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The Hunter ability 'nature training (ex)' says "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”
The Ranger class under Animal Companion says "A ranger's animal companion shares his favored enemy and favored terrain bonuses."
Does a Hunter gain favored enemy/favored terrain class feature as a Ranger of equal level, so the Hunter can share this 'option' with their Animal Companion?
No. It just helps if you take a feat that requires something like Ranger, 4th level. It doesn't give you extra Ranger powers.
Unless it's listed in the hunter's class abilities (it's not) you don't have something. So you don't have Favored enemy.
Since there are literally no feats, traits, or options other than maybe the ranger thing posted above, should they errata this class feature out of the Hunter class?
It's in case they ever decide to do so.
In the same book as the Hunter Class, the Brawler class has a very similar ability with one major difference in the script.
Brawler
Martial Training (Ex): At 1st level, a brawler counts her total brawler levels as both fighter levels and monk levels for the purpose of qualifying for feats. She also counts as both a fighter and a monk for feats and magic items that have different effects based on whether the character has levels in those classes (such as Stunning Fist or a monk's robe). This ability does not automatically grant feats normally granted to fighters and monks based on class level, such as Stunning Fist.
Only the Brawler class calls out that the ability does not automatically grant class features of the two other classes.
For example, if you were to dip a level of ranger as a feral hunter, you could take the shapeshifing hunter feat, and count your hunter levels as druid and ranger levels.
Are you suggesting that you would have to level up to 4 in Hunter, then take a level dip into Ranger, and finally take a Feat before the level 1 class ability Nature Training would allow Hunter levels to count as Ranger/Duid levels to determine how many Favored Enemies you possess; so that you can share these Favored Enemies with your Animal Companions?
If that is the only use for the ability, then this ability should be listed along side other beauties such as Caustic Slur, Black Marketeer, and Ostentatious Display as the worst Pathfinder has to offer.
This class ability seriously needs to be erratad... either corrected or removed.
Are you suggesting that you would have to level up to 4 in Hunter, then take a level dip into Ranger, and finally take a Feat before the level 1 class ability Nature Training would allow Hunter levels to count as Ranger/Duid levels to determine how many Favored Enemies you possess; so that you can share these Favored Enemies with your Animal Companions?
If that is the only use for the ability, then this ability should be listed along side other beauties such as Caustic Slur, Black Marketeer, and Ostentatious Display as the worst Pathfinder has to offer.
This class ability seriously needs to be erratad... either corrected or removed.
They future proofed the class for future development. Just because it's mostly useless, doesn't mean it needs to be removed. It's not like it costs the class anything.
There are much more serious problems that need to be addressed before this. If there's any need at all.
It lets you qualify for the Monstrous Companion feat.
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It lets you qualify for the Monstrous Companion feat.
No, because even without that you qualify as a level 7 hunter.
Under the Hunter's AC it says: "The hunter’s effective druid level is equal to her hunter level."
If there were any Feats, traits or "options" that specifically call out requiring a certain Ranger or Druid level and also enhanced the Animal Companion, then it would be useful, but those don't exist at this time.
I've been looking up other combos that require the terrible choice of dipping Ranger before being allowed to use your Hunter ability. The Ranger class under Animal Companion says "A ranger's animal companion shares his favored enemy and favored terrain bonuses."
Ranger trait: Gnoll Killer (+1 attack/damage against favored enemy, +2 if you are a ranger) paired with Instant Enemy (level 3 Ranger spell - one specific enemy type becomes favored enemy for minutes).
Boots of Friendly Terrain (grants 1 favored terrain).
Hunter's Band (+1 attack against favored enemies).
Favored Defense Feat (1/2 favored enemy bonus to CMD and AC against 1 favored enemy).
Vest of the Vengeful Tracker (+4 confirm criticals against favored enemies).
Wayfinder (grants Favored Enemy Class feature in rare circumstances).
Lay of The Land Feat (grants 1 favored terrain).
A 4 level dip into Divine Marksman / Sky Stalker (Ranger Archetypes) seems like the best dip to maximize the effectiveness of a Level 1 Hunter ability. I'm not sure if Witchguard would also stack onto that Ranger Archetype build above.
A Divine Marksman gains Vicious Aim (Ex) ability at level 4 - which allows this character to add half their highest favored enemy bonus to attack and damage of all of his ranged weapon attacks.
If the Divine Marksman was also a Level 4 Feral Hunter with the Shapeshifing Hunter feat and Gnoll Killer trait with their first favored enemy being gnoll; then the Divine Marksman would grant a +4 attack and damage while using ranged weapons.
One question did come up when researching this info. Once the character has the favored enemy // favored terrain class feature, do the Hunter levels then start counting as addition Ranger levels to improve these two class features?
"Qualifying for" does not mean either "gain" or "counts as". It's pretty limited in it's scope.
So no, it won't grant you the ranger ability, and it won't let you stack your hunter levels with ranger levels.
believe what you want, currently it doesn't do anything. Similar to the rhondo figher and swashbuckler where they get an ability where they can alternate their attacks with weapon and shield, Just like everyone else already. And it was clarified that it didn't do anything but was there in case the rules changed about attacking with different weapons for your BAB attacks while not using 2wf. IN CASE THE RULES CHANGED!!! Like it's totally not going to happen, so it's a class ability that does nothing.