Matt's Magnificent Guide to the Hunter

[comatthew6]

Hello everyone! I've noticed a lack of complete Hunter guides on the internet, so I decided to make one! I'd love to hear feedback on what you guys think. I am aware that a few archetypes are missing but have not yet had the time to include them. Expect to see them within the next couple of days or so.

docs.google.com/document/d/11owq2ngQUG5UqlGnuA2pjT3jLGO6xWqRAyyxigHu77I/edit?usp=sharing

[Wartex1]

The link isn't clickable.

[Serafina]

Here's a fixed link (https://docs.google.com/document/d/11owq2ngQUG5UqlGnuA2pjT3jLGO6xWqRAyyxigHu77I/edit).
And here it is in an easier to copy-paste form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11owq2ngQUG5UqlGnuA2pjT3jLGO6xWqRAyyxigHu77I/edit

[Kurald Galain]

Well, that's off to a good start.

It would help the clarity of your document if you use a larger font for section headers, and provide an index at the start. It would help the organization of your document if you split the feats by function rather than by build (e.g. offense, defense, metamagic, skill boosts, healing/recovery, miscellaneous) and sort the spells in the very same categories. And I think you could say more about archetypes, they're probably the most important build choice you'll make after animal companion. HTH!

[Florian]

A very basic guide so far. There´re other primary build options that can be done with a Hunter, beyond basic melee and archery.

[Kurald Galain]

Here's some more detailed feedback.

Your intro section could use some work. Instead of calling your guide "magnificent", give it a witty name based on some quote about hunting. Keep your intro section positive, e.g. don't say that you're not going to cover a particular build, or that a particular option is broken. It's fine to say that later in the guide, but it shouldn't be the focus of the intro.

I don't think 3/4 BAB should be yellow; the hunter has an automatic flanking buddy and a number of ways to boost his to-hit. If 6+int skills from a good list are green, I wonder what amount of skills you'd need for blue or purple?

If I understand correctly, your suggestion is for the hunter to not buy a Str/Dex belt because you can use your animal focus for that, is that correct?
You may want to put in an option for a dex-based melee hunter. Also, you can safely dump your int to 8 because you'll have five skill points per level anyway; arguably charisma is more useful to a hunter than int.

You probably shouldn't rate climb/swim red if you're suggesting that every hunter puts one point in them (compare to e.g. intimidate where you're suggesting zero points).

I don't see how the flare cantrip can be anything above red; it's a total waste of an action, even worse than virtue. On the other hand, stabilize is an absolute life saver, as it's the only healing spell below level 5 that's not touch range.

Note that there's a cheap magical item (page of spell knowledge) that gives you an additional first level spell known.

[Eox]

I'll admit that most of them are pretty garbage (Or at least not as good as a tiger/wolf,) but I'm willing to go to bat for at least a couple of the vermin companions. All you really wind up losing is the first +1 to an ability score from levelling up to remove the mindless trait. Giant Ant, Giant Spider, Giant Beetle and the like are not very good in combat, but the Giant Mantis can provide some nice battlefield control between grab, mandibles and lunge. Giant Leech is going to take some doing to make usable, but no matter what you're going to be playing a memorable character. Giant Slug also deserves a mention due to being approximately as fast as the average dwarf, possessing an infinite acid projectile attack and dealing acid damage with melee attacks, making most kinds of walls into temporary inconveniences.

The Huntmaster (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/racial-feats/huntmaster-human/) feat should also probably get a shoutout. It only applies to a handful of less-than-stellar companion choices, but applying it to a horse companion is a nice use of a feat.

edit: Evolved Companion (http://www.archivesofnethys.com/FeatDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Evolved%20Companion) will also allow you to get up to Some Stuff, like putting wing attacks on a Roc.

edit 2: and lest we forget Blades Above and Below (http://www.archivesofnethys.com/FeatDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Blades%20Above%20and%20B elow), one of approximately 7 teamwork feats that function slightly different from Pack Tactics

[stack]

I dont think I saw dirty fighting (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/dirty-fighting-combat/) in the feats section. Seems like a must have for melee hunters that want to use any maneuvers.

Apologies if I i missed it.