Hey Pathfinders!
So I'm running into a bit of a rut when it comes to my upcoming campaign, which I need to create a level 20 gestalt character for.
Our DM basically said "let's go crazy," opening up both Pathfinder and 3.5 D&D options to us to work with.
Needless to say, this is... a -lot- of stuff to go through.
However, staying true to my character concept from the story (we were given a free "rebuild" in order to facilitate our new level 20 builds), I want to keep the character build around Mounted Archery; specifically, I started off with a flying mount (I went with the hippogriff rider ACF for the Ranger).
Additionally, I incorporated a bit of arcane casting by gestalting Ranger with the Magus.
So far, I have one completed character build for level 20:
TL:DR---Ranger 10 (PF) Skirmisher ACF / Skylord 10 (BoED, D&D 3.5)/ Magus 20 with the Myrmidarch ACF.
Explanation/Rationale--- The Skylord prestige class provides me with a celestial flying mount, and we've easily adapted the bonuses it gives to spot checks to apply to Perception checks for 3.5. Instead of Ranger spellcasting, I've opted for Ranger Tricks from the Skirmisher ACF. The Magus provides me with spells such as Gravity Bow and Flaming Arrows, along with some great utility. Not to mention, with a +5 bow purchased with the level 20 gold, I can use my Arcane Pool to give other enchantments to my bow for free, essentially. I can also, as a full-round action as per the Myrmidarch ACF from Ultimate Combat, attach one of my ranged touch attack spells to my arrow shots--mostly using Scorching Ray here or Magic Missile. Acid Arrow is also nice for a single shot.
However, in our party, we have no divine spellcasting. For a high level campaign to have no healing-capable party members.... well, its got me a bit worried, especially since I, in essence, have both my character and my mount to consider.
What would the great folks on the forums recommend if I wanted to swap Magus for a divine spellcasting class and in keeping with the Mounted Archery theme?
Mount Options Open to Me:
-Skylord from BoED 3.5
-Dragonrider Multiclass-- http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/3rd-party-classes/super-genius-games/dragon rider
-Druid animal companions
-Ranger animal companions
What's been recommended to me thus far:
Cleric/Ranger, taking 1 level of dragonrider and multiclassing it with the animal domain for the Pathfinder cleric.
Cleric/Fighter/Skylord
Oracle/Fighter with the animal companion option for Mysteries/Revelations.
Druid/Ranger (not high on the list)
I've never really dabbled with divine archery, so I'm not sure how it stacks up compared to my character concept as far as utility and damage output goes. I'm also torn between the PF Cleric and the 3.5 Cleric--divine metamagic is soooo sexy-- since the good cleric's energy channel will help provide healing for both myself and my mount.
Thank you for any advice/recommendations in advance! Feel free to link to other guides if what I'm going for has already been done (which I'm sure it has).
Ha-- while I think that's a no-brainer answer and I can see where it would be extremely strong, I'm not a huge fan of the monk. Its flavor, its feel, its concept-- I'm not too keen on it. However, I will look at the Zen Archer and think about it some more.
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Another monk option to consider would be the Sohei, who can basically share all of his ki abilities with his mount and gets some cool initiative based abilities, and can also flurry with a bow via his Weapon Training abiilty.
Oracle can make a pretty wicked divine complement to a mounted archer, though Charisma as a primary stat is difficult to match up to the stats most other archery classes are going to use (it certainly doesn't synergize as well as the Zen Archer/Cleric, but it's definitely flavorful and can be effective).
Crusader Cleric with a Deity who has a bow as a favored weapon could also be a strong option. You'd get your divine casting, and you'd have access to fighter feats like Greater Weapon Focus / Greater Weapon Specialization. If you're using 3.5 material, you could then use your Crusader levels to qualify for you the Warpriest Prestige Class, which was pretty hardcore. Lots of spell-like abilities and mass heals/buffs.
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Ill let u in on this and that there are thousands of feats in the game. It gets realy hard to memorize a good deal of them but i always use the following site for it since all the games i play in are pathfinder 3.5+ being we go by both pathfinder and 3.5 rules if pathfinder does not cover those rules along with all the feats from all 3.5 books and PrCs with limitation of course.
http://dndtools.eu/feats/
I though highly suggest getting the zen archer feat if ur wis is high enough to make that mater.
Some PrCs to look into would be woodland sniper i think its called and order of the bow initiate. They will greatly increase the range and i believe damage of the bow which is a good thing since u would be on a flying mount and hitting things in 1st increment is very useful.