master of the hounds -- animal companionesque build

[Unbeliever]

My friend is running a gothic horror themed campaign.  Sort of a pseudo-Ravenloft -- sans any of the wonky metaphysics, the Mists, etc. -- inspired by Dracula movies and the like.  I have a couple of concepts brewing.  One of them is a sort of steampunk style meleeficer a little bit in the Van Helsing style (awful movie, but the idea doesn't have to suck).  But, the other idea I'm trying to work up is a monster hunter w/ a "master of the hounds" theme:  the idea would be that he has a couple of souped up hound-type creatures that he goes into combat w/ and supports.  The concept is littered through all sorts of stories, though rarely are the hounds really effective, though I suppose there is the Malazan series. 

So, that's the basic idea.  Off the bat, it screams druid to me since you can get a pretty badass animal companion that you buff to further awesomeness w/ spells and the share spells ability, although I'm open to further suggestion.  There is of course the monster rancher from Dungeonscape as well (Beast Heart Adept, right), and I am completely open to other suggestions.  I'd really like to be able to get two "hounds," and that's been a bit of a problem.  Oh, and one other thing is that I don't want to play an ubercharger type.  Any ideas? 

I will be joining the game around 4th or 5th level and pretty much anything 3.5 is allowed.  My group is very comfortable molding fluff to our liking, so it's fine if prestige classes, feats, etc. are setting specific or whatever.  Also, they'd be fine w/ me using pretty much whatever 4 legged beast I like and dubbing/describing it as an uber-hound.  I would also say that we are practical optimizers, so badass is fine, but anything really shady on rules interpretations or that is truly ridiculous firepower would be considered bad form.  Finally, we might be able to engage in a bit of horse-trading.  Like it occurs to me I might be able to try and trade wildshape for another animal companion as it is, and could probably get a leash that allows me to share spells at a few squares worth of distance (since I could ride the damn things anyway), though it's certainly best to see what we can generate just from the rules.

I hope that's enough info, and thanks in advance.  I will look forward char opp community's advice. 

[BowenSilverclaw]

Well, Leadership can get you a (semi-)intelligent 'hound', potentially with class levels as it levels with you.

Maybe a Barghest, Awakened Dire Wolf or Winter Wolf?


And yes, the hounds from Malazan are pretty damn awesome


EDIT: And yeah, Druid is your best bet in terms of Animal Companions, although a Ranger with the Natural Bond feat and possibly the Beastmaster PrC could probably catch up.

Haven't looked into the Beastheart Adept, so I can't comment on that.

[Negative Zero]

Well, Wild Cohort (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031118a) can get you another hound pretty easily, but it won't be as good as an animal companion.

[Prime32]

I'm not sure, but Southern Magician might qualify you for Obtain Familiar (and Improved Familiar). If not, you can take a 1-level dip in wziard or sorcerer (trading your standard familiar for something else like Abrupt Jaunt), then take those feats to get a a familiar based on your druid levels. If you want to get cheesy, Theurgic Bond could then boost your hounds' power quite significantly.

Some of the feats here might also be interesting, if your DM allows them.


Leadership is a must too, of course, once you hit 6th level.

[Alastar]

Dont forget to add the warbeast template to them from MM3, for a mere DC 20+creatures hd handle animal check.

[BowenSilverclaw]

Dont forget to add the warbeast template to them from MM3, for a mere DC 20+creatures hd handle animal check.

Made even easier with an Item Familiar, which gives plenty of other benefits as well

[ninjarabbit]

The wolfpack

Human Hexblade 20

1-wild cohort, power attack
3-practiced spellcaster
6-obtain familiar
9-improved familiar: winter wolf
12-improved toughness
15-minor shapeshift
18-open feat

Your wolfpack
-Dire wolf wild cohort
-Winter Wolf familiar
-Hound of doom spell that gives you a dire wolf with hit points equal to your own and a deflection bonus to its AC equal to your charisma modifier

[BowenSilverclaw]

The wolfpack

Human Hexblade 20

1-wild cohort, power attack
3-practiced spellcaster
6-obtain familiar
9-improved familiar: winter wolf
12-improved toughness
15-minor shapeshift
18-open feat

Your wolfpack
-Dire wolf wild cohort
-Winter Wolf familiar
-Hound of doom spell that gives you a dire wolf with hit points equal to your own and a deflection bonus to its AC equal to your charisma modifier

And you yourself Polymorphing into a Dire Wolf if you want to

[Alastar]

RELEASE THE HOUNDS!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=At3cU20WYIM

[Prime32]

Don't forget the Beastmaster PrC from Complete Adventurer, which boosts your animal companion and can get you up to three extras.

[Akalsaris]

Oooh, I like the Hexblade build!  Here's another wolfmaster build:

Human Rogue 6/Dungeonheart Adept 10/XYZ 4

ACFs: wilderness rogue, feat rogue (UA, UA)

Feats:
1st hmn: Animal Affinity (prereq)
1st char: Wild Cohort (online feat mentioned earlier)
1st bonus: Dodge
2nd bonus: Mobility
3rd: Combat Reflexes
4th bonus: Spring Attack
6th: Leadership
6th bonus: Wolf Pack (RoTW)
9th: Vexing Flanker
12th: Adaptable Flanker
15th: Elusive Target
18th: open!

How he works: gets a riding dog/wolf (later dire wolf) from Wild Cohort, a worg or something from Leadership, and 4 more worgs or blink dogs from Beast heart Adept.  If you're starting at 5th, the character won't kick off for another 1-2 levels unfortunately, and you'll be playing a guy with 1 animal companion and no source of bonus damage.  But starting at 6th or 7th the character will be pretty cool.  Basically, each time he starts a round flanking an opponent, he can make 1 attack as a full round action with a bluff check - if he succeeds, then his flanking allies all get an attack for free on the opponent. 

Later on he and his monstrous companions get +2 att/dmg while flanking, and any time a monstrous companion hits with a melee attack your character will get an AOO (even with a ranged weapon!), while you gain the ability to flank from an adjacent square from adaptable flanker.  Finally, at 10th of beastheart adept, all of your allies gain +2 att/dmg when flanking with your monstrous companions, and all of your allies gain AOO's from your pets' hits.

So it goes at 16th level:
You and monsters get into flanking position.  Monsters hit 2-3 times.  You and all allies get free attacks.  Next round, you attack.  You hit, all of your flanking monsters and allies get free attacks from wolf pack tactics.  Your allies (including other monstrous companions) all get free attacks from monstrous flank after your monstrous companions hit.  Then your monstrous companions make their normal attacks, possibly granting more attacks from monstrous flank.  Then your other party members go. 

[Emy]

If you're able to use Dragon material, there's the Extra Familiar feat, which can be taken multiple times. There's also a feat that makes you always count as being in contact with your familiar for purposes of sharing spells. Enspell Familiar, I believe.

(Dragon 280)