Is the hunter class viable if you deliberately kill or release your companion? I understand the animal focus abilities are ub limited per day with a dead companion.
Keep in mind I'm interested in the vermin archetype which has particularly wreak companions and strong focus abilities
Are you aware of the Errata to the vermin focus powers?
But it's fine. You get good summoning and a good spell list.
No, how does that work?
Unless your GM has an objection, I really recommend stipulating that your companion was killed pre-game (by others) and simply not replaced, rather than you killing it (which is just nasty). And just releasing it doesn't get you the same benefits---the text says "when the hunter's companion is dead," not "when the hunter has no companion."
Errata is them changing the book when it goes to be reprinted. So abilities can do different things.
Example, the worm focus no longer grants fast healing.
Which vermin focus were you looking at?
O, rats. I wanted fast healing shenanigans
Depends on your definition of viable. A companionless hunter is almost certainly worse than a hunter being played normally. The companion and everything that comes with it is amazing.
But if you take the companionless hunter in a vacuum and pretend the regular hunter doesn't exist, it's going to be pretty solid.
The fast healing shenanigans can be worth it for dipping.