How do I make my Urban Skirmisher more appealing than a Rogue?

[jakebacon]

As a potential replacement for my current character, I was putting together a level 8 ranger that uses both the Skirmisher and Urban Ranger archetypes from the APG to make a trap monkey. I began to wonder what advantage it had over a rogue when not dealing with traps and am stuck on what to do with feats.

Reasons I like the Urban Skirmisher:

Urban Ranger gets trapfinding, as the rogue ability, at 3rd level. Skirmisher provides the Uncanny Senses trick (+10 bonus to Perception rolls) and the Skill Sage trick (reroll a skill check). You get access to tricks as soon as level 5.

So, by level 7, an Urban Skirmisher can search for traps with a bonus equal to half his level AND throw in a big bonus if necessary with the Uncanny Senses trick. He can also reroll that check or a disable device check without penalty if he needs to, taking the better result. Only downside to the tricks is their limited uses per day. All in all, though, dude's as great with traps as a rogue. Debatably better.

So, Urban Skirmisher is a fantastic trap monkey, but what does he offer when not dealing with traps? What kind of build would be more appealing than a rogue with more skill points and the always wonderful sneak attack?

What about a halfling focused on ranged combat? For flavor he could use a sling staff (Do you think the Warslinger alternate racial trait can be applied to a sling staff?). I was thinking about using the Boon Companion and Mounted Combat feats and have him ride a dog or wolf into combat, but mounts, even for small characters, aren't always viable and I'd hate to take feats I can't use all the time.

My feat selection as it stands:

1 Deadly Aim
2 Precise Shot(b)
3 Mounted Combat
5 Boon Companion
6 Improved Precise Shot(b)
7 Vital Strike
9 Trick Riding
10 Pinpoint Targeting(b)
11 Improved Vital Strike
13 ?
14 Rapid Shot(b)
15 Mounted Skirmisher
17 Greater Vital Strike
18 Shot on the Run(b)
19 ?

I included the vital strike chain as a way to hit hard with a single attack while mounted. Of course, once he hits level 15 and has Mounted Skirmisher he can full attack while mounted and Vital Strike won't be used as often. Should I instead take Critical Focus and Staggering Critical for that real David and Goliath action? Or should I go a different route with TWF or something? Any advice?

[Shifty]

Wouldn't you only have ONE trick though?

Urban 3, Skirm 5?

[jakebacon]

Both archetypes can be added to the ranger as long as they don't replace the same thing. I wouldn't have to take 3 levels of urban ranger and then 5 levels of skirmisher ranger, I'd just have 8 levels of ranger and access to both archetypes.

[YawarFiesta]

Drop Vital Strike add mounted archery, it also aplies to sling!

Also, take rapid shot earlier, like level 2, deadly aim ca wait to fifth level and boon companion to 7th

Humbly,
Yawar

[Shifty]

Kk fair enough :)