Hunter Forester Archetype - Animal Foci?


Rules Questions


https://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/hybrid-classes/hunter/archetypes/paizo-hun ter-archetypes/forester-hunter-archetype wrote:


Animal Focus (Su)

As a forester has no animal companion, the aspects granted by this ability always apply to the forester herself, just as if a normal hunter’s companion were dead.
This alters animal focus.

Would this imply that the Hunter would have TWO Animal Foci, one 'permanent' and one that lasts for minutes per level?

https://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/hybrid-classes/hunter wrote:


If the hunter’s animal companion is dead, the hunter can apply her companion’s animal focus to herself instead of her animal companion. This is in addition to the normal one she can choose, and (as with a companion’s focus) remains in effect until the hunter changes it instead of counting against her minutes per day.


I think the key part is "just as if a normal hunter's companion were dead", so I would operate the focus as the Hunter class dictates.

So yes, you'd have an "always on" focus and a "minutes per day" focus that you can use to give yourself temporary boosts.

I will say that the drawback is that feats like "Favored Animal Focus" won't work, as the "Prerequisite(s): Animal companion class feature, animal focus class feature" would imply that the loss of your animal companion class feature would negate that.

So no "+4 to strength" at 1st level :)


Skrayper wrote:

I think the key part is "just as if a normal hunter's companion were dead", so I would operate the focus as the Hunter class dictates.

So yes, you'd have an "always on" focus and a "minutes per day" focus that you can use to give yourself temporary boosts.

I will say that the drawback is that feats like "Favored Animal Focus" won't work, as the "Prerequisite(s): Animal companion class feature, animal focus class feature" would imply that the loss of your animal companion class feature would negate that.

So no "+4 to strength" at 1st level :)

That was my thought, too, but I just wanted to make sure. We don't often play with companions due to having a larger group, so I was thinking this archetype would be super beneficial.


Ederook wrote:
Skrayper wrote:

I think the key part is "just as if a normal hunter's companion were dead", so I would operate the focus as the Hunter class dictates.

So yes, you'd have an "always on" focus and a "minutes per day" focus that you can use to give yourself temporary boosts.

I will say that the drawback is that feats like "Favored Animal Focus" won't work, as the "Prerequisite(s): Animal companion class feature, animal focus class feature" would imply that the loss of your animal companion class feature would negate that.

So no "+4 to strength" at 1st level :)

That was my thought, too, but I just wanted to make sure. We don't often play with companions due to having a larger group, so I was thinking this archetype would be super beneficial.

I can see that. I seriously considered this initially, but the idea of having that animal companion (especially when my wife painted the miniature for it) was too much to pass up. It's still a very strong archetype IMHO. Especially from a stealth aspect.


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I'm currently playing one. It's honestly been quite fun. We just hit level 2. We are also playing it with a permanent one and a second one min per day.

The combat feats and teamwork feats keep you almost even with a fighter, but one with more skills more spells, less bab less hp and less armour. Add in tracking and focus and other tricks and I think it's a solo hunter powerhouse.

It's rare to think a hunter would be better off with no pet but theres no buying equipment twice, trying to find ways to get it around or wasting spell slots it can use but you won't (strong jaw for example).

Forester is simply well done as an archetype.

Sovereign Court

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Don't forget to pick up Planar Focus. Lots of utility for a single feat.

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