Pouncing Hunter

[Skrayper]

I asked a few questions in a Hunter thread, but thought I would summarize my questions here.

In a game that's low magic, I'm a 5th level Hunter with a Big Cat (Tiger) as my Animal Companion.

We are sticking to just three books:
Core
APG
ACG

I have built my pet to be more tank-esque mostly because we're fairly crunchy as a party, and he's done a good job for that (feats include Dodge, Improved Natural Armor, and Toughness). I'm built more for damage (Combat Reflexes, WF: Glaive, Precise Strike, Overflank, Pack Flanking). I'm sure there's another feat here or there, but I'm working off memory.

Seeing how good at pouncing the cat gets in 2 levels (gets large, gains pounce, damage goes up a lot), are there any feats that build off of that tactic?

I figure distracting charge and paired opportunists. Power attack would also help in general (and the bonuses to hit should offset anything I'm burning for power attack). I figure I can charge in first, then the cat right behind me so that he gets the bonuses for flanking for all the attacks on his pounce. Anything else I should look at?

[avr]

Power attack is standard for melee types in PF, get it. Paired opportunists is good too. I'm not so sure about distracting charge. You may find a teamwork feat which adds to saves (shake it off), or to mobility (several), or utility (lookout, stealth synergy) to be more use.

[Skrayper]

For the sake of combat, my cat and I always have the same initiative as well as surprise checks. Lookout doesn't help.
Stealth Synergy and Shake It Off are in books we're not using.

I should also note that we do allow Ultimate Equipment for gear. Magic items are rare, but mundane items exist (bronze). Any weapons that aren't there we can't get, so no Butchering Axes or Fouchards (Which I would definitely go for).

I like using the reach aspect, and even if I don't go full AoO Hunter, that will help a lot once the cat is Large sized and creatures move in to attack me (and Paired Opportunists), but right now I'm aiming for that Pouncing Cat type of opening attack.

I also have thought about a falchion, get the increased crit range to generate more attacks for the cat.

[Heather 540]

I'll be honest, I have no idea what feat is in what book so I have no idea if you can use any of this or not. But here it is:

Combat Reflexes will be a must if you go the AoO route. (And yes, get a nice big crit range if you do.) Paired Opportunists is also pretty needed for that. You can also try Broken Wing Gambit for more AoOs.

Precise Strike is a nice little teamwork feat if you want to boost your damage a bit. You can also take Evolved Companion to get a new attack like Tail Slap or increase one of its attacks like Improved Natural Attack. FYI, it doesn't stack with the actual Improved Natural Attack feat, but tigers have 2 natural weapons anyway.

My own hunter was built for AoOs but she was mounted on her companion. The companion had Light and Medium Armor Proficiency, Toughness, Improved Natural Attack Gore, Combat Reflexes, Iron Will, Power Attack, and Lightning Reflexes by the time the campaign ended. My hunter had Weapon Finesse, Outflank, Combat Expertise, Pack Flanking, Butterfly's Sting, Scared Legion, Paired Opportunists, Precise Strike, Combat Reflexes, Boon Companion (took 4 levels of Unchained Rogue), Weapon Focus, Iron Will, Stealth Synergy, Hammer the Gap, Shake It Off, Divine Interference, Evolved Companion to get a Slam attack, and Evolved Companion to boost Slam's damage.

[Skrayper]

Yeah, your build looks sick but I can't go that route sadly due to limited books. Broken Wing Gambit isn't in our book, and we aren't allowing Evolved Companion (because Summoners aren't in this world). Otherwise I would most assuredly take levels of fighter and Boon Companion.

[dragonhunterq]

Seriously consider riding your big cat, it means your attacks all benefit from flanking too.

Either way I share avr's scepticism regarding distracting charge.

To be fair all you really need to be an amazing melee hunter is outflank, paired opportunist, pack flanking and combat reflexes - anything else is just gravy..

I'm a big fan of the one level dip of wild child brawler for all the brawler goodies and full animal companion and minimal downside..