| Roco |
Got an upcoming game where I'll be playing a hunter. I'm excited to try as I've always loved the class, but I've never got to play one till now.
So, what I'm looking is advice for spells to take (known, scrolls, wands etc), teamwork feats, and items I should be working towards.
My build concept does not require me to be optimized (I don't think anyone in the group for this game will be that optimized) so "fun" trumps "this does more damage".
I'd much rather take something that gives me more interesting options or combos and not just a simple stat increase. Though my character is going to be very MAD, starting at level 3 = STR: 14, DEX: 16, CON: 13, INT: 10, WIS: 14, CHA: 14
Also, I'm wanting to run this character as a mounted switch hitter. He uses a scimitar, has a tail attack, and uses a bow. Admittedly the ranged option is more just a side option. I won't be getting any mounted or ranged feats. The idea being I'll use a bow when out of range and once I close in the distance I'll switch to melee.
And I might not be mounted all the time either. I want to be fluid enough to work both mounted and not mounted.
The animal companion is basically a wolf template (though grab not trip)
oh, and I'll be using the Courtly Hunter Archetype.
Part of this is a bit of homebrew. I get to keep the bonus feats and precise companion rather than just having my animal companion share in my skills (which aren't that many anyhow...) We both agreed that the archetype already suffers from a worse Animal Focus, and getting slightly better skill checks doesn't seem right to loose a tone of feats to make the class work. (yes, the idea is the courtly hunter is more geared towards social encounters rather than fighting, but in a game where you do a good healthy amount of both, trading tones of feats (that count as double feats since you share them with the AC) for the use of some ranks in a few skills.... seems damn piss poor. Heck it seems piss poor even in social situations, unless you really want your AC to be doing that diplomacy check)
The reason I'm taking Courtly Hunter is for the flavor of it being fey touched, as my character is a custom race under 12 RP and is a bit of a fey himself (can do gnome magic and can shapechange). So having an option to scale the big scary beasty into something a bit more travel size, helps out a lot.
I know a few things I'll be getting for sure. Dirty Trick, Pack-Flanking, Outflank and paired opportunist.
But, what other teamwork feats should I be on the look out for? Escape route sounds nice, but maybe just a floating feat (switched in when needed) same with improved share spell? Which teamwork feats should I try and get as set in feats and which ones should I keep in mind to switch around as needed?
What regular feats? I had my eye on a few. Like Butterfly Sting (to share my crits to my animal companion or other allies), maybe Planar Focus to give myself some more interesting animal focus options? Is expanded hunter tactics worth it? (move action give one ally a teamwork feat for a few rounds, once per ally per day, and only works if they are adjacent to me or the AC)
Then there are the spells, what spells are golden to take (since I have such limited spells known) and what spells should I have as a scroll or wand?
Again, going for fun options over pure stat increases if possible.
Also, a side question but... since Courtly Hunter's AC doesn't learn tricks because of having a familiar's level of intellect... does that mean they can't use Skirmisher tricks? Since you have to use bonus tricks to learn those I think... which seems odd that getting smarter negates your ability to use those XD
| Scott Wilhelm |
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I really like Broken Wing Gambit and Paired Opportunist. Whenever either of you is attacked, both of you get Attacks of Opportunity.
You are using a scimitar: so Seize the Moment or Outflank: You mentioned Outflank, but also look at Seize the Moment. They are almost the same Feat, but one of them has a slightly better Benefit, and the other has slightly easier prerequisites. Improved Crit and Crit Focus, of course.
Gang Up: you flank if you and your ally are even Threatening the same ally.
You are using a scimitar: what do you think of a Katana, Katana and Wakisashi, or Elven Curved Blade (my favorite Crit-fishing weapon)? All of the above have Threat Ranges of 18-20, but the ECB does 1d10 instead of 1d6. It's a 2 handed weapon, but since you are planning on Paired Opportunist and Outflank anyway, you are planning on Attacks of Opportunity, and when it comes to AoOs, the bigger the weapon, the better.
Precise Strike. That's a Teamwork Feat that grants Sneak Attack Damage.
| Heather 540 |
If you're going to be mounted a good bit of the time, you'll want Pack Flanking. That will require Combat Expertise.
As for spells, get Create Water, Light, and Spark. Those are always useful. For first level spells, Magic Fang and Lead Blades are decent buffs. Of course, having Cure Light Wounds is always better than not having it.
| Roco |
I really like Broken Wing Gambit and Paired Opportunist. Whenever either of you is attacked, both of you get Attacks of Opportunity.
You are using a scimitar: so Seize the Moment or Outflank: You mentioned Outflank, but also look at Seize the Moment. They are almost the same Feat, but one of them has a slightly better Benefit, and the other has slightly easier prerequisites. Improved Crit and Crit Focus, of course.
Gang Up: you flank if you and your ally are even Threatening the same ally.
You are using a scimitar: what do you think of a Katana, Katana and Wakisashi, or Elven Curved Blade (my favorite Crit-fishing weapon)? All of the above have Threat Ranges of 18-20, but the ECB does 1d10 instead of 1d6. It's a 2 handed weapon, but since you are planning on Paired Opportunist and Outflank anyway, you are planning on Attacks of Opportunity, and when it comes to AoOs, the bigger the weapon, the better.
Precise Strike. That's a Teamwork Feat that grants Sneak Attack Damage.
Hmm, actually ya I should be using a katana, would fit my idea a bit more too (as well as a slightly better dice)
Im not sure about precise strike, it's just a single d6 that can't even double in a crit. Doesn't seem super "fun" especially for a single attack build. Maybe if I was going for lots of attacks.
If you're going to be mounted a good bit of the time, you'll want Pack Flanking. That will require Combat Expertise.
As for spells, get Create Water, Light, and Spark. Those are always useful. For first level spells, Magic Fang and Lead Blades are decent buffs. Of course, having Cure Light Wounds is always better than not having it.
Ya, I'm thinking packflanking is gonna be for sure. Dirty trick works for combat expertise and I prefer that more.
Also, why is magic fang seen as such a good spell? It's only a +1 bonus. I never saw the allure.
| Cavall |
You have a rare opportunity for a hunter in that you can take an evolution for your pet. Normally takes charisma 13. Look into that.
Precise strike is actually smart when you think about the fact you're going to be hitting more than once a round, both of you. So even at one hit each its 2d6. But if you both get some AoO? Adding 4d6 or more a round is great.
Spells? Level one get monkey fish. Level 2 get carry companion. Never worry about your friend again.
You're actually losing teamwork feats AND sharing those feats with courtly archetype. A lot of the feats mentioned are teamwork which it would have got for free but not only are you unable to get them for free you pets very limited pool will be used up. Sure you want that?
| Roco |
You have a rare opportunity for a hunter in that you can take an evolution for your pet. Normally takes charisma 13. Look into that.
Precise strike is actually smart when you think about the fact you're going to be hitting more than once a round, both of you. So even at one hit each its 2d6. But if you both get some AoO? Adding 4d6 or more a round is great.
Spells? Level one get monkey fish. Level 2 get carry companion. Never worry about your friend again.
You're actually losing teamwork feats AND sharing those feats with courtly archetype. A lot of the feats mentioned are teamwork which it would have got for free but not only are you unable to get them for free you pets very limited pool will be used up. Sure you want that?
Hmm, might look into that evolution thing! As for the archetype, as I stated the DM is housruling I still get them + the sharing, as loosing all that for the animal companion to have similar ranks in skills ... Not a very good trade. Otherwise ya, I probably would not touch this archetype, but I love the other aspects of it, even it's worse animal focus
| Heather 540 |
People like Magic Fang because it's a +1 to attack and damage for your companion's attacks that you can get at level one.