First of all, the "if needed" is a nod to whether a Druid with Ranger archetype or vice versa fits the bill. Of course, that doesn't quite allow for the original's animal foci.
If we decide we do need a formal 2e Hunter, I'm wondering whether a class archetype (like how Inquisitor was vectored in as the Vindicator archetype for the Ranger) would be ideal--obviously for Druid or Ranger--as opposed to its own class. I'm also curious how crucial the animal companion might be said to be, on account of the Forester archetype for the Hunter in 1e. It's mostly my noticing that cramming in all of spontaneous druid/hunter spells, animal foci, and animal companion for a class archetype is going to be Sticky.
One idea I have for the archetype setup is that Hunters, if Ranger-basis, can add a small number of primal spells to their focus spell pool. Alternatively, they could gain limited spontaneous primal casting in a fashion similar to the Eldritch Archer. Druid-basis...being trained in martial weapons, not just simple, would obviously be necessary, but would they have to be in the animal order, or can animal foci have a place among the elemental orders?
So that leaves the question of how to bring in the foci. I'm thinking of them as a memorized repertoire. Start with five different foci, add another focus every four levels? There's a ready index at https://aonprd.com/HunterAnimalFocus.aspx , if you want a sense/reminder of what gets improved by any one focus.
I think if the hunter ever happened to be brought up to PF2e it would likely be similar to the summoner but with both the "summoner" and "summon" having a martial chassis. I know the hunter was a spellcaster in PF1e, but since the summoner already fills the gish-companion niche so I think it would make sense to make it a straight up martial. The easiest way would certianly be a class archetype though, making the summoner a martial and thats it.
I don't think it's needed because as noted one can already fulfill the concept of a Hunter. Mechanically, one can tune the proportions of martial/caster/pet to one's taste with the one exception (which IMO is where Hunter shined, at least mine) of the uber-pet. There are no uber-pets outside of Summoner which cuts deeply into the actual PC's power. Turning such a hybrid caster into a viable martial would be rough, as even a generic martial alongside a PC-level companion would be too strong (unless I suppose they shared MAP?). And then we've lost spells, so that's not that great and could have likely been built better as a Ranger. Which is to say, Hunters were competitive in all three areas, as martial/caster-buffer/pet-owner, and IMO trying to build such a class or archetype while keeping the power curves in place would be too difficult to expect. Not when Ranger w/ pet & Focus Spells is right there.
Or Summoner itself.
ETA: I would not want to replicate my PF1 Hunter. That little kitty cat stunned everybody at the table, outshining PCs on its own, even before buffing & commanding it, which I often refrained from doing so others could play.
And I can't see Paizo buffing pets any more than it has.
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I played a Hunter fairly extensively in 1E (though I always GM more than I play), and what stands out in my memory is having a little spell casting, decent combat ability, and a bad ass animal companion. I honestly had forgotten about the animal feature thing, but thinking back, I believe I picked one, factored it in, and almost never changed it.
I’m not totally sure how I’d make that character work in 2E. Probably either Fighter or Ranger, plus Beast Master, and if I were doing Free Archetype (and honestly, I usually am), maybe a smattering of Druid, though the spellcasting was definitely not my focus in 1E. It came in handy here and there, but it’d be what I’d drop first in translating. Well, second, I guess, after Animal Feature, which I wouldn’t worry about at all.
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How close could you get a primal Summoner with a beast eidolon to the Hunter? Since I think the Summoner sets the power budget for "a class with a really high end companion".
How close could you get a primal Summoner with a beast eidolon to the Hunter? Since I think the Summoner sets the power budget for "a class with a really high end companion".
Depends on your concept of a Hunter, and your imagination. For example, you could reflavor Boost Eidelon and the like to come from "training" or some connection. Yes, you can cast, but a lot fewer spells; a Hunter could dish out lots of buffs, so you might have to pick up an MCD. And you would be a caster, so it would put you at risk to enter combat and investing in martial feats pays off little.
So yeah, you could get the pet up to PC-ish levels, but Summoner kind of relies on the Eidelon's Strike + Cantrip to stay even, and that's not a Hunter playstyle IMO. A Ranger w/ a pet and three Focus Spells to aid their animal would likely be the closest build in PF2, though you'd be the strongest element, not your animal. There are a number of Hunter-like feats already available, so I think Paizo kinda already gave us our Hunter, and likely better for being "PC as primary".
Note that if you want to focus on an animal companion (or multiple, even), the Beastmaster archetype provides some extra options to either an Animal order druid or a ranger with warden spells.
As others have mentioned, it won't be an exact match to the PF1 hunter.
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The thing that always stood out to me regarding the hunter was the teamwork feat sharing with your companion. So having a little more cooperation with the animal companion would really differentiate it from other characters which have access to a pet.
Most animal companions I've played with have felt like middling 3rd actions and moderate roleplaying. Rarely even a secondary aspect of the characters' combat utility.
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The thing that always stood out to me regarding the hunter was the teamwork feat sharing with your companion. So having a little more cooperation with the animal companion would really differentiate it from other characters which have access to a pet.
Most animal companions I've played with have felt like middling 3rd actions and moderate roleplaying. Rarely even a secondary aspect of the characters' combat utility.
So Ranger with Sniping Duo archetype, with your AC as your Sniping Duo partner would replicate that pretty well. Of course, your partner isn't allowed to be a minion, but that would be easy to house-rule.