Hi all...
After a couple of questions I finally narrowed down my choice in classes... I have 2 options left. The feral hunter or the Druid/Ranger multiclass.
What I want in a character is the following:
- Skilled sword fighter
- Wild shape for utility (stealth, tracking and other) and some combat utility...
- I only care for animal forms.. plants and others are not my thing...
- I'm thinking about having other combat utility from the sword and the wild shape (one for fighting undead/demons.. other for fighting the rest?... maybe by taking eldritch claws feat... of using a magic weapon... not sure...)
- Focus is not really on the spells, but these are a nice bonus :-)
I'm looking more for a ranger with wild shape than a druid with wild shape... I'm not sure to what side the feral hunter is on...
Pro's for the feral hunter are that I do not need to spend 2 feats taking shapeshifting hunter and shaping focus... but I do think the ranger/druid will be the stronger sword fighter if I only take up to 4 levels of druid.... Or do 2 feats make up for this?
What do you think? :-)
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Over all the feral hunter is going to be a really strong option. The advantage of not needing to buy a stat belt. Is something often over looked as at level 8 it's the equivalent of 40,000gp item. that's less then the 36,000gold for amulet of mighty fist +3 you will want. Just something else you should look at before decided what to do.
I would go Hunter over Druid/Ranger. Mainly due to how things work with hunter animal focus. It is something I use to over look as not that good. However in play it has proven to be a great ability.
How do you mean that exactly? Because of the flexibility? Or due to another reason?
So there's the feat Shapeshifting Hunter that lets wild shape levels add to your FE and your ranger levels to add your wild shape per day level. So that should help with either option. Also you could go Feral Hunter and ranger. Use this feat, and be able to use instant enemy at lv 8 instead of lv10 like a full ranger.
The feat talks about ranger and Druid... Don't think they intent the feral hunter...
The requirements are wildshape and the feat was made long before anything else could wildshape. Since the Feral Hunter has effective druid levels for wildshape it would use those when interacting with the feat.
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Well there is this:
Nature Training (Ex)
A hunter counts her total hunter level as both druid levels and ranger levels for the purpose of qualifying for feats, traits, and options that modify or improve an animal companion.
It only applies for feats that modify an animal companion. It wouldn't count for feats that modify wild shape.
I read that as: for the purpose of qualifying for Feats, Traits, AND options that modify or improve an animal companion.
Meaning: any feats, any traits, and also options that modify/improve an animal companion, not simply feats/traits that modify an animal companion.
All fine... But the feral hunter hasn't got an animal companion and I don't want one :-) as for the feat, the feral hunter isn't a Druid and the feat does not apply according to my gm... Think I agree.
So back to my initial question, Druid/ranger or feral hunter?
So you take druid 4 for wild shape and then the rest all ranger? Works well with the feat, otherwise you have a weak FE and a few more skill points and no spell, wild shape, or Animal companion progression.
Feral hunter everything progresses but no Animal companion and no favored enemy.
So how much do you want an animal companion and what are you hoping to get out of your multiclassing?
EDIT:
Just saw you don't want an animal companion. So you'd get a domain, can be nice, and some FE for the multiclassing.
Feral you'd have lots of extra gold and full spell levels.
I think I'd recommend Feral.
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Hard to say. They both meet your requirements, and which one is better depends a bit more on your more specific style and campaign.
The Feral Hunter's Animal Aspect will at most levels at least make up for the Ranger/Druid's higher BAB and HD. The teamwork feats and ability to share them with summoned creatures and access to significant buff spells like Barkskin can also make the Feral Hunter stronger in combat than a Ranger/Druid - except when the latter is facing a Favoured Enemy. (The combat style will probably just make up for the 2 feats you spent on multiclassing.)
So if you're fighting mostly the same type of enemy and don't expect to have time to pre-buff or call up summons before battle, you'll want Ranger/Druid. If you'll be fighting a variety of foes but will have the opportunity to prepare for most fights, the Feral Hunter will be stronger.
I'd also note that I expect the Feral Hunter's best levels to be in the 1-4 and 8-12 ranges. Animal Focus is a big bonus early on, especially for pre-wildshape scouting and tracking, and gets a huge jump in power at level 8. It looks to me like the Ranger/Druid will be a bit ahead around 5-7 thanks to Wild Shape coming online and being ahead by an extra point of BAB, and I suspect that Animal Focus will be a little less useful at very high levels when the stat belt isn't as big a chunk of wealth.
And I agree with London Duke that a simpler progression can be more enjoyable.
- Wild shape for utility (stealth, tracking and other) and some combat utility...
- I'm thinking about having other combat utility from the sword and the wild shape (one for fighting undead/demons.. other for fighting the rest?... maybe by taking eldritch claws feat... of using a magic weapon... not sure...)
What do you mean by "combat utility"? Pounce? Grab? Flight? It is generally expensive in magic items and feats to prepare for fighting both with manufactured and natural weapons. It would be useful to know exactly what you want to get out of it.
Im falling on the side of Feral Hunter