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So after getting the 'Animal Archive'-Player Companion I'd like to try a Huntmaster.
Looking for some recommendations / possible builds.
The Huntmaster is a must, all else is open for discussion.
Ability scores: 17,16,15,14,12,10.
Books allowed: most Paizo, but I have to run it by the GM.
We are playing Carrion Crown, 4th level now.
As it's a Cavalier Archetype and it looses the mount in favour for dog / bird or both, I thought of going small sized and ride the dog into battle. That led to the Order of the Paw... I know there's some overlap.
I thought of getting a dog for the first levels (maybe with the charger companion archetype), later on taking an eagle (Racer archetype?) as well, with the help of boon companion.
I'm not looking for the most optimized build
Nothing?
I'm still trying to figure out how to make this more a PACK-master than a "Huntmaster". I think, if your GM changes the rules to allow you to take "Boon Companion"* more than once on a companion, I think you could find a way to ALMOST get two dogs at full level. Otherwise, I'm not sure why you'd go Huntmaster instead of Beast Rider.
*http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/boon-companion
Your bond with your animal companion or familiar is unusually close.
Prerequisites: Animal companion or familiar class feature.
Benefit: The abilities of your animal companion or familiar are calculated as though your class were 4 levels higher, to a maximum effective druid level equal to your character level. If you have more than one animal companion or familiar, choose one to receive this benefit. If you lose or dismiss an animal companion or familiar that has received this benefit, you may apply this feat to the replacement creature.
Special: You may select this feat more than once. The effects do not stack. Each time you take the feat, it applies to a different animal companion or familiar.
Yeah well, the beast Rider is nice, but I'd only have one companion then. The hunt master lets me get more. I know that too much of them won't do me and the party any good, but yeah, I'll talk with the GM about the boon companion thing, I had the same idea as you.
Thing is, I could take a roc as animal companion with the huntmaster, something the beast rider explicitly forbids.
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Okay, I think I've got a(n early level) progression if you wanted to have two dogs that didn't die. Below is a chart listing how you would distribute the Druid levels to your companions. Feedback appreciated.
You / Alpha Dog / Beta Dog
Lvl. 1 / 1
Lvl. 2 / 2
Lvl. 3 / 3
lvl. 4 / 4
Lvl. 5 / 4 / 5 (1 + Boon Companion)
Lvl. 6 / 4 / 6
Lvl. 7 / 4 / 7
Lvl. 8 / 4 / 8
Lvl. 9 / 8 (Boon Companion) / 8
*Here's where you need to have GM permission to reapply Boon Companion, and if you can do that, you should probably have given it to Beta Dog at Lvl. 9 instead of Alpha.*
Lvl. 10 / 9 / 8
Lvl. 11 / 10 / 8
Lvl. 12 / 11 / 8
Lvl. 13 / 12 / 12 (Boon Companion)
Lvl. 14 / 12 / 13
Lvl. 15 / 12 / 14
Lvl. 16 / 12 / 15
Lvl. 17 / 16 (Boon Companion)/16
Lvl. 18 / ? / ?
I guess at low levels (up until level 9) the multiple dogs (2) are still up to snuff. Also consider that there is the huntmaster feat from the race guide which can increase the level of each of your dogs. So it might actually also be viable to get a large gang (At level 3 3 level 2 dogs)and give each of them teamwork feats. You can achieve this with the eye for talent human racial trait which allows you to pump your dogs int to 4 so at level 3 you could all have teamwork feats.
As to how to build such a char I thought about a progression for dogs and Master up to level 9 focusing heavily on tripping (duh). At level 9 once Greater Tactician comes online (for Broken Wing Gambit) your team should be crazy dangerous.
No idea as to how to allocate Stats but Str/Dex/Con/Int/Cha/Wis is how I'd set priorities with Str being the main priority and Dex requiring at least a 14 (to make combat reflexes useful).
Human Cavalier (Huntmaster) of the Order of the Cockatrice
Fights with a two handed reach weapon (Bardiche/Flail?) in order to set up easier flanks for his dogs and to do massive damage after a successful trip. Cockatrice gives you two nice abilities which synergize well with the rest of the build but there might be a more optimal Order choice I've overlooked.
Traits:? Boost... to Will saves might be good
Feats/Abilities
1 Combat Reflexes
1 Eye for Talent
1 Tactician: Paired Opportunist
2 Order: Dazzling Display as a move action
3 Tandem trip
4
5 Boon Companion
7 Power Attack
8 Steal Glory
9 Boon Companion
9 Greater Tactician: Broken Wing Gambit
Dogs
1 Paired Opportunist
2 Tandem Trip
5 Combat Reflexes
8 ???
For the dogs (or one of them) you should also consider the bodyguard Archetype. If you feel comfortable using your first Standard action on Tactician till level 9 than you don't need to give your dogs paired opportunist. Dazzling Display helps here as debuffing opponents and activating Tactician still seems like a valid use of a full round while your doggies go at it.
I'd love to be able to make the cavalier himself a better tripper but I'm afraid you can't afford the feat tax associated with it. The only feats from the current build I'd feel you can do without are Eye for Talent (not a feat I know) and maybe maybe Power attack. Saving on Boon companion would leave you with way weaker dog friends that also lack prerequisite feats.