Harrying Partners is probably one of the best teamwork feats in existence, turning Bodyguard from a way to negate one attack into a method to boost your AC to absurd levels. However, Harrying Partners normally requires quite a bit of investment from your companions.
Now other classes can take advantage of Harrying Partners on their own, namely Hunter (or the Inquisitor archetype that does the same thing) and eventually any class with an animal companion. However, most people that can take advantage of need to wait until level 9 to achieve BAB+6. This is where the Eldritch Guardian Fighter comes into play.
While people normally build the EG with a Mauler familiar, the key to this build is to obtain a Protector Familiar. The Protector familiar can boost its master's AC even without threatening the attacking Foe. This is important, because it means that you can use Bodyguard against any attack used against you, including ranged attacks.
Now, the interesting thing about Harrying Partners is that it DOES NOT REQUIRE BODYGUARD as a pre-requisite. This means that your character does not need to select Bodyguard or combat reflexes as feats since the Protector Familiar begins play with them. That means all you need is to invest in a single Teamwork feat in order to qualify. I like Shared Healing but there are probably other useful ones out there.
High Dexterity familiars are preferred for this build, with the king being the Scarlet Spider who can manage 6 AoOs a round, though the standard Greensting provides 4 and a better passive ability. The end result is effectively a permanent AC boost starting at level 6, instead of just protecting yourself from a single attack. This AC combined with the high AC from a fighter will result in you being almost impervious in a melee, though it will attract a lot of magic your way as creatures struggle to find a way to damage you.
You don't have to limit your familiar choice based on the number of AoOs, as the effect won't stack with itself (same source). But the thought of some weasel blocking the hits from an angry giant is certainly amusing.
I think you have to answer a rules question before evaluating whether or not this is any good: Do the bonuses from aid another stack with each other?
My gut tells me no as these are bonuses from the same source. Thus harrying partners doesn't add anything to a protector familiar with a decent DEX.
I think you have to answer a rules question before evaluating whether or not this is any good: Do the bonuses from aid another stack with each other?
My gut tells me no as these are bonuses from the same source. Thus harrying partners doesn't add anything to a protector familiar with a decent DEX.
yes
Aid Another
In melee combat, you can help a friend attack or defend by distracting or interfering with an opponent. If you're in position to make a melee attack on an opponent that is engaging a friend in melee combat, you can attempt to aid your friend as a standard action. You make an attack roll against AC 10. If you succeed, your friend gains either a +2 bonus on his next attack roll against that opponent or a +2 bonus to AC against that opponent's next attack (your choice), as long as that attack comes before the beginning of your next turn. Multiple characters can aid the same friend, and similar bonuses stack.
There are those who would argue that "multiple characters can aid the same friend" doesn't mean "the same character can aid the same friend multiple times".
In other words, expect table variance. Or books thrown at you. Either one.
Thank you Michael, yep. In addition to the wording which leaves room for table variation, Aid Another bonuses are untyped and thus stacks with itself.
As far as defending your familiar, that is fairly easy as your familiar gains Natural Armor as it levels, is Tiny or smaller, and can wear Masterwork Studded Leather or better if you decide on using special materials.
Regardless, even if the enemy is smart enough to target your familiar, if the enemy has to kill your familiar in order to damage you that is an extra 25% HP that you did not previously have before. One of the reasons I suggested share healing as your teamwork feat as to help keep your familiar topped off incase it takes some random damage.
If you want to defend your familiar beyond its normal extent, you can of course invest in combat reflexes and bodyguard. By level 6 as an EG Fighter with the build you have room for Combat Reflexes, Phalanx Formation, and bodyguard. However, it is not necessary to make the build work.
There are those who would argue that "multiple characters can aid the same friend" doesn't mean "the same character can aid the same friend multiple times".
In other words, expect table variance. Or books thrown at you. Either one.
This gets into interpretation of clauses, always fun.
I would err on the side of "and similar bonuses stack" meaning that similar bonuses from aid another stack.
I also don't see this as too abusive. A fighter with high AC, sounds like a good target of a will save to me.
^ Exactly, it makes you a considerable tank against physical threats but does nothing to improve your offense or defense vs magical threats. Just a fun build compared to all of the mauler EGs you see.
Also is the aid another bonus stacking with itself?
I think you have to answer a rules question before evaluating whether or not this is any good: Do the bonuses from aid another stack with each other?
My gut tells me no as these are bonuses from the same source. Thus harrying partners doesn't add anything to a protector familiar with a decent DEX.
There are those who would argue that "multiple characters can aid the same friend" doesn't mean "the same character can aid the same friend multiple times".
In other words, expect table variance. Or books thrown at you. Either one.
Thank you Michael, yep. In addition to the wording which leaves room for table variation, Aid Another bonuses are untyped and thus stacks with itself.
Okay, what exactly is being said here? Are people trying to say you can Aid Another multiple times against the same enemy to grant higher AC bonuses? For instance, Aid Another twice to grant +4, or three times to grant +6? Because that doesn't work. As Saethori said, "multiple characters" and "one character multiple times" are not equivalent phrases. If you can find a way to boost the familiar's Aid Another bonus that would work just fine.
On the other hand, if the argument is that one familiar can't Aid Another multiple times to grant that AC bonus against multiple enemies (say, using Bodyguard to grant +2 to AC against the attacks of three bandits), that should work. Those bonuses aren't "stacking", they apply to different targets.
Harrying Partners removes the need to block each hit individually because the bonus lasts until your next turn. But as untypes bonuses only stack if they are from different sources a single bodyguard can only grant a single bonus.
He could still spend his own turn to boost your attacks of course und there are easy ways to improve the aid another bonus to +4, so its still a nice tactic.
Harrying Partners removes the need to block each hit individually because the bonus lasts until your next turn. But as untypes bonuses only stack if they are from different sources a single bodyguard can only grant a single bonus.
He could still spend his own turn to boost your attacks of course und there are easy ways to improve the aid another bonus to +4, so its still a nice tactic.
Right, a single bonus against a single enemy (to attack or AC) for the round. And if they have a way to Aid Another more than once per turn, such as Swift Aid or Bodyguard, that bonus must apply to attacks/AC against a different enemy.