Huntmaster Cavalier, Can it work?

[Merellin]

So, I'v been pondering and looking arround and this archetype seems quite intresting. I was thinking of a Huntmaster with 2 dog companions, And a Boon companion for each of them to bring them up a bit more. And I was curious, Would this be a workable viable archetype?

I have discussed my ideas with my GM and party to see if they would find it too annoying but they just keep telling me to play what ever I want and not worry so much about everyone else.

[Louise Bishop]

DO a DOg and Bird Combo. Trip(Dog) and Dirty trick(Bird)

Use Totem Beast Feat to Boost your pup.

I like making the Cav himself a nice buff/debuff bot. Using Dazzling Display and Flagbearer. I make him use a reach weapon and tatics to stab things the Doggie Trips, as they try and get up.

Look at the Animal Companion Archetypes. Totem Guide Bird gives you a few more options the Huntmaster can do. A few helpful spell like abilities, ability to speak to each other (for scouting ahead).

Another feat I should mention is Spirits Gift. not as good as originally printed but still a great buff for a fight that is of higher CR. Blur and DR Adamantine are great for your pet to stay alive longer.

Sadly this kind of build does get behind in the levels of 12+ as 1 of your companions tends to fall behind and becomes vulnerable. I tend to focus on the pup while the Bird is more a utility and scout who can fall behind a few levels.

[Derek Dalton]

Regarding this archtype. I just read it and am curious if Expert Trainer even though modified still counts for the feat which allows the mount to be treated as the character level not class level. I apologize I forget the feat. But here's why I'm curious. A Halfling with Undersize mount can use one dog as a mount with the other providing flanking bonus and with certain Teamwork feats precision damage bonus. The dog's attack includes Trip which is brutal in combat. Every time a monster attempts to stand provokes. That's three free attacks. Yours, and the two dogs. At low to mid levels most monsters are dead before actually getting up to retaliate. The other reason why I ask is the Halfling then qualifies for Order of the Paw.

[avr]

Horse Master affects your mount only not other types of animal companion, huntmasters get a hunting pack but not a mount. Whether Expert Trainer still acts as a prereq for Horse Master is irrelevant.

2-3 levels in hunter might be a useful dip. Free Outflank for you and your companions would be valuable, and at 3rd level they share any other teamwork feats you get too.

[lemeres]

The archetype can be workable and viable...if you disregard the split mechanic and just go with a single animal companion.

Besides getting some tricks, the animal companions are notable since they also share in your challenge. So the three attacks of teh bird could do an extra 60 damage.

[Derrick Winters]

Let's see...

Spear Dancer can make your birds blind faster, and Order of the Flame can make your birds much deadlier thanks to Glorious Challenge.

Build stub:
Hans the Halfling Cavalier(Huntmaster)

Alternate Racial traits:
Caretaker: +2 sense motive, animal companions get +2 to a Stat of your choice.

Stats (15-Pointbuy)

12 STR (5 pts, -2 racial)
16 DEX (5 pts, +2 racial)
14 CON (5 pts)
12 INT (2 pts)
12 WIS (2 pts)
09 CHA (-4 pts, +2 racial)

Traits:
Helpful(race; +4 bonus from Aid Another), Battlefield Disciple(combat; +2 to Heal(stabilize) & +1 atk from Aid Another)

01: Bestial Challenge 1/day, Hunting Pack, Order of the Flame, Tactician 1/day; Totem Beast(Bull), [Escape Route]
02: Foolhardy Rush
03: Takedown; Undersized Mount
04: Animal Trainer, Bestial Challenge 2/day; +1 STR
05: Swift Tracker, Tactician 2/day; Power Attack
06: [Step Up]

1st lvl: You have a Small Bird with 14 STR(Full-atk: bite(+4, 1d4+2), 2 talons(+4, 1d4+2 each))

You can use Aid another: Atk to grant +5 to atk, +4 AC, +4 skills.

Bestial Challenge can make your bird even more dangerous...

Your birds have the bodyguard archetype & take toughness as feat.

At 2nd lvl, you pick up a 2nd bird...
At 3rd lvl, you pick up a 3rd bird & Undersized mount, now your minimum-weight halfling (27 lbs) can ride a 14-STR bird (light load: 43.5 lbs => so 43 lbs stays just below light load; this is should be enough for some clothes/light armor/lance).

Tactician -> Escape route can set up flanking easily...

Your birds need every bit of atk bonus they can get to land their Dirty Tricks...

[calagnar]

I don't recommend getting two animal compaions as it puts your effective level to low after you get past level 8. Unless your GM is going to work with you on something special.

This is my Cavalier Huntmaster from PFSP. He is not the best cavalier but he is fun to play, and can do his job well.

Dwarf
(Favored Class bonus + 1/2 damage to challenge)
Ability Score
Str>Con>Dex=Int=Wis>Cha

Cavalier Huntmaster
Order of the Tome
Divine Casting
Tactician: Precise Strike Teamwork
Greater Tactician: Outflank Teamwork

Feat's:
Toughness
Power Attack
Combat Reflexes
Improved Over Run
Charge Through
Greater Over Run

Animal Companion: Dog

[Merellin]

Oh well. I just liked the idea of having two companions. I was thinking that with Boon Companion twice, Once for each, They would be a bit stronger, Even though both would still be lower level, They wouldent be as low and thus maybe still be useable.

[citricking]

two companions will be great until level 8, and fine for a few levels after. What level do you think you'll play to? If 12 or higher ask your gm if you can just take boon companion multiple times for the same animal.

[Merellin]

No idea. I dont think the GM has any end level planned, It is more endless till we get bored or die. And i dont want to bother the GM with trying to squeeze on extra stuffs like special rules for me. Oh well!

[Ventnor]

I'd recommend being human. You have access to the "Eye for Talent" alternate racial trait which gives each of your companions an ability score boost and the "Huntmaster" feat, which lets you treat your effective character level as 1 higher when concerning a select group of animal companions (dogs are in that group).