Where to take a Halfling Metal Oracle?

[Arutema]

So I've got experience to level one of my PFS characters up from 4 to 5, but I'm not quite sure what path to take her on. The problem I'm hitting is that I can deal quite good damage, but only after using at least one standard action to buff myself.

Should I consider multiclassing out of Oracle to something more martial? Rage Prophet maybe?

If I stay oracle, what are good spells to take, and are there ways to bypass the standard action bottleneck to cast them before quicken spell comes online? Are there any good spells that cast as move, swift, or immediate actions on the Cleric/Oracle list?

In either case, what would be a good PFS-legal feat for 5th level?

And since you'll need to know it, here's what she is now at 4th level, and which cannot be changed:

Spoiler:

Female halfling oracle 4 (Pathfinder RPG Advanced Player's Guide 42)
NG Small humanoid (halfling)
Init +2; Senses Perception +4
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Defense
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AC 20, touch 13, flat-footed 18 (+7 armor, +2 Dex, +1 size)
hp 31 (4d8+8)
Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +4; +2 vs. fear
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Offense
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Speed 40 ft.
Melee mwk cold iron greatsword +7 (1d10+3/19-20) or
. . shortsword +6 (1d4+2/19-20)
Ranged halfling sling staff +6 (1d6+2/×3)
Oracle Spells Known (CL 4th; concentration +9)
. . 2nd (4/day)—bull's strength, cure moderate wounds, heat metal (DC 15)
. . 1st (7/day)—bless, cure light wounds, divine favor, lead blades[APG], magic weapon
. . 0 (at will)—create water, detect magic, guidance, light, mending, resistance
. . Mystery Metal
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Statistics
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Str 15, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 8, Cha 16
Base Atk +3; CMB +4; CMD 16
Feats Extra Revelation[APG], Power Attack
Traits fate's favored, focused mind
Skills Acrobatics -1 (+3 to jump), Diplomacy +9, Knowledge (planes) +6, Knowledge (religion) +7, Perception +4, Spellcraft +6; Racial Modifiers +2 Perception
Languages Celestial, Common, Halfling
SQ oracle's curse (tongues), revelations (armor mastery, dance of the blades, skill at arms)
Combat Gear oil of bless weapon, wand of cure light wounds, alchemist's fire (2); Other Gear +1 breastplate, halfling sling staff, mwk cold iron greatsword, shortsword, sling bullets (20), canteen, masterwork backpack, silk rope (50 ft.), spell component pouch, sunrod (5), 998 gp, 8 sp
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Special Abilities
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Armor Mastery (Ex) You become more maneuverable while wearing armor. You can move at your normal speed in medium armor that is made of metal. This does not grant proficiency in armor. At 5th level, whenever you are wearing metal armor, you reduce the armor check penalty...
Dance of the Blades (Ex) +10 Speed while wielding a metal weapon.
Fate's Favored Increase luck bonuses by 1.
Fearless +2 racial bonus vs Fear saves.
Focused Mind +2 to Concentration checks
Power Attack -1/+2 You can subtract from your attack roll to add to your damage.
Tongues (Celestial) You can only understand and speak one language in combat.

[Cap. Darling]

I would keep to the oracle. Throwing on barbarian levels and going rage profet or whatever is gonna slow your buffing Down and only give little in return.
Start combat with casting your best buff and then just hag away.
I like the feat battle cry because it gives a reroll on saves to your buddies but for a oracle divine protection is the only level 5 feat that counts. Unless PFS have outlawed that one. Weapon focus is boring but good if you expect to attack in most rounds.

[avr]

No, there aren't helpful cleric/oracle spells which are natively cast as less than a standard action. If you can cast a buff in advance of a fight that'll help - look for 10 min/level spells.

Furious Focus will be worthwhile once your BAB hits +4. You could get it earlier than that.

Step Up may be handy, or likewise Combat Reflexes.

[Pounce]

Inheritor's Smite is a second level swift action spell that gives a +5 sacred bonus to an attack roll, and a +5 sacred bonus to a free bull rush maneuver immediately following the attack. Might be useful for when you really need to hit, I suppose?

My "favourite" 2nd level swift action Oracle spell though is Peacemaker's Parley. Lets you use Diplomacy as a swift action, and gives a bonus on the check vs creatures that failed their saving throw. Now, it might not be that combat-oriented, but it certainly lets you solve problems!

[ZenithTN]

I have found self buffing spell casters benefit greatly from Extend Spell.

[cavernshark]

Arutema wrote:

So I've got experience to level one of my PFS characters up from 4 to 5, but I'm not quite sure what path to take her on. The problem I'm hitting is that I can deal quite good damage, but only after using at least one standard action to buff myself.

Should I consider multiclassing out of Oracle to something more martial? Rage Prophet maybe?

If I stay oracle, what are good spells to take, and are there ways to bypass the standard action bottleneck to cast them before quicken spell comes online? Are there any good spells that cast as move, swift, or immediate actions on the Cleric/Oracle list?

In either case, what would be a good PFS-legal feat for 5th level?

And since you'll need to know it, here's what she is now at 4th level, and which cannot be changed:
** spoiler omitted **...

I also recently started playing a Halfling oracle in PFS. I'd considered the Metal Mystery, but opted to go a slightly different route. Currently, I'm a Swashbuckler 1, Seeker Oracle (Winds Mystery, Tongues Curse) 2.

There's isn't a lot getting around the standard action needed to buff to reach full potential. I mitigated it somewhat by starting my first level as a swashbuckler since it fit my characters back-story and let me take the character in a more martial direction out the gate. The dip delays my spell casting, but since I'm mostly self-buffing or utility casting (or healing) it's worked out decently so far. The extra feats and panache have more than made up for it; in the event I regret it later, there's always retraining for a single level dip (10 prestige and some gold, though I would end up with an used trait -- Magical Knack). YMMV.

If you do decide to dip, Paladin could be as strong choice for Smite Evil though you'll probably want two levels to get Divine Grace. Cavalier could also be a good option with the extra teamwork feats (I'd swap out the mount using Daring Champion or Standard Bearer) Again, you'd probably want to take 2 levels to bring the Order ability at level 2 online, several of which would operate off your high charisma.
Then there's a single level in fighter for the bonus feats. That's more like what I'm doing with the swashbuckler.

If you opt to dip, especially two levels, Additional Traits is usually not a terrible feat. You could use it to grab Magical Knack to keep your caster level up and something else to round out your character.

Cleave might also work to help you get some extra attacks in certain situations before you get your iterative attacks. You also can't go wrong with Improved Initiative to up the odds you can take a standard action to buff before the enemy gets to move.

As for spells, I've eyed Grace for a Swift Action to not provoke for a round. Liberating Command is situationally useful 1st level you could pick up that runs off an immediate action.

[Drogos]

I've got a seeker level rage prophet. The buffing time doesn't get any better. Stay straight class and get higher level spells sooner. You're just going to dilute your caster level.

[Corvino]

If you've got ranks in knowledge (religion) and a good Charisma score strongly consider Divine Protection. I don't know if that's PFS legal though.

[Drogos]

It is not.