Before you say it, yes I have read Treantmonk's Bard guide, and it was immensely helpful. However, I don't desire to play any of the builds he offered. My concept has me more caster heavy and wielding wands in combat (largely via UMD). Possibly dual wielding wands, if my DM allows it.
At the moment I'm torn between Human, Halfing and Half-Elf. Human certainly helps with skills, I'm finding even 8/level (with 14 int) limiting to the more rogue-like bard I desire to play. Halfling has great stat adjustments, and a +1 to hit which helps with ray wands. Half-Elf would have Skill Focus: UMD and no stat penalties.
The array I'm working from is as follows(before racial adjustments): Str-10, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 9, Cha 14.
Thoughts?
I like the dumping of Wisdom and would suggest that Oratory be your first perform skill to help with the diplo and sense motive checks. Skill focus in Oratory isn't bad in this case since it helps the sense motive and diplo checks.
UMD shouldn't be too hard for your character at any point really -- at first level you are +6 already and by the time you can regularly afford wands you will be much better off than that... the absolute highest DC you'll ever need to make on UMD is 30 so keep in mind that in the end the skill focus to it simply gets you there faster.
I'm not sure ray wands are going to get you what you want though -- honestly the damage per ray is rather low and the few that allow save throws won't help too much with a low save.
I like the dumping of Wisdom and would suggest that Oratory be your first perform skill to help with the diplo and sense motive checks. Skill focus in Oratory isn't bad in this case since it helps the sense motive and diplo checks.
UMD shouldn't be too hard for your character at any point really -- at first level you are +6 already and by the time you can regularly afford wands you will be much better off than that... the absolute highest DC you'll ever need to make on UMD is 30 so keep in mind that in the end the skill focus to it simply gets you there faster.
I'm not sure ray wands are going to get you what you want though -- honestly the damage per ray is rather low and the few that allow save throws won't help too much with a low save.
Well, I suppose I should have mentioned this is probably going to be a short campaign. I don't anticipate getting above level 7 at the highest. Also, if the dual wand wield is allowed, I'd probably have one buffing/debuffing spell (bless, ray of enfeeblement, enlarge person) and one ray/DD (scorching ray, magic missile). I realize how suboptimal blasting is, but I worry about my fellow players' inability to optimize for damage and desire to be able to help out.
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If you plan on UMD a lot, maybe a bit more Cha? If your magic focused, you shouldn't need your str as much. The trouble is you'd have to dump your str to 7 and wis to 8 to boost Cha to 16. If you go with halfing, the strength can become a bit of an issue. Espcially if being roguelike involves poisons (a lot of them attack str). But then again the 16 cha will help with your own spells that you cast...which isn't exactly what anyone would consider a poor selection to choose from.