with a bite and 2 claws while retaining your natural humanoid form. You also get a lion companion.