Let Nature's Wrath come for them...

[TheOddGoblin]

So in an upcoming campaign, myself and my girlfriend are planning on playing a couple(go figure) whom see it as their duty to protect the wilds and fend for nature. We have settled on two concepts for our characters and are trying to figure out the best 20lvl builds in which to make them. I am wanting to play a mounted Half-elf Summoner/Fighter(or Barbarian? Open to suggestions) and she is wanting to play an Aasimar Sorc/Ranger/Arcane Archer(elf requirement is waived).

She is leaning towards the Beast Master archetype as she wants to have a pack of wolves who are loyal to her and I believe she is looking to have her familiar be capable of wand-wielding to provide healing. I am looking to have a familiar as well(heritage feat) who can act as a scout for us and my Eidolon I'm envisioning as a sort of amalgam of multiple animals, all predators, as an "avatar of nature"

So given these two concepts, how would you go about building these two defenders of nature?

[XMorsX]

Your build is perfectly feasible, even by Summoner 20 (the Wild Caller fits thematically and is a strong choice mechanically) or by Summoner 19 / Dragoon fighter 1. Will you start at 20th lvl?

I guess you could throw barbarian in the mix, but losing eidolon progression will certainly weaken you.

Your GFs choice is very tough to make though. Arcane archer do not progress animal companions, so she needs to set priorities. I suggest dropping AA, it only useful for the Imbue Arrow + Antimagic Field anyway. Sorcerer does not have any special synergy with ranger either, the combination is weaker than each one separately. We need more information on what she wants to achieve with her build.

[XMorsX]

A sample 20th lvl wild caller and his eidolon (assuming that you start at 20th lvl):

Half Elf Wild Caller summoner

Traits: Heirloom Weapon (Lance), Reactionary

Alt.racila favored class bonus every lvl

1 Skill Focus: Knowledge (Arcana), Arcane Strike
3 Power Attack
5 Furious Focus
7 Eldrich Heritage (Arcane)
9 Death from Above
11 Mounted Combat
13 Ride-By Attack
15 Spirited Charge
17 Trick Riding
19 Mounted Skirmisher

Eidolon (36 evo points)

Quadruped

Mount (1p)
Large (10p)
Pounce (1p)
Claws x3 (3p)
Limbs (arms) (x3) (6p)
Rend (2p)
Improved Damage (Claws) (1p)
Improved Natural Armour (x3) (3p)
Ability Increase (Strenght) (x3) (12p)
(use overland flight on your eidolon, skip the flight evolution)
(also, use the evolution surge spells for fast healing)

Feats: Power Attack, Weapon Focus (Claws), Improved Natural Attack (claws), Lunge, Spell Sponge, Narrow Frame, Combat Reflexes, Death from Above

[TheOddGoblin]

As of right now, she is only sold on playing a Ranger focused on archery with the Beast Master archetype. Other than that she's pretty open to build suggestions, mainly just wanting to have the pack of wolves and archery as well as spellcasting.

We're starting at level 5 and the campaign is supposed to go to 20th. I'd like to keep that in mind when building the characters that long term is the goal but also account for changes as needed.

[XMorsX]

Bear in mind that archery is a feat-intensive combat style, and the loss of the 6th lvl ranger bonus feat will greatly delay access to Improved Precise Shot, which is the main benefit archer rangers have over any other archer class, save zen archer. Also, having two viably strong companions means that you must take Boon companion twice, cutting from the archery feats even more.

I suggest choosing between focusing on archery with the vanilla ranger or using a more standard melee approach with the beastmaster archetype. It is not that you cannot combine the two of them, it is that it will not be smooth and convenient. Melee is also more supported from teamwork feats.

Also, take a look at the Hunter class from the ACG (combination of Ranger + Druid). It seems right on the spot of what your wife wants, and it has also some great teamwork feats for archery-focused hunters. It is a great class overall, with the ability to give to its animal companion the teamwork feat you know, it seems the perfect match for a nature themed archer with a loyal companion.