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I plan on making a character that is more raw/nature based and removed from society that has a Dog AC. Going to go with Human for the Huntmaster feat and the Eye for Talent racial trait to help boost the AC to be more formidable.
Any suggestions for what Class or Archetype to use?
I know there's the Barbarian Mad Dog, Cavalier Huntmaster, Ranger (any good archetype?), and maybe another one or two I'm missing? I'm not looking for spell casting focus or shapechanging and I want the character to be "raw" with using simplified weapons or natural attacks along with their Dog companion.
Any thoughts on good choices or anyone have experience with any of these classes that have used a Dog AC?
1) Human
2) Uses simplified weapons or natural attacks
3) Raw/basic character, no or little focus on any type of magic
4) Dog animal companion
There is a brawler archetype that has an animal companion. Wild Child.
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Wild child is probably your best bet based on your no magic requirement. I'm currently enjoying a dog companion with my hunter (Huntmaster and Eye for Talent of course!). The advantage that hunters have is sharing of teamwork feats; having Outflank at level 2 and Pack Flanking at level 3 is sweet, and means that both of us can mix it up in melee. Might be too magical for you, but I'd still recommend looking at teamwork feats.
There is a feat called Pack Tactics from Advanced Class Origins that basically gives you and all your allies the ability to treat your animal companion as though it has all of your Teamwork feats (the animal doesn't get any bonuses though). Unfortunately, it requires 13 Int and it is NOT a combat feat, so you would actually need to be a smart cookie to get it. You would be able to use Martial Versatility to grab Teamwork feats though, as a good number of those are combat feats.
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Well...unfortunately I don't own the ACG so I don't have access to Brawler. I have access to most of the rest: Core, APG, ARG, UCombat, UMagic, Animal Archive, ISWG, Sargava the Lost Colony, Varisia Birthplace of Legends, and Cheliax Empire of Devils.
The Cavalier Huntmaster has what sounds like Pack Tactics already as their Tactician affects their AC and their AC benefits from their Challenge. Is the Huntmaster the next best thing?
I am currently playing a switch-hitting ranger with a dog companion. She's pretty boss and I really like that I can take my AC most anywhere unlike the Druid in the party who often has a hard time with his large ape or, after the ape died, his large tiger at inns, social events and medium sized dungeons etc.
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I know this is totally not the answer you want, but I would go out and buy the ACG. There are some really awesome choices in there. Brawler Wild Child makes a good choice. Hunter has magic, but they're all about teamwork with their pets--in fact, the class is based around that. As a hunter, if you have a teamwork feat, after level 2 (as in it kicks in at lvl 3) you can share all of your teamwork feats with your pet. You get Outflank for free at lvl 2. And if you pick your starting feats, you can get Pack Flanking at lvl 3 (or even lvl 1 but that's less useful then) which works amazingly well with Outflank (and some other teamwork feats).
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Cavalier Huntmaster is going to be a strong option for you. The big thing it gives the dog free trip if the bite hits at level 3, shared damage from challenge, and shares the bonus feat step up at level 6.
The hunter is also a strong option. However it is more focused on their AC than on their combat abilities. They do however have access to spells making them much stronger at higher level.
The barbarian can grow claws while raging, and also give those powers to his dog. Makes for a much more savage and wild character. Also there's the true primitive archetype that stacks with the mad dog, for the most wild untamed type you can get.
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The barbarian can grow claws while raging, and also give those powers to his dog. Makes for a much more savage and wild character. Also there's the true primitive archetype that stacks with the mad dog, for the most wild untamed type you can get.
Not a bad idea. But I don't think the ability to give raging powers to his dog will work. Seems Mad Dog removes all Rage Powers Except 4th and 8th level, with PFS ending once he turns 12th level. I could pickup Ferocious Beast and Greater but wouldn't have any rage powers to share with my dog though. Is there a way to get Rage Powers via Feats/etc besides at the designated levels on the Barbarian page?
If the Mad Dog is too steep a price then what would you think of 3-4 levels of True Primitive and then rest into Cavalier's Huntmaster and taking Boon Companion to make up for the lost AC levels?
I have to say if there's another way to grab rage powers beyond the levels that the barbarian page states then the Mad Dog actually does look promising. In the past I've looked at it and saw all the Rage Power levels that it removed and thought it was too steep a price...but I never noticed Ferocious Beast and Greater at the bottom.
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Is this what you are looking for?
Yep, thanks.
So probably the best options for a Mad Dog to take with Extra Rage Power would be the Abyssal Blood Rage Powers and Elemental Rage? Or is the Beast Totem considered more useful than the Abyssal Blood? Never messed with a Barbarian or Rage Powers so would love to hear from people that have had experience.
You can't mix beast totem and fiend totem. You can only have 1 line of totem powers.