I usually/always take ShadowDancer as PrC for rogues/bards.
I generally find that when I want to do something different I'm best if I bend what I'm use to into a new role.
You seem to be looking at a generalist/skill monkey/moderate combatant type so might I offer the following?
Urban Druid 10/ Rogue 1/ Master Spy 9
Aasimar (if available)
The progression I would use for this would be:
Urban Druid until 8th, master spy until 9th, rogue, then back to urban druid.
The only feats you'll need is iron will and deceitful leaving everything else up to you. The urban druid offers at will unlimited alter self at level 6 which can either boost your combat abilities -- or augment your ability to disguise yourself. At level 8 you get wild shape which offers new abilities to spy with (who suspects their pets to be the ones glimming all the valuable information, or to be scouting for the enemy?) Master spy 9 offers many nice non-detection abilities (not the least of which is mind blank at level 9) and death attack with 4d6 sneak attack dice. The level of rogue gives you trap finding and another sneak attack dice putting you up to 5d6 total. Your BAB hurts some but you'll have spells to help back that up (flame blade for example) or wild shape to get multiple different natural weapons (which are all off your best BAB generally). Aasimar helps with the charisma you'll probably want as well as the wisdom without leaving you wanting for something else -- you could spread your points thin and not miss it as much. The minimum skill points per level will be 4 + int, which while not great isn't as bad as 2+ int, and you'll have all your abilities to back it up too.
You might check out the Lion Blade it is a PrC specifically designed for Bard/Rogue. This was a 3.5 PF campaign setting class and has not being updated to the new PF rules. Well, some things appear to have been updated, but for instance they still get a d6 HP and it should probably go up to d8 for PF use.
Another rogue/bard PrC with more focus on the rogue is the Pathfinder Delver from Seekers of Secrets.
|
I mean, the two "skill monkey" classes gave a LOT of options. Consider Archivists, an int-based bard that can trapfind and buffs based on knowledge checks.
As to Prestige classes, pathfinder strongly discourages them. The Arcane Trickster is actually very solid if you consider him a rogue with a few Mage tricks instead of the other way around; at mid-to-high he gets some great effects. And you lose very few caster levels.
Ummm, bard dragon disciples are OK, if boring. The new Master Spy is actually fairly fun looking, if probably not as good as straight rogue.
Check out the Sandman archetype for the bard. It combines some elements of the bard and rogue.
Then again for Bard you could go Harrower ;) and use the link evilash used :)
I'll lay down another vote for the Sandman bard archtype. It plays like the child of a spell thief & beguiler- very bard-like and very rogue-like. If I recall it also comes bundled with trapfinding.
Is there a reason you feel the need to go PrC? I mean, if you do, it's fine--but what is your character concept?
I ask because just a Bard/Rogue may actually do better without adding a third class depending on what it is you want to do. If you want to be a mostly-bard but have trapfinding and some rogue talents, being just a bard that dips into a couple rogue levels for a little trapfinding and evasion works really well (you can also get trapfinding by taking the Detective bard archetype), and you keep your spellcasting progression and bardic performance up. Or if you want to be a rogue that has some minor magical buffs at his disposal, then the other way around (and keep your sneak attack and rogue talent progression up). Either way you'll have a versatile, 3/4 BAB character with a million skill points.
That said, these are your most likely options (some of which have been mentioned):
Arcane Trickster: Works beautifully with Bard (just be sure you take Mage Hand as a cantrip; if you want a mostly-sneaky rogue with bardic spellcasting and a few other tricks. Note you KEEP your Sneak Attack and Spell Progression. You will LOSE to ability to gain Rogue Talents and/or advance Bardic Performance. Also a Bard/Rogue is the only build for Arcane Trickster that lets you be able to wear light armor without penalty.
Duelist: Much less obvious, but if you're wanting to be a swashbucklery meleer with a few other tricks up your sleeve, a Bard/Rogue/Duelist isn't a bad idea---especially if you take the route of Arcane Duelist for your Bard levels. Note one of the requirements for Duelist is Performance. I would only dip into Rogue for sneak attack, evasion, and finesse rogue (to make it easier to qualify for the PrC and focus on mostly Arcane Duelist and Duelist levels). Sneak Attack and Precise Strike work well together.
Pathfinder Chronicler: If you're focusing less on combat and more on lore and skills, this might be a really fun class to take. Your early rogue levels will help boost its combat effectiveness when it is needed---and/or the ability to avoid taking damage. This is the only Pathfinder prestige class that allows your Bardic Performance to continue to advance (but no sneak attack or spellcasting advancement).
Shadowdancer: Thematically, if you want to be sneaky sneaky with some cool tricks, this could be a great way to go, and you have the right class skills to advance well into this class. The awesome abilities you gain come at the expense of sneak attack AND bard spellcasting AND bardic performance however. A dip might be valuable to gain Hide in Plain Sight if it suits your concept.