I am playing in a homebrew setting in Mystara. Everyone except me has two characters, which are in two separate groups that are in the same world. They are indirectly at odds with each other being in the warring nations. I am about to create my second character to go into the "good" campaign. Another character who is level fourteen CN barbarian has become the deity to many goblins. Ironically, his group includes a couple of paladins. So, I am creating a level 5 CN goblin that had actually been in a battle against the "evil" campaign group and has information that he needs to tell his god.
My dice roll was 16, 13, 12, 12, 12, 12.
I finally decided I want to play a mounted archer. I am allowed to choose a goblin dog or wolf to start with for free as a mount, whether or not I choose to go with a class that gets me a mount or animal companion. I am required to choose any core class except for wizards. If I choose barbarian, then I can't multiclass with monk (even ex-monk or martial artist) or paladin.
I am allowed to use the full $10,500 GP.
I was thinking about playing a ranger with the falconry archetype, choose the ranger archer bonus feats, choose a roc, and focus on mounted archery and possibly using the spear during a mounted charge due to the falconry's level six feat. Therefore, I was wondering, should I choose my first level as a barbarian for the rage or as a rogue for sneak attack +1d6 and trap sense?
How could I optimize this character concept?
Ranger Falconer Archetype
Feathered Companion (Ex)
At 1st level, a falconer earns the trust and companionship of a bird of prey. The bird can be of any type of large hunting or scavenging bird (even a vulture). This ability functions like the druid animal companion ability (which is part of the nature bond class feature), but the falconer must take the bird animal companion, and that companion has only half the normal hit points. The falconer cannot teach the bird of prey the work trick, but can teach it either the roam or distract trick for free. Whichever trick the falconer does not pick then can be picked as a trick later.
Additionally I could learn monstrous mount and choose a griffon, if the DM allows it.
You have learned how to tame and ride exotic beasts.
Prerequisite(s): Handle Animal 4 ranks; Ride 4 ranks; divine bond (mount), hunter's bond (animal companion), or mount class feature with an effective druid level of 4.
Benefit(s): You can select an exotic beast from the list of monstrous mounts to serve as your animal companion or special mount. You acquire and advance this creature in the same way as the mount or animal companion detailed in the class feature used as a prerequisite for this feat. You can also dismiss the creature as dictated by your class feature.
You must meet additional prerequisites to choose a creature with an Intelligence score of 3 or higher, as described in each creature's entry.
Ranger Falconer Archetype
Additionally I could learn monstrous mount and choose a griffon, if the DM allows it.You have learned how to tame and ride exotic beasts.
Prerequisite(s): Handle Animal 4 ranks; Ride 4 ranks; divine bond (mount), hunter's bond (animal companion), or mount class feature with an effective druid level of 4.
Benefit(s): You can select an exotic beast from the list of monstrous mounts to serve as your animal companion or special mount. You acquire and advance this creature in the same way as the mount or animal companion detailed in the class feature used as a prerequisite for this feat. You can also dismiss the creature as dictated by your class feature.
You must meet additional prerequisites to choose a creature with an Intelligence score of 3 or higher, as described in each creature's entry.
I just realized I can't take this feat since it is from the Inner Sea guide and is not allowed for the Mystara campaign.