I've recently been invited into a 1e Pathfinder game. It's my first time with the rule set, though I played some 3.5e ages ago and have recently played a fair amount of 5e. Players have 5 sessions to modify their characters anyway they like and I could use some advice on how to proceed from where I'm at.
The campaign I've joined has our characters starting at level 15 with a free upbringing feat and an extra free feat at level 1. I'm playing a slayer 12/halfling opportunist 3 character and initially built him to be a switch hitter that used a halfling sling staff and kukri. During the first session a riding dog became a part of the character and is now an identifying part of him that the rest of the party loves. It's now a wolfhound and I've worked it into the backstory. However, he was clearly going to be super squishy, so I began trying to build around making it more survivable.
The problem is, in building around supporting the mount by first taking the 3rd party feat Signature Mount, I was juggling archery and two-weapon feats for the switch hitting, feint feats via the slayer's ranger combat style talent for getting sneak attacks to trigger and mounted feats. The character was inarguably very sloppy. I dropped the feint and two-weapon feats to support the mount, but still find myself stretched between mounted and ranged feats, not to mention losing the consistent sneak attacks.
Is there a reasonable way, without giving up too many good things in the process, to create a respectable mounted, ranged character using only 7 feats (Signature Mount and Defensive Combat Training for halfling opportunist take 2 of the 9). If it can be done with 7 feats then I can use the deceptive ranger combat style to get some feint sneak attacks. If 7 isn't enough, is choosing either the archery or mounted combat ranger style and stretching that to 10 feats enough?
I apologize for the lengthy post. I tend to over explain hoping to answer questions before they're asked. Thank you VERY MUCH in advance for any assistance, advice or ideas.
My knee jerk reaction is that you should probably rebuild your slayer as a ranger. The urban ranger archetype is near the theme of the slayer. And you can combine that with the trapper archetype if your character concept doesn't include spell casting.
I'd take the archery combat style instead of deceptive, and go for the Pack Flanking teamwork feat to secure sneak attacks.
At level 15 you can easily afford a Horsemaster's Saddle which would share your teamwork feats with your dog. Contrary to the name, it works with any mount.
Not to mention that the Deceptive combat style isn't particularly good for feinting builds since you want to feint and full-attack in the same round.
If you absolutely want to feint, then look for the combat style that gives you access to Improved Two-Weapon Feint.
Thank you both for your suggestions. I have some thinking to do, but a little more guided thinking!
Cheers!