Help turning a Nat Atk glass cannon into a tank...

[Redchigh]

So, one of our players hates npc party members, so all of the npc tanks get killed off through inaction. (I am playing a custom race, feral catfolk. My character hates but tolerates other humanoids. The anti-npc pc is a zen archer. Also, the group has a blind oracle and dragonkin melee/archer of unknown class.. )

As of the end of the last session, we leveled up to 3. As far as I know, the other players are sticking to their starting class. I'm a natural attack ranger that plans on going monk MOMS and unarmed fighter (maybe) to stack up the bite/claw/claw damage. (was thinking rending claw from ranger, boar shred from monk)

My level 2 stats were 16 AC and 18hp , so its nearly suicide every time I go into melee. Even though I really want rending, I'm doing decent damage atm with full attacks, and I would like to get the move bonuses from monk (I'd prefer bonuses to jumping for flavor, something like sudden leap in 3.5 since I *refuse* to use weapons. If I had to hit a flying creature, I'd rather have someone throw ME at the mob than pick up a javelin, net, or bow.)

With keen scent and all, think of my character as a cross between a playful suicidally-curious kitten mixed with a little bit of Wolverine (from X-men).

Back to the main questions:
Since I leveled, should I go Ranger 2/monk 1 for ac and style, or stay ranger (shapeshifter) wear armor, and go bear-like catfolk for the str? The other shiftforms seem useless to me... (not much water, I already have a climb speed, and from either ignorance or an unmentioned houserule, there's not really any AoO's.. (In three levels, only one AoO was offered to us, and it was a gargoyle we were fighting that tried to fly away. I went last, and tackled it to the ground (Birdeh!))

Which styles would be better for my build?

With the playful hunter-like catfolk, is there a pathfinder feat tree that allows jumping as a swift action or faster? (For horiontal moving AND vertical grappling to pull flying to the ground..)

With my build, should I go MOMS, or dual-archtype MOMS/Quiggong monk?

Is there anyway to realistically be a 'tank', or should I just focus on what I will already do well and go full dps/glass cannon and hope no one gets a crit on me?

[thoynan]

Janni styles gives a psychocrusher esq move, and bonuses to charge attacks.

I'd say scrap monk, get unarmed fighter and barb. Rage, Janni style, exotic weapons, awesome!

If you do monk, the trait: adopted (by angel kin) lets you tke the trait Divine warrior,which lets you monk as chatic good or chaotic nuetral. And, they are feral folk. after that,barb!

[Wasum]

This build is no glass cannon (maybe glass, yea) and no tank as well. The first levels are decent but starting at level 5 or 6 you wont be able to deal as much damage as any other melee class. There are only a few classes that can really make natural attacks work - rangers cant. You could go Fighter, pick up WT for natural attacks, get some thick armor and - yea, maybe that will help. Maybe you can dip some monk as well, but I doubt its worth it - you probably dont have much dex/wis anyway to get some defense out of that. you could go fighter, pick feral combat training and go for tiger style feats, this would actually improve your NA's some - but honestly this build just wont work out after level 10 - you cant even get pounce.

Tank is only worth it if you can dish out enough damage. You wont be able to do so when you focus on defense - so I really dont know where to go with that. The Zen Archer makes a great tank, let him be the frontliner and just try to get some damage out of your NA's as long as its still possible.

Get Barb levels for Gore attack while raging.

[Redchigh]

I plan on dipping a lot. Ranger levels for improved natural attack, "rending claw", since I'm counting it as a prereq for 'greater rend' from the bestiary.

Monk levels for styles, ac, and 'trickle' damage boosts (like boar shred).

Abundant step/spring attack/jumping have a wonderful flavor for a hyperactive dextrous catperson.

My str is 18, dex is 17, wis 16, con 15, int 12 and cha 11

I was thinking about going melee druid, so my stats reflect it.

[Wasum]

Ok, first: This is pointbuy 43. Seriously...

With these stats dip in monk, dont take armor, pick up the dragon style feats, get some BRB levels for gore attack while raging. If the campaign is somehow long get up to BRB10 for pounce. 4 natural attacks are pretty neat though.

Pick the savage barbarian archtype to get some more AC within these 4 levels and let someone cast mage armor on you every day. This should make a decent AC and good damage.

Druid is not a good choice because wildshape wont synergize with any of your ranger abilities.

[Redchigh]

Can I get pounce from a more animalistic brb tree, or just fiend totem?

Btw, we rolled stats

[Redchigh]

Wait, dang... Now I'm considering rogue for the prowling, lurking, hunting feline flavor... Hmmm... Dang.