The truth is that sometimes people get all caught up in the max build. Tell them what class and they will tell you the race, stats, feats, equipment, skills, etc. and sometimes get upset when you do something else. The first time I played a PFS game with my own character, I had three people tell me that I hadn't made my cleric right because I didn't have the stats right. All three suggested the same build. Now that is boring. Who wants to set down at a table were all the fighters have the same stats, feats, traits, etc. because it is the "best" build with the 20 points. I didn't change it because the build match my char's back story. Which for me is the fun part. Coming up the story then making the stats, feats, etc. match up. So, what that my gnome ranger has twelves in everything but dex and wis. He will never be a one shot killer but he does well in all the skill checks. Of course, I once wrote a three page back story on a horse to talk me DM into letting my char have it (without paying) to pull a blacksmith cart. Don't get me wrong I do adjust things to make the char as good as possible but I don't believe there is a best way. Besides if you are having fun does it really matter where you start.
