Pack Hunter (Ranger Variant)

For those who relish the thrill of the hunt, there are only predators and prey. Be they
scouts, trackers, or bounty hunters, rangers share much in common: unique mastery of
specialized weapons, skill at stalking even the most elusive game, and the expertise to
defeat a wide range of quarries. Knowledgeable, patient, and skilled hunters, these
rangers hound man, beast, and monster alike, gaining insight into the way of the
predator, skill in varied environments, and ever more lethal martial prowess. While
some track man-eating creatures to protect the frontier, others pursue more cunning
gameeven fugitives among their own people.

Role: Rangers are deft skirmishers, either in melee or at range, capable of skillfully
dancing in and out of battle. Their abilities allow them to deal significant harm to
specific types of foes, but their skills are valuable against all manner of enemies.

A pack unto itself, the pack hunter raises formidable companions who can tear their
opponents to mincemeat given the chance.

Alignment: Any

Hit Die: d10

Starting Wealth: 5d6 10 gp (average 175 gp.) In addition, each character begins play
with an outfit worth 10 gp or less.

Class Skills

The ranger's class skills are Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis),
Intimidate (Cha), Heal (Int), Intimidate (Cha) Knowledge (geography) (Int), Knowledge
(nature) (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Stealth (Dex), Survival
(Wis), and Swim (Str).

Skill Ranks per Level: 6 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

A ranger is proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with light armor,
medium armor, and shields (except tower shields).

Favored Enemy (Ex)

At 1st level, a ranger selects a creature type from the ranger favored enemies table. He
gains a +2 bonus on Bluff, Knowledge, Perception, Sense Motive, and Survival checks
against creatures of his selected type. Likewise, he gets a +2 bonus on weapon attack
and damage rolls against them. A ranger may make Knowledge skill checks untrained
when attempting to identify these creatures.
At 5th level and every five levels thereafter (10th, 15th, and 20th level), the ranger may
select an additional favored enemy. In addition, at each such interval, the bonus against
any one favored enemy (including the one just selected, if so desired) increases by +2.

If the ranger chooses humanoids or outsiders as a favored enemy, he must also choose
an associated subtype, as indicated on the table below. (Note that there are other types
of humanoid to choose fromthose called out specifically on the table below are
merely the most common.) If a specific creature falls into more than one category of
favored enemy, the ranger's bonuses do not stack; he simply uses whichever bonus is
higher

Base Attack Fort Ref Will

Level Special
Bonus Save Save Save

1st favored enemy, track, wild empathy,

1st +1 +2 +2 +0
Pack Wolf
2nd +2 +3 +3 +0 Combat style feat
3rd +3 +3 +3 +1 1st favored terrain
4th +4 +4 +4 +1 Pack Bond
5th +5 +4 +4 +1 2nd favored enemy
6th +6/+1 +5 +5 +2 Revitalizing Frenzy
7th +7/+2 +5 +5 +2 Pack Growth
8th +8/+3 +6 +6 +2 Woodland stride, 2nd favored terrain,
9th +9/+4 +6 +6 +3 Swift tracker,
10th +10/+5 +7 +7 +3 3rd favored enemy, combat style feat
11th +11/+6/+1 +7 +7 +3 Pack Wide Quarry
12th +12/+7/+2 +8 +8 +4 Camouflage
13th +13/+8/+3 +8 +8 +4 3rd favored terrain
14th +14/+9/+4 +9 +9 +4 Combat style feat
15th +15/+10/+5 +9 +9 +5 4th favored enemy
16th +16/+11/+6/+1 +10 +10 +5 Pack Lord
17th +17/+12/+7/+2 +10 +10 +5 Hide in plain sight
18th +18/+13/+8/+3 +11 +11 +6 4th favored terrain, combat style feat
19th +19/+14/+9/+4 +11 +11 +6 Improved quarry
20th +20/+15/+10/+5 +12 +12 +6 5th favored enemy, Pack master
Pack Wolf

At 1st level, a pack hunter forms a bond with a loyal wolf to aid him in his travels and
in his hunts. The pack wolf functions as a druid's animal companion, using the ranger's
level as his effective druid level. The pack wolf is always considered combat trained
and begins play with Toughness as a bonus feat. The pack wolf may select Improved
Trip and Gang Up as feats, despite not normally meeting the requirements for them.
Once they have the Improved Trip feat, they can take Greater Trip once the pack wolf
has 6 hit dice, despite not meeting all the requirements. If a pack hunter releases a pack
wolf from service, he may gain a new one by performing a ceremony requiring 24
uninterrupted hours of meditation in the environment where the new pack wolf typically
lives. This ceremony can also replace a pack wolf that has perished. In addition, due to
his close bond with his pack, the pack hunter gains half his level (minimum +1) as a
bonus to Handle Animal and Survival checks when he is near to his pack.

This animal is a loyal companion that accompanies the ranger on his adventures as
appropriate for its kind. A ranger's animal companion shares his favored enemy and
favored terrain bonuses.

Track (Ex)

A ranger adds half his level (minimum 1) to Survival skill checks made to follow or
identify tracks.

Wild Empathy (Ex)

A ranger can improve the initial attitude of an animal. This ability functions just like a
Diplomacy check to improve the attitude of a person (see Using Skills). The ranger rolls
1d20 and adds his ranger level and his Charisma bonus to determine the wild empathy
check result. The typical domestic animal has a starting attitude of indifferent, while
wild animals are usually unfriendly.

To use wild empathy, the ranger and the animal must be within 30 feet of one another
under normal visibility conditions. Generally, influencing an animal in this way takes 1
minute, but, as with influencing people, it might take more or less time.

The ranger can also use this ability to influence a magical beast with an Intelligence
score of 1 or 2, but he takes a 4 penalty on the check.

Combat Style Feat (Ex)

At 2nd level, a ranger must select one combat style to pursue.

The ranger's expertise manifests in the form of bonus feats at 2nd, 10th, 14th, and 18th
level. He can choose feats from his selected combat style, even if he does not have the
normal prerequisites.
The benefits of the ranger's chosen style feats apply only when he wears light, medium,
or no armor. He loses all benefits of his combat style feats when wearing heavy armor.
Once a ranger selects a combat style, it cannot be changed.

Combat Style Options

Archery

If the ranger selects archery style, he can choose from the following list whenever he
gains a combat style feat:

Far Shot, Focused Shot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, and Rapid Shot.

At 10th level, he adds Crossbow Mastery, Improved Precise Shot, Parting Shot,
Point Blank Master, Manyshot, Pinpoint Targeting and Shot on the Run to the
list.

Crossbow

If the Ranger selects crossbow style, he can choose from the following list whenever he
gains a combat style feat:

Deadly Aim, Focused Shot, Precise Shot, and Rapid Reload.

At 10th level, he adds Crossbow Mastery, Improved Precise Shot, Pinpoint

Targeting and Shot on the Run to the list.

Mounted Combat

If the Ranger selects mounted combat style, he can choose from the following list
whenever he gains a combat style feat:

Mounted Combat, Mounted Archery, Ride-By Attack, and Trick Riding.

At 10th level, he adds Mounted Shield, Spirited Charge, Mounted Skirmisher

and Unseat to the list.

Natural Weapon

If the Ranger selects natural weapon style, he can choose from the following list
whenever he gains a combat style feat:

Aspect of the Beast, Improved Natural Weapon, Rending Claws, and Weapon Focus.

At 10th level, he adds Eldritch Claws, Vital Strike, Multiattack and Improved
Vital Strike to the list.
Two-Handed Weapon

If the Ranger selects two-handed weapon style, he can choose from the following list
whenever he gains a combat style feat:

Cleave, Power Attack, Pushing Assault, and Shield of Swings.

At 10th level, he adds Furious Focus, Great Cleave, Dreadful Carnage and
Improved Sunder to the list.

Two-Weapon Combat

If the ranger selects two-weapon combat style, he can choose from the following list
whenever he gains a combat style feat:

Double Slice, Improved Shield Bash, Quick Draw, and Two-Weapon Fighting.

At 10th level, he adds Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Two-Weapon Defense,

Greater Two-Weapon Fighting, and Two-Weapon Rend to the list.

Weapon and Shield

If the Ranger selects weapon and shield style, he can choose from the following list
whenever he gains a combat style feat:

Improved Shield Bash, Shield Focus, Shield Slam and Two-Weapon Fighting.

At 10th level, he adds Saving Shield, Shield Master, Bashing Finish and Greater
Shield Focus to the list.

Favored Terrain (Ex)

At 3rd level, a ranger may select a type of terrain from Table: Ranger Favored
Terrains. The ranger gains a +2 bonus on initiative checks and Knowledge
(geography), Perception, Stealth, and Survival skill checks when he is in this terrain. A
ranger traveling through his favored terrain normally leaves no trail and cannot be
tracked (though he may leave a trail if he so chooses).

At 8th level and every five levels thereafter, the ranger may select an additional favored
terrain. In addition, at each such interval, the skill bonus and initiative bonus in any one
favored terrain (including the one just selected, if so desired), increases by +2.

If a specific terrain falls into more than one category of favored terrain, the ranger's
bonuses do not stack; he simply uses whichever bonus is higher.

Pack Bond

At 4th level, a second pack wolf joins the pack. While not as strong as the primary pack
wolf, it is still an invaluable member of the pack. This ability functions as a Pack Wolf
except the effective druid level is the pack hunter's level 3. In addition, pack wolves
can select teamwork feats when they gain a new feat.

Revitalizing Frenzy

At 6th level, whenever you and two of your animal companions hit the same enemy in
one turn with melee attacks, you and your animal companions heal 1d4 + the pack
masters Wisdom modifier in hit points. At 12th level, this increases to 1d8 + his
Wisdom modifier, and at 18th level this increase to 2d6 + his Wisdom modifier. You
and your pack can only heal once per turn with this ability.

Pack Growth

At 7th level, a third pack wolf joins the pack. While a little bit weaker, it is still an
invaluable member of the pack. This ability functions as a Pack Wolf except the
effective druid level is the pack hunter's level 6.

Woodland Stride (Ex)

Starting at 7th level, a ranger may move through any sort of undergrowth (such as
natural thorns, briars, overgrown areas, and similar terrain) at his normal speed and
without taking damage or suffering any other impairment.

Thorns, briars, and overgrown areas that are enchanted or magically manipulated to
impede motion, however, still affect him.

Swift Tracker (Ex)

Beginning at 9th level, a ranger can move at his normal speed while using Survival to
follow tracks without taking the normal 5 penalty. He takes only a 10 penalty (instead
of the normal 20) when moving at up to twice normal speed while tracking.

Pack-Wide Quarry (Ex)

At 11th level, a ranger can, as a standard action, denote one target within his line of
sight as his quarry. Whenever he is following the tracks of his quarry, a ranger can take
10 on his Survival skill checks while moving at normal speed, without penalty. In
addition, he receives a +2 insight bonus on attack rolls made against his quarry, and all
critical threats are automatically confirmed. A ranger can have no more than one quarry
at a time and the creature's type must correspond to one of his favored enemy types. He
can dismiss this effect at any time as a free action, but he cannot select a new quarry for
24 hours. If the ranger sees proof that his quarry is dead, he can select a new quarry
after waiting 1 hour.

Wolf companions also benefits from this bonus.

Camouflage (Ex)

A ranger of 12th level or higher can use the Stealth skill to hide in any of his favored
terrains, even if the terrain doesn't grant cover or concealment.

Pack Lord

At 16th level, a fourth pack wolf joins the pack. While still a little cub it is learning the
secrets of the pack hunting. This ability functions as a Pack Wolf except the effective
druid level is the pack hunter's level 15.

Hide in Plain Sight (Ex)

While in any of his favored terrains, a ranger of 17th level or higher can use the Stealth
skill even while being observed.

Improved Quarry (Ex)

At 19th level, the ranger's ability to hunt his quarry improves. He can now select a
quarry as a free action, and can now take 20 while using Survival to track his quarry,
while moving at normal speed without penalty. His insight bonus to attack his quarry
increases to +4. If his quarry is killed or dismissed, he can select a new one after 10
minutes have passed.

Pack Master

At 20th level, add +3 to your effective druid level for all pack wolves; this cannot
exceed your character level. In addition, whenever two of your pack wolves hit the same
enemy in a round, the enemy must make a Fortitude save or die. The DC of this save is
equal to 10 + the ranger's level + the ranger's Wisdom modifier. Once an enemy has
made a save versus this ability, whether successful or not, they can't be affected by it
again.
Packmaster (Prestige Class)

If two are better than one, then why not three or four?

Pack masters are rangers who have embraced their animal nature to such an extent that
they develop strong bonds with the animals they emulate. They develop talents more
commonly associated with alpha wolves than any humanoid.

BECOMING A PACKMASTER

Rangers most frequently and most easily become Packmasters. Druids with a martial
focus occasionally find the class attractive. Packmasters with levels of barbarian revel in
the animalistic fury they unleash while raging at the same time. Whatever the path of
entry Packmasters wants further develop the bond between themselves and their wolf
companions.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Race: Shifter (Longtooth), Lupin, Werewolf or similar race.
Skills: Survival 8 ranks
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Class Feature: Animal Companion (Wolf)
Feat: Track

Class Skills
The Packmaster's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex),
Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Hide
(Dex), Jump (Str), Knowledge (Dungeoneering) (Int), Knowledge (Geography) (Int),
Knowledge (Nature) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Search (Int), Survival
(Wis), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex) and Use Rope (Dex).
Skills Points at Each Level: 6 + int

Hit Dice: d8

Level Base Attack Fort Ref Will Special

Bonus Save Save Save
1st +1 +2 +2 +0 Wolf Companions, Wild
Empathy
2nd +2 +3 +3 +0 Hunter Pack
3rd +3 +3 +3 +1 Wolf Bite, Teamwork Feat
4th +4 +4 +4 +1 Hunter Pack
5th +5 +4 +4 +1 Wolf Companions
6th +6/+1 +5 +5 +2 Hunter Pack
7th +7/+2 +5 +5 +2 Teamwork Feat
8th +8/+3 +6 +6 +2 Hunter Pack
9th +9/+4 +6 +6 +3 Wolf Companions
10th +10/+5 +7 +7 +3 Hunter Pack

Weapon Proficiencies: Packmasters gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor.

Wolf Companions (Ex): A packmaster adds 3 plus his packmaster class levels to his
effective druid level (his actual druid level or the equivalent ranger level) to determine
the capabilities of his wolf animal companion. This ability can never make your
effective druid level exceed your character level.

At 5th and 9th level, a packmaster gains an additional wolf animal companion. These
additional wolf companions are treated in every respect the same as his primary
companion.

Wild Empathy (Ex): A packmaster can improve the attitude of an animal. See the
druid class feature, page 35 of the Players Handbook. If a packmaster has wild
empathy from another class, his levels stack for determining the bonus.

Hunter Pack (Ex): The bond between a packmaster and his wolf companions is deeper
than the connection between a druid and his animal companion. A packmaster and his
wolf companions learn to fight as a cohesive unit, known as a pack.

At 2nd level members of the pack gain a bonus equal to the number of teamwork feats
you have on attack of opportunity damage rolls and trip attempts when the foe is
adjacent to at least two pack members.

At 4th level when a pack member successfully trips a foe, other members of the pack
may move up to their speed as a free action, but must end movement adjacent to tripped
foe.

At 6th level while shifting, raging or shape changing any magic items or spells that
enhance or improve your bite natural attack also affect your wolf companions bite
natural attack.

At 8th level any foe attacking a pack member with less than 1/4 of his maximum
hitpoints provokes an attack of opportunity from other pack members, in addition to
doing damage if this attack of opportunity hits, that foe's attack misses.

At 10th level when a pack member confirms a critical against a foe all other pack
members may make an attack against that same foe as a swift action.

Wolf Bite (Ex): If a packmaster hits with a bite attack, he can attempt to trip the
opponent as a free action without making a touch attack or provoking an attack of
opportunity. If his attempt fails the opponent cannot react to trip the packmaster.

Teamwork Feat (Ex): At 3rd level and again at 7th level a packmaster gains a bonus
teamwork feat. A packmaster must meet the requirements of the feat to take it.

PLAYING A PACKMASTER

As a packmaster your never fight alone. A packmaster should work together with his
wolf companion and other allies to flank and knock prone his foes. While a packmaster
can go toe to toe with most foes, he should remember to take advantage of his valuable
skills such as hide and spot. When leveling you should concentrate on feats that
improve his teamwork, but the occasional generic combat feat can be valuable.
PACKMASTERS IN THE WORLD

In Ishurion, Packmaster are often seen in woods and forests, many of them form part of
druidic sects, while other are part of nomadic tribes which favored the Wolf Totem.
Some Packmaster are barbarians who forged a strong link with the wolfs emulating
them in many ways till the point where the pact master in no more than other member of
the wolf pack. Pact master roams the continent of Altaria, from the template forests of
Gillia to the frozen wastes in the north.