Gnome sword & board fighter tips

[Dendromecion]

i tend to start putting a character together when i find art or a miniature i like, and in this instance i've found a cool gnome miniature with a sword and shield :)

my first thought was to either go TWF and be a mix of DPR and defense, or just going all out defense and protecting team mates. with the -2 str and +2 con, i'm leaning towards the latter.
so what do you think would be the most optimal, or useful? he's going to be PFS, so 20 point build.
thanks! :)

[JDLPF]

Could your mini sub in for a halfling instead? There's a lot of feats that are halfling racial restricted focused on defensive fighting. Synergizes well with a character built for high AC.

The below build takes +1 Str at 4th level to even out their Strength score, +1 Int at 8th to gain an extra 8 skill ranks which are dumped straight into UMD, and +1 Dex at 12th to pick up ITWF. Fighting defensively nets you +6 Dodge bonus to AC, and if we're looking at later levels you'd be somewhere in the mid to high 30s AC range.

Halfling Slayer 12
Str: 15 -2 racial
Dex: 14 +2 racial
Con: 14
Int: 7
Wis: 14
Cha: 12 +2 racial
Traits: Aldori Caution (Combat), Dangerously Curious (Magic)

1st: Power Attack
2nd: Slayer Talent - Ranger Combat Style - Weapon and Shield - Two Weapon Fighting
3rd: Improved Shield Bash
4th: Slayer Talent - Rogue Talent - Combat Trick - Cautious Fighter
5th: Double Slice
6th: Slayer Talent - Ranger Combat Style - Weapon and Shield - Shield Master
7th: Shield Focus
8th: Slayer Talent - Rogue Talent - Weapon Training - Weapon Focus (Shield)
9th: Stumbling Bash
10th: Slayer Talent - Ranger Combat Style - Weapon and Shield - Greater Shield Focus
11th: Bashing Finish
12th: Slayer Talent - Rogue Advanced Talents and Ninja Master Tricks - Feat - Improved Two Weapon Fighting

[Imbicatus]

Gnomes make fantastic kineticists, and sword and board kineticists work well with the kinetic Knight archetype.

[JDLPF]

Also, a quick note with regards to gear: getting Shield Master at 6th level via early entry through Ranger Combat Style puts you ahead of the curve in terms of weapon costs. As you add your shield's enhancement bonus as if it was a weapon enhancement bonus, a shield costs half as much per +1 enhancement bonus as an equivalent weapon. Means you can afford a +3 shield as your primary weapon at 6th level when most other classes can only afford a +2 weapon.

[Dendromecion]

unfortunately it looks like Aldori Caution isn't PFS legal (at least according to archives of nethys http://archivesofnethys.com/TraitDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Aldori%20Caution [dont forget to remove the space, if there is one])
the build looks great though, thanks! :)
i think i'll bit the bullet and go hobbit, the only reason i was going with gnome is because i was basing him around my WoW gnome warrior ^^

[Scott Wilhelm]

I was thinking that a Small Size melee character should do Sneak Attack Damage.

I was thinking that fighting while Mounted would be a good way of making up for your 20' Move.

I was thinking if you took 2-5 levels in Fighter with the Eldritch Guardian Archetype, you could get yourself a Familiar with the Mauler Archetype which you then could ride like a mount. Make it a Bat, and it will Fly. Also, it will have all your Combat Feats.

Take levels in Rogue with the Scout Archetype, and you will start doing Sneak Attack Damage just by moving more than 10'. If you are also an Eldritch Gaurdian with a Mauler Familiar, you might take more Feats to help you lock in your Sneak Attack Damage, such as Feinting Partner

Use a Lance, and do double damage on a Charge.

Take Greater Overrun, and Wheeling Charge, maybe Merciless Rush, and get bonus charging effects. Take Harder they Fall, and you will be able to make Bull Rush, Trip, and Overrun Combat Maneuvers agaisnt creatures of any size.

Take 2 levels in Monk, Master of Many Styles. Take Panther Style Feats, and you will get Free Attacks whenever you Provoke Attacks of Opportunity by moving out of Threatened Squares. They'll have to be Unarmed Strikes--no Ascetic Style in PFS--but if they do Sneak Attack Damage, too, that'll be fine.