I'd like some help balancing this idea.

[Vizzerdrix]

My idea involves taking my two favorite things in the game, and shoehorning them into my favorite class. Sort of an arcane forester concept.

Okay. So far, I'm starting with the Ranger, pulling out the animal companion, casting, woodland stride, and maybe a few other things. In their place, I'm installing the bard's spell casting, and the Articifer's Homunculus.

I get the feeling that this is a bit much, but I'm not sure where to trim, and that is where I could use some advice.

[PairO'Dice Lost]

It'll definitely be a power-up (given that animal companion < homunculus at early levels and bard casting > ranger casting), but I think it wouldn't be overpowered by any means.

[Godskook]

I'm not familiar with homunculus's, but how much different from an Arcane Hierophant are you wanting to get?

[erikun]

Have you heard of the Mystic Ranger (Dragon #336) variant? Delayed standard abilities, but they get spellcasting at level 1 and up to 5th level spellcasting. Not much difference from the standard Ranger spelllist, except for 0th and 5th levels spells, obviously.

There is also this thread for possible Ranger/Wizard combinations, which may give you ideas for your own class.

[Hadrian_Emrys]

For less dumb, switching out the two weapon style for a two handed one would make more sense for a nature based character. Which does a hunter use more often: a spear or a pair of... well, anything.

[Vizzerdrix]

Have you heard of the Mystic Ranger (Dragon #336) variant?

Oh my. That, I can sink my teeth into. Now to find some way to get the desired construct pets. Craft Construct would work, but isn't a good way to use Improved Homunculus. Hmm...

Thanks a bunch for pointing that out to me.

[Vizzerdrix]

Hows this then. it isn't elegantly written and need to be polished, but I think it gets the job done.

Homunculus Specialist:
You have focused your study of constructs to become a specialist at creating Homunculi.

Prereqs:
CWI, *Craft-(What ever one is needed for your first homunculi) 6 (or should it be 9**?) ranks, Skill focus in *. You can not already have or ever gain Craft Construct. If you have Craft Construct you can not gain this feat.

Effect:
You can create Homunculi under the conditions that you have at least 6** ranks in whatever craft skill is needed to make their body,the proper (matching) skill focus, and can meet the requirements listed in it's entry for creation (other than craft construct).

[Example: This feat+6 ranks: Armor smithing+Skill focus: Armor smithing will allow you to make any homunculus that requires Armor smithing. if you later gain 6 ranks: sculpting+ Skill Focus: sculpting you can make any that require armor smithing as well as any that require sculpting]

You may create any number of Homunculi but they can never have total HD more that your Class HD-4. You may both create them with extra HD, and advance them at a later time as an Articifer can so long as you possess at least twice the Ranks in the crafting skill needed to make target homunculus as the ammount of HD you wist to advance it to..

[a character with with this feat and 14 class HD could have a Pack mate with 3 HD, an Arbalister with 4 HD, and a Dedicated Wright with 3 HD, so long as he meets the requirements to make all three. Furthermore said character would need to have 6 ranks in Craft: sculpting, 8 ranks in Craft: Carpentry or sculpting and 6 ranks in craft: Pottery]

For the purposes of the Improved Homunculus feat you are treated as having the articifer's craft Homunculus class feature.

Thoughts? Do I need to tone it down, or increase the requirements? How would you break this or would you even let a player take it? Is it too confusing?