Swarms as minions or allies

[Segev]

There are a few spells for summoning swarms, but I'm looking at something more long-term. I suppose one could always train, individually, 1,000 birds or bats with Animal Handling in order to get them to do tricks as one, and make the "combat training" suite cover "being a swarm in combat." Another approach might be treating them as creatures with CR = ECL, since there's not a good conversion the way there is for animal companions as cohorts, and then taking Leaderhsip to make cohorts or even followers out of them. A Thrallherd could even justify it a bit by saying his mind unified the swarm into one.

I was thinking about this from a Vitalist's perspective, and came up with this power (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?636559-New-psionic-power-to-create-hiveminds-in-swarms&p=25200075) (which I'd appreciate feedback on, as I suspect I'm under-leveling it, but am not sure by how much if really at all) as a means of adding swarms to the collective by forging a temporary hivemind.

But just, in general, how would one get a swarm together as a minion, cohort, or ally? Maybe some sort of feat built off of Familiar that allows you to have a swarm of familiars, any one at a time of which can split off to act as your familiar at range?

Is this "archetype" or "PrC"-worthy, or something better built off of existing chasses (such as Thrallherd or Tactician or Leadership)?

[SangoProduction]

*Cough* There's a sphere for that. *Cough*

Hive prestige class: http://spheresofpower.wikidot.com/hive

Conjuration sphere, Swarm Companion: http://spheresofpower.wikidot.com/conjuration

Beastmastery Sphere, Bee Keeper: http://spheresofpower.wikidot.com/conjuration

[Raven777]

If you want to stay vanilla, there's the Swarm Monger (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/druid/archetypes/paizo-druid-archetypes/swarm-monger/) Druid archetype which gets a swarm companion (Fecund Familiar) and later the ability to wildshape into vermin swarms (Swarm Shape).

P.S. While you read that Archetype, the way the Swarm Monger's Swarm Shape power is titled and written may lead you to believe only they can ever wildshape into swarms; the reality is any Druid can by default. A regular druid's options for forms "include all creatures with the animal type", and there are a number of animal-type creatures with the swarm subtype, such as the rat swarm and bat swarm. The Swarm Monger's actual perk is wilshaping into vermin swarms which use the mechanics of Swarm Skin (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/swarm-skin), while regular druids are restricted to animal swarms and running them off the far more limited mechanics of Beast Shape (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/b/beast-shape/).