Only frontline martial class in a party of casters. What should I be?

[Cavall]

PCScipio wrote:

I admit that I'm not that familiar with the Hunter class — how good are their defenses? Can they generally take most of the enemy's attacks without getting into trouble?

The biggest advantage to having a hunter is simple.

You've got a whole party to protect from one square as a tank in another class.

Hunters can tank 2 squares day one and as soon as level 4 you can change that to a large pet and your square. Allowing to bottle neck 3 squares across and reach.

They are a wisdom based class so you'll find all your saves are pretty equal as you level. You save a massive amount of cash compared to druids and rangers and other pet classes because you can boost stats for free and your pets stats are permanent for the day and can be shifted on the fly.

Phillipes comment about nothing in the class can shore up saves is wrong since you get free teamwork feats, one of which is boosted saves. Stand beside pet, all saves go up.

You have strong AC thanks to barkskin spells and medium armour.

Personally I had an ankylosaur and gave it light armour. I was well over 30s AC on it at level 8 with no spells added in. Because they have share spells I gave it compel hostility (normally self only) and made others have to attack it and not me. Massive life saver. Most enemies arent great for saves. It had the extra benefit of dazing or stunning on hits, PERFECT for tanks. Can make that a 24 DC by level 9 with no effort at all.

The spell list is druid or ranger which ever is lowest level. This makes the hunter very powerful for low levels spells because they can cast a few that no one could get for many levels. As an example Delay Poison is a third level druid or 4th level ranger. You can do it at first because its Druid 2 Ranger 1.

Teamwork feats taken by 2 allies (pet shares yours) means others may take them too... but even if they dont theres a spell to share them so you can increase the power of the teamwork feats.

You can change your latest teamwork feat on the fly. Making stealth checks a breeze since you can synergy that then switch back once scouting is done, for example.

You have all martial weapons and shields. You can flank easily as they give you pack flanking at earliest levels, so your BAB doesnt factor in as much. Even at earliest levels you can simply stand beside your pet and gain +4 to all attacks and be considered flanking.

Skills are 6 + int.

And pet tricks can include skirmisher ranger tricks with your pet as the "ranger". So you can have it a few times a day entangle with a hit, or hit creatures that attack allies as an immediate action. Massive tanking boost there.

I went dwarf since wisdom, con and steel soul meant high saves and HP. Perfect to tank with.

Hunters a strong class and a great tanking class with some casting buffs.

I think it's perfect for the OP

[MrCharisma]

SorrySleeping wrote:

PCScipio wrote:

I admit that I'm not that familiar with the Hunter class — how good are their defenses? Can they generally take most of the enemy's attacks without getting into trouble?

Have two targets means it is harder for enemies to take you down.

This is basically the draw of this class. It can also be done by a Durid/Summoner/etc, or even something like a Cavalier. Really any caster who decides to summon at the beginning of combat could qchieve this, but having a Companion/Eidolon means you have someone "pre-summoned" up front for the surprise round.

If your casters are willing to do a little summoning (one summon from one caster at the beginning of each combat) you probably don't need a pet-class as much and can just build your own character as a tank.

For everything that's been said, Paladin is probably the easiest and tankiest character around. People don't like Paladins for intruige games, but there's something to be said for being totally, uncompromisingly trustworthy.

[Philippe Lam]

Cavall wrote:

Phillipes comment about nothing in the class can shore up saves is wrong since you get free teamwork feats, one of which is boosted saves. Stand beside pet, all saves go up.

Doesn't raise the saves by a lot. When I say shore up saves, I don't mean the +1 Shake it Off (which I categorize as low), I mean a +2 heroism or an Armed Bravery, Sacred Tattoo half-orc/else category. Double problem since the AC is also guilty party on that specific aspect.

[avr]

There's no reason a hunter can't also be a sacred tattoo half-orc if you want that. And - there's a trio of full spellcasters behind this particular tank, get them to cast the heroism!

[PCScipio]

I'd be concerned that medium armour plus Barkskin wouldn't be enough in the OP's dysfunctional party.

A Swashtigator can have Celestial armour plus Barkskin, plus a massive dex bonus, plus an alchemical bonus to NA, plus a Shield extract, and a miss chance (Displacement) if needed. The trade off is lower DPR.

[Heather 540]

You can still have a high Dex as a Hunter. Mine used Dervish Dance to get Dex to Dam with a Scimitar at level 3. And you can always dip into Swashbuckler to get Parry. Use the Inspired Blade archetype and boom - instant Dex to Dam with a Rapier, which pairs nicely with the free Outflank that Hunters get.

[Philippe Lam]

avr wrote:

There's no reason a hunter can't also be a sacred tattoo half-orc if you want that. And - there's a trio of full spellcasters behind this particular tank, get them to cast the heroism!

I don't think the amount of players who would do the two at the same time, nor the sorcerer often having heroism. But I hope I'm wrong, and if I am, good on them.

The armor class would be just fine, it's on the spellcasters to protect themselves at all times (and no, illusions and co won't always get through)

[Cavall]

Philippe Lam wrote:

avr wrote:

There's no reason a hunter can't also be a sacred tattoo half-orc if you want that. And - there's a trio of full spellcasters behind this particular tank, get them to cast the heroism!

I don't think the amount of players who would do the two at the same time, nor the sorcerer often having heroism. But I hope I'm wrong, and if I am, good on them.

The armor class would be just fine, it's on the spellcasters to protect themselves at all times (and no, illusions and co won't always get through)

Well this is why I went dwarf and steel soul. I would say having +5 to all saves on a wisdom based class while standing beside your pet would be enough to qualify as "good saves" and that's a feat and a teamwork feat given for free. Minor investment. And of course getting +1 to will for being a dwarf worked for me anyways.

Of course nothing prevents the multiple other casters from casting heroism or other save boosting spells on you either, and hunters arent banned from fates favoured trait.

And of course, again, instead of heroism you can cast shared training and pass that save boost around. So your saves are constantly going up anyways.

And I found once my pet got Daze and entangle trick, it was rather easy to stop foes or rob them of attacks entirely.

Frankly the more I talk about the the more I'm convinced for a single tank to cover 3 people its your best route. Your race/pet are up to you I just had a lot of fun with my dwarf and ankylosaur combo. Just 2 tough old bastards.

[Orodhen]

Colluding Scoundrel Hunters have the Scapegoat ability. You target and enemy and choose a willing adjacent ally (your pet in this case). The enemy now has a -2 to hit all targets that are not the Scapegoat. On top of that, you can add in Antagonize and Designated Antagonist, which imposes an extra -2 to hit all targets that are not the Designated Antagonist. And with Beastmaster Style you can negate a hit on your companion with a Handle Animal check. Not saying it's perfect, but it's something.

[Lady Asharah]

I'd personally go with Magus in such a situation :D
More casters!