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Hello,
I'm creating a cleric for my local PFS group and Clerics (and Arcane casters) are in short supply locally. I'm wanting to steer clear of the healbot build and have a fun/entertaining character.
So far I've decided I want to play a Halfling, which is a little against the grain, and I'm really attracted to their Adaptable Luck feat chain (alt trait + 2 feats = 5 times a day you can add +3 after a roll is made to any atk,save,skill, or ability check before the results are announced.)
My thoughts are most deaths occur due to failed saves and having 5/day of +3 is like a free +3 Cloak of Resistance (or etc. for any time you'd want to use it for an atk,skill, or ability check).
So, currently I'm floating around these stats -
Str: 7 (-1, due to -2str penalty)
Dex: 14* (2)
Con: 12 (2)
Int: 10 (0)
Wis: 15 (7)
Cha: 18* (10)
Sun
Glory
1) Cleric 1: Selective Channeling (lvl 1)
2) Cleric 2:
3) Cleric 3: Fortunate One (lvl 3)
4) Cleric 4: +1 Wis (lvl 4)
5) Cleric 5: Adaptive Fortune (lvl 5)
6) Cleric 6:
7) Cleric 7: Quick Channel (lvl 7)
8) Cleric 8: +1 stat (lvl 8)
9) Cleric 9: Improved Initiative (lvl 9)
10) Cleric 10:
11) Cleric 11: Free Feat (lvl 11)
12) Cleric 12: +1 stat (lvl 12)
My other two options would be a Halfling Reach Cleric (spear, combat reflexes, etc) or a Zon Kuthon Undead and Inevitable domain cleric focused on Negative Channeling and Animate Undead.
Those are the only possible options I can think of besides skipping Cleric and going Halfling Oracle. I could maybe go Ancient Lorekeeper but I'd have to play Elf though and I was kind of hoping to stay a Halfling.
What are your guys thoughts on these options, how they fair in PFS, and how fun they are?
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Over all it's a good concept. The only thing I would change is increasing your Wis. Getting the points from your Cha. Spells are much more important then channeling for clerics.
I would go with a Oracle over Cleric 90% of the time. The only exception is for races with a Wis bonus. Halflings make really good oracles. And over all your casting ability will increases as a oracle over cleric. I'm a big fan of Spellscar, and Time mystery's.
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I honestly am having a hard time thinking of a good Oracle class for Halfling. The only great one I could see is Nature with the Animal Companion.
Reach Cleric could work but none of my stats are going to be that impressive and Enlarge Person won't give me that extra reach range. But I do have the +1atk and +1ac vs medium which I'd say is a big plus when dealing with a Cleric's BAB.
Using his standard action to cast while getting multiple free AoO's with Combat Reflexes. Could an Oracle perform better (or even make a better reach caster/fighter?)
EDIT: I mean, the great thing about Cleric are the Domains and with Halfling's favored bonus you get an extra use of some of the great 1st lvl abilities if you pick the right domains. Free Channels, which positive heals everyone and saves spellslots and if negative focused you could dish out 16d6 per a round with a standard and quick channel Negative Channel. That's why I'm saying Oracle seems a bit lackluster.
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Would a Cleric/Cavalier multiclass work well? I could take the Animal domain for the AC at -3 my Cleric level and grab Boon Companion at lvl 5 (+4 levels to AC, so adding both together I'd have +1 lvl to AC which would be useful when Multiclassing).
I'm not sure how far to Multiclass into Cavalier though and if the Mount from Cavalier would count towards my AC from the Animal Domain. Anyone know?
Also, Expert Trainer gets coverted to Horse Master in PFS which makes me wonder if I could avoid the Animal Domain and the Boon Companion feat. I assume it would but I'd miss out on some exotic mounts for my Halfling and be forced to pony, wolf, boar, or dog.
This would be PFS with max lvl 12. Has anyone tried to combine the Animal Domain and Cavalier or tried to multiclass Cleric and Cavalier?
EDIT: My bad, Cavaliers swap Expert Trainer for Skill Focus: Handle Animal but a Cavalier of 4th lvl or higher can ignore the Expert Trainer requirement for the Horse Master feat though, so that still stands.
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Sounds like you've studied the class guides.
How about a Cleric who excels at summoning? By 3rd level you could have Augment Summoning, followed by Sacred Summons and Superior Summoning at 5th and 7th. If you give up a domain in exchange for limited Bardic ability, via the Evangelist archetype, your courageous augmented superior summons would be quite effective. You'd want to stay single-classed Cleric, for the strongest summons.
You could enhance this approach by emphasizing either your martial or your casting/channeling ability, as suits your fancy. A halfling will have an easier time as a caster, but it can also be fun to break stereotypes. You would fill the Support Cleric role exceptionally well, especially if there's not another bard in your group. Just a thought.
P.s. I'm playing in an old-skool home 3.5 game with rolled-up stats. I happened to roll wretched stats (14,12,12,12,14,9) - that's about a 12 point buy in pathfinder. I decided to make the most of it, and built a reach cleric who summons. This has worked out really well. That PC is highly effective, great fun to play, and easily able to keep up with PCs who have much higher attributes.
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Well our local group could use some healing and the Cha synergy with Cleric and Cavalier should help with extra channeling while boosting my Cavalier abilities. I don't want to focus on being a pure caster/bandaid and even though going Martial stretches my points thin I'd like to try and gear towards that since I have buffs for AC and +hit/+dmg that I can use an Extend megarod on. I'm clueless on what feats I should grab though.
What I'm currently wondering is if Cavalier's mount levels stack with an existing AC from the Animal domain or if I'd have 2 AC's. If they don't stack I'm either forced to only dip a few levels into Cavalier and use Boon Companion to cover my lost AC levels in Cleric: Animal Domain or I will have to pickup the Horse Master feat and use my Cavalier pet (Beast Rider most likely here) which would free up a Domain for me.
I'm not sure which is the better choice or how far to Multiclass into Cavalier would be beneficial without completely killing my Cleric benefits.
Magda, Sacred Summons doesn't really work as currently written and since the OP is playing PFS he cannot use any house rules to fix it.
Kyoko, here is my PFS Human debuffing reach cleric build, perhaps you can tweak it to what you want:
Str 14 (5pt)
Dex 14 (5pt)
Con 12 (2pt)
Int 12 (2pt)
Wis 16+2 (10pt)
Cha 7 (-4pt)
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Diety: Desna
Domains: Travel, Luck-Curse (for Malign Eye)
Traits:
Adopted (Halfling)-> Helpful (adds +2 to Aid Another)
Seeker (+1 Perception, Perception is a class skill) or Reactionary (+2 initiative)
Feats:
1) Combat Reflexes
1) Bodyguard
3) Spell Focus Necromancy
5) Greater Spell Focus Necromancy
7) undecided
9) Heighten Spell (to keep certain Debuffs viable)
11) undecided, perhaps Divine Interference
Skills:
Knowledge Religion (maxed)
Perception (maxed)
Diplomacy (maxed)
1 additional skill point to be assigned as desired. I suggest 3 ranks in Acrobatics and a rank in Heal.
Weapon: Longspear, Dagger, Sling (with cold iron bullets)
Armor: Breastplate (preferably Mithral but not necessary)
Important Equipment:
Scroll of Read Magic (always helpful)
Scroll of Obscuring Mist (helps to slow down a combat if things are going badly, in spring loaded wrist sheathe)
Scroll of Magic Weapon (in case you face something needing Magic Weapons before you get one)
Scroll of PFE (use to deal with mind control)
Scroll of Endure Elements (it has come in handy but is not worth memorizing)
Potion of Enlarge (in spring loaded wrist sheathe)
Potion of Mage Armor (if facing incorporeal creatures)
Alchemist Fire (oil, tindertwig, and torches before that)
2 Spring Loaded Wrist Sheathes
Preferred spells:
Level 1) Bane/Doom and PFE. They are eventually replaced by Liberating Command, Shield of Faith, and Divine Favor.
Level 2) Pilfering Hand (always a good spell), Spiritual Weapon or Bull's Strength, and Grace
Level 3) Magic Circle, Blindness/Deafness, Bestow Curse (domain), and Chain of Perdition (maybe)
Level 4) Aura of Doom (excellent spell), Spiritual Ally, and Freedom of Movement or Dimension Door (domain)
Level 5) Major Curse
This build is designed to prevent damage rather than heal it. It is pretty good at this since whoever you stand next to will get a bonus to AC. Additionally, with the debuffing you can do quite a bit to screw up the enemy.
During the early levels he also uses trip a lot to prevent damage although that fades in later levels.
Channeling is not his strong suit and frankly, I've rarely ever needed the little bit he has. This is more battle and debuff than heal cleric. But, after the battle he heals people just fine via wands. :)
Also, in PFS groups you may not want to advertise as a 'cleric' since that will come with 'healbot' expectations.
- Gauss
Magda, Sacred Summons doesn't really work as currently written and since the OP is playing PFS he cannot use any house rules to fix it.
It kinda works with SM III+, if you take Summon Good Monster as well.
For the Adaptive Luck, remember to take Fate's Favored (Trait from UCamp) for another +1.
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Thanks Gauss, and you're right that Sacred Summons is pretty awkward in PFS as you spend 2-3 feats for the summon chain and end up with 2-3 available choices if you're LG or CG to match the choices listed.
I like the idea of the Reach cleric, but figured I could alter it some to provide an AC (and possibly flight mobility from an AC?) and along with dipping Cavalier, which gives full BAB, I'd be picking up some nice Handle Animal benefits (free skill focus instead of Expert Trainer) and Mounted feats. The other BIG benefit compared to Fighter is I'm getting 4 skill points a level which is great since that's 2x what I'd get as a Cleric.
Base Cavalier would give Heavy Armor, but Beast Rider opens up some additional mount options so I'm not sure which I should go for yet.
@PupSocket - Very nice! I didn't see this before. Does that just work for Halfling Luck (that's a static bonus) or does that work for Adaptive Luck also? (which is a 5x a day option to add a +4 luck bonus before a roll or +3 luck bonus after a roll, before the results are announced) If it does work that's 5x a day choice of a +4 save bonus after I've rolled. But if it only works for Static bonuses then I may as well just grab the trait for a +2 static bonus and save two feats....(Adaptive Luck can be used for atk,ability,save, or skill rolls though so it's got a little more flexibility. Just not sure if it's worth downing 2 feats though)
Kyoko, the problem with multiclassing and spellcasting is that you will never do either very well. As a spellcaster I prefer to stick with the main class, or, at least a full progression PrC.
My cleric build gets 4 points a level which is really plenty for a cleric. Diplomacy (even with the poor charisma I have), Religion, Perception, and something else. :)
Adding +4 AC to your allies for up to 3 attacks per round is pretty nice. Just stand behind them and use Bodyguard. :)
P.S. I cannot extol the virtues enough of carrying around a scroll or two of Obscuring Mist. It has saved our group a number of times from an ambush.
- Gauss
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Well I agree, I'll be behind on my highest spell I can cast but I'll have access to dispel magic, cantrips, buffs, free positive channels, 2 free domain abilities (& spells), a full lvl (or close) mount (possibly a flying one), banner aoe buff, 1 teamwork feat, order ability, challenges, Heavy Armor Prof (if I don't go Beast Rider), and higher BAB. All of this at the cost of a few spells (Dropping down to casting 4th or 5th lvl spells as highest instead of 6th. Which I only get a couple of slots to cast per a day also)
Even if I was full Cleric I'd avoid "save of suck" spells as it's just not worth it to me. Either way I'd try to avoid DC checks as there's plenty of useful spells that don't require cutting through someone's saves & spell resist.
Main focus is -
1) How far would dipping Cavalier be ok for a Cleric that wants to gear towards melee combat/riding combat?
2) Is Beast Rider archetype worth taking?
3) Does Cavalier and Cleric: Animal Domain AC stack? Or only if my AC from Animal Domain matches the selection provided in Cavalier? This is a bit crucial as it determines what Feats I need and my options of flying mounts and whether it's worth
The only good mount from Beast Rider appears to be: Ankylosaurus (Stun attack, DC 23 STR save - 1rnd Dazed, if it criticals 1d4 stun)
If I go with AC from Animal Domain I have the following Flying mounts available: Pteranodon, Roc, Dire Bat, Giant Vulture.
Even though it can't fly, the Axe Beak looks promising also with its Sudden Charge to make a free trip attempt on a successful bite during a charge.
Here is why I don't like multiclassing a spellcaster with a nonspellcasting class:
Dispel Magic is useless if you do not have a caster level to back it up.
Cantrips can be helpful, that is true.
Buffs do not usually last very long and they take actions to initiate. As a result, by the time you have buffed yourself up a non-spellcaster has already dealt a lot of damage.
Most Domain abilities are based on class level.
The premise of this thread is a cleric thus, Im assuming, you want a cleric with a Melee dip when you talk about multiclassing. As a result, you won't be much of a cleric.
Even 2 levels of non-cleric put you a spell level behind although you can make up the caster levels with a trait. Any more than that is a real hindrance to your being a cleric.
If the premise has changed perhaps a new thread with a new title?
In any case, what Im saying is that a cleric with a melee dip is a poor cleric. However, a melee with a cleric dip could be interesting in certain respects but the loss of melee abilities are usually not worth it.
As for save or suck, Im not saying you should. It was just my particular build (note: it is a quite effective one since I crank up the DCs and the save penalties in my favor) that I offered you. Personally, I think save or suck gets a bad rep because people often don't know how to make it work. I love save or suck because I can make it work much of the time.
- Gauss
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PFS usually grants you plenty of time prior to adventuring to cast spells.
If I bought an Extend metamagic rod I could cast -
1) Magic Vestment spells (2hours per cleric level) for +2ac on Armor and +2ac on Shield.
2) Magic Weapon, Greater is 1hour per cleric level giving +2atk/+2dmg bonus.
3) Freedom of Movement is 10mins a lvl which is 70mins duration by the time you're 7th level cleric.
4) Plenty of other useful spells available for when the situation arises. You can leave spell slots open and if something comes up, spend 1hour praying and add a spell to the slot as opposed to being stuck with useless spells. Cleric has a lot of versatility over a Wizard due to this bonus.
Spells like Shield of Faith, Protection from x, Bull's Strength, Righteous Might have some pretty low durations and would need to be cast while closing the gap between an enemy if the spell was needed.
I'm just stating the above to show that there's a decent amount of usefulness here. You're also discounting that Clerics can open up some useful domain abilities once they hit lvl 6 or 8 and some domains provide some great buff spells that have long timers like 1hour per cleric lvl.
I really think if you pick and choose successfully you come out ahead as cleric with dip in cavalier here due to the Domain abilities/spells, some more useful spells, higher Positive Channel to provide better healing and not waste all your low level spells - at the cost of a few Challenges, Bonus Feat, and 2nd Order Ability, and a few points of BAB.
Regarding the mount, the only thing I've found recently is Racial Heritage for Aasimar, Half-Elf, or Human (all can count as human either naturally or via trait) to take the Beast Rider feat to open up the pteranodon mount with +2 levels which combined with Boon Companion would give a total of +6 levels which I could add to the Cavalier mount since it opens up that AC to my existing selection and would free me from taking the Animal Domain. Unfortunately it doesn't help me with wanting to be a Halfling though since I can't find a way to take the Beast Rider feat. Figured I'd state the above in case someone was wanting to have a flying mount as a human,half-elf,half-orc, or aasimar cavalier though.
EDIT: I'm not trying to fight you here, but something like 7th Cleric / 5th Cavalier or 9th Cleric / 3rd Cavalier is what I have in mind and not the other way around.
Magic Vestment is +1 for every 4 caster levels that does not stack with existing enhancement bonuses. At Cleric7/Cavalier5 or Cleric 9/Cavalier3 you are maxing out at +2 AC that does not stack with existing enhancement bonuses. You have saved 3,000-4,000gp each.
Magic Weapon is also +1 for every 4 caster levels and also does not stack with existing enhancement bonuses. Again, in your examples you are maxing out at a +2 enhancement bonus for a 2,000 or 8,000gp savings. Not much at level 12.
Freedom of Movement is a buff that is mostly duration based. This is one of the good buffs. However, the point at which you will get it will be delayed due to the levels in Cavalier (assuming you get cavalier early).
It is my experience there is generally not time for short duration buffs if you are also intended to be a melee combatant. My experience is that combats usually have a start range of <50' unless outdoors. If you win perception and you win initiative then you should get one buff off before the bad guy arrives.
I am not discounting cleric's domain abilities. I love them. I am stating you are either delaying them when they are best acquired or that they are level based. When you dip you do not advance in those level based abilities.
My points can be summarized like this:
1) Action Economy: A Melee cleric has an action economy problem. There are ways to deal with this but many of them revolve around higher level spell slots (which the multiclassed Melee cleric won't get) and Quicken Spell.
2) Delayed acquisition of abilities: This is what hurts the most. Abilities that you *should* have at level X will be delayed by the number of levels you have taken in other classes.
3) Stunted ability growth: With proper selection of abilities that are not that level based you can avoid this. However, many abilities are level based and thus will not progress while you are progressing in another class.
Anyhow, I hope you have fun with this build but, in general, Pathfinder is not built around multiclassing. It has penalized multiclassing by rewarding single classed characters and thus, making most multiclassed characters weaker than their single classed counterparts. The ability to do multiple things is almost a hindrance due to action economy problems.
- Gauss
Edit: Quicken Spell in a cleric = +3attack/damage at level 9. Quickened Divine Power +Righteous Might in the surprise round or round 1...then go kill with impunity. There is a battle cleric build (War-Tactics and Glory-Heroism Domains) that is utterly devastating (for a cleric) a couple times per day at 9th level.
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Found this regarding AC levels from Cavalier and another class on whether they stack or not. I see Gauss was actually a part of this convo before. :)
Cavalier: Do animal companion levels from the druid class stack with cavalier mount levels?
If the animal is on the cavalier mount list and on the list of animal companions for your other class, your cavalier and druid levels stack to determine the animal's abilities. If the animal is not on the cavalier mount list, the druid levels do not stack and you must have different animals (one an animal companion, one a cavalier mount).
For example, if you are Medium druid and you choose a horse companion, levels in cavalier stack to determine the horse's abilities. If you are a Medium druid and you choose a bird companion, levels in cavalier do not stack to determine the bird's abilities, and you must choose a second creature to be your mount (or abandon the bird and select an animal companion you can use as a mount).
This same answer applies to multiclassed cavalier/rangers.
(Note that the design team discourages players from having more than one companion creature at a time, as those creatures tend to be much weaker than a single creature affected by these stacking rules, and add to the bookkeeping for playing that character.)
http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2omlz?Cavalier-Druid-level-dip#26
So this leaves me with picking a wolf, boar, or dog mount for purposes of stacking with Cavalier. Or depending on Cleric levels in Animal Companion with Boon Companion feat for a +1 lvl mod to my Cleric level for its effective level.
I guess if I REALLY wanted I could go Animal Domain and pick a flying mount, and then after Cavalier 4 pickup Horse Master to have a combat mount and a lower level (lvl 7 or 9) flying mount available. Sounds like a LOT of work though. :(
So a few questions left
1) How far would dipping Cavalier be ok for a Cleric that wants to gear towards melee combat/riding combat?
2) What feats would you pick for a Combat/Reach Cleric/Cavalier with ability to fight Mounted? I'm not sure if I'll always fight mounted or use the AC as a bodyguard but I figure a few feats towards mounted combat wouldn't be a bad idea?
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@Gauss - Yep, looks like you're right that Enchantment bonus from Magic Vestment would only overlap a +1 magic armor to a +2 magic armor for the duration of the buff. Which is decent still as it allows you buy +1 armor and buy effects while improving the AC via Magic Vestment. Same with the Weapon. You're also right that multiclassing delays the advancement of these spells also which puts it further in a full cleric's favor.
I was mostly thinking the Order of the Paw ability would be the big boon here, BAB would remain the same, Saves are hardly affected, I'd only gain Cavalier's Charge, 1 challenge, and a teamwork feat which wouldn't help my action economy.
I guess my best bet is to go full Cleric with Animal Domain, pickup Boon Companion later, and I've got a free flying mount at my level. This restricts my 2nd domain a bit to Erastil or Gozreh though and neither look super impressive (Erastil a bit more, +longbow prof).
I'll have to check and see if PFS allows Clerics to not pick a Deity to grab War-Tactics domain.
EDIT: Nope, you have to worship a Deity and be within 1step alignment of that Deity. Ok so the 2nd domain is between Erastil and Gozreh's choices. Any suggestions?
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the Whimsy domain seems like it would be fun for a luck-reliant halfling cleric.
the Luck domain also would be good, to poke people for free rerolls to save them.
Whimsy is in Blood of Angels, i think its a subdomain of Good, so if you can find a Diety with Good and Luck,you'd likely be in luck.
taking 5 ranks in knowledge (religion), for Quick Channel at 5th level is good too though. being able to Channel as a move action can free you up for doing other fun stuff. If you channel in combat though, people will expect you to have Selective channel and enough charisma to omit 2 enemies at least ( cha 14 , 16 is good and reachable as a halfling )
if you want to go towards mounted/divine caster. i'd actual lean towards Nature Oracle, with the full EDL Mount revelation. plus other characters won't expect you to channel, and save yourself the Boon Companion feat. if you dip 1 into cavalier for proficiencies and a challenge, it'll stack with the Oracle mount and give your mount free light armor proficiency.
just 2 cents.
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To build a Reach Halfling Cleric I'm most likely looking at something like -
Str 15 (-2 from halfling)
Dex 14 (+2 from halfling)
Con 12
Int 8
Wis 15
Cha 10 (+2 from halfling)
It's against the grain playing halfling and going toward a Melee Cleric build. It has the +10ft speed alt trait advantage over the gnome though, and the +1 all saves trait and the +1 all saves from Fate's Favored. So for a small race, I think Halfling has the upper hand despite despite +con being a tad more useful in later levels where a halfling won't be using ranged sling/bow anymore.
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you get a better casting stat too, with the +2 charisma.
scrolls and wands are great for filling in spells you don't have.
you get cure light wounds for free, and your nature oracle spells.
they even give you Animal Growth in place of Awaken later on =D
with a fast mount, you don't need the speed trait for halfling, and can warsling so that you can load a sling faster than a crossbow, at least till you get bows later on if you want that.
its not that bad really =)
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If I go Oracle I'd be kicking myself to not be Aasimar. Celestial Servant feat for Celestial template from ARG. Scion of Humanity alt trait from ARG. I qualify for Huntmaster (+1 lvl to AC, not restricted by my level), take feat Racial Heritage: Half Orc, take Beast Rider half-orc feat from ARG if I want to open an additional AC choices to my Oracle AC list. (there's a flying mount available)
Aasimar has +1/2 level to 1 Revelation, at Oracle 12 I'd have a level 18 AC, add the huntmaster feat and I'm looking at a lvl 19 AC with the Celestial template.
Unless there's a really really impressive Halfling Curse that I could add my favored class bonuses to, I don't see it coming close to being as good as the Aasimar option.
Rather than being a normal animal or beast, your
companion or familiar hails from the heavenly realms.
Prerequisites: Aasimar, animal companion, familiar,
or mount class feature.
Benefit: Your animal companion, familiar, or mount
gains the celestial template and becomes a magical beast,
though you may still treat it as an animal when using
Handle Animal, wild empathy, or any other spells or
class abilities that specifically affect animals.
Some aasimars’ heavenly ancestry
is extremely distant. An aasimar with this racial
trait counts as an outsider (native) and a humanoid
(human) for any effect related to race, including feat
prerequisites and spells that affect humanoids. She can
pass for human without using the Disguise skill. This racial trait replaces the Celestial language and alters the
native subtype.
Huntmaster
You are an expert trainer of horses, hounds, falcons, or
hunting cats.
Prerequisites: Handle Animal 1 rank; either the
animal companion, divine bond (mount), or mount class
feature; human.
Benefit: If you have the animal companion class
feature, pick one of the following types of animal
companions that this feat affects: bird, dog, small cat, or
horse. If you have the divine bond (mount) or mount class
feature, this feat always affects horses.
You gain a +2 bonus on Handle Animal and Knowledge
(nature) checks with creatures of that type of animal.
Furthermore, you are treated as one level higher when
determining the abilities of your animal companion or
mount, as long as it is of the chosen type
Beast Rider
You gain the service of a monstrous companion or mount.
Prerequisites: Animal companion or mount class
feature, character level 7th, half-orc or orc.
Benefit: Select one of the following creature types:
elephant, pteranodon, rhinoceros, stegosaurus, or
triceratops. Add this creature type to your list of possible
animal companions or mounts. When summoning
a creature of the selected type to serve as a mount or
companion, treat your effective druid level as if it were two
levels higher (to a maximum of your character level). If the
creature is large enough for you to ride, it gains the combat
training general purpose (see Handle Animal) at no cost.
I have the option of a pony, wolf, boar, or dog...but the pteranodon looks like a nice option (albeit at a cost of 2 feats though.)
EDIT: I guess Huntmaster would only work for a Horse, which I could take or just save the feat and pick something else (-1 lvl to my AC though without Huntmaster)