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Have a newbie DM who is more a strict rules follower and is gonna start us all out at 1st level. Two PCs will probably be simple fighters as they themselves are newbies. the remaining four are a wizard ( race unknown), a dwarf cleric, a gnome barbarian, and probably a rogue elf. As for me I don't know what to play I'm thinking a summoner but am unsure as I am unsure about race as well I'm thinking dwarf or elf, but I can't decide. I'm asking for opinions and personal notations on this matter as I'm trying to be nice and not do something completely weird like a tengu monk(zen archer), or a grippli rogue/ranger!
A newbie GM with 7 PC's, and you're considering a class that adds another creature to the fight. That poor, poor man. When you've got a group like that, with its bases covered, go with a bard.
Actually, a Battle Herald might be a good long term goal. They have the buffing of bardic music and the cavaliers tactician ability (giving everyone in the party precision is very nice). Plus the cool things inspiring command can bring to the rest of the party.
or is there another race that would be better
You can never go wrong with human. :)
Take an alchemist with a ranged build, using his bombs and a bow of some kind.
With precise bombs and the normal ranged feats, he can be very handy for many situations, not least because he will also have an impressive number of skills covered with his huge INT.
The Summoner is really fun to play, especially if you play the Eidolon as a real character and not just a combat dummy. - But in this situation, there is really no need to crowd the floor with more bodies.
If you go Summoner anyway, look at Half-Elf, he gets +1/4 Evolution point per level. That is awesome.
If you go Alchemist, look at Half-Orc, he gets + to damage with Bombs per level. That extends to the Splash damage. Taking the Bite racial trait also works well with the Mutagen claws.
Have fun!
"A horde of orcs are attacking! Wait, let me get out my lute so I can be playing a tune during the fight!" Really? I think not.
Forget the bard, brother. Prancing about with a musical instrument while the rest of the party is engaged in a swirling melee doesn't even SOUND like a good idea, regardless of its supposed "effects". Bardic knowledge is the only bard class feature worth the paper it's printed on, and it's hardly worth the penalty of playing a bard*.
Based upon the party you've described, I'd say play a druid. Enough healing to back up the cleric, enough magical fire to back up the wizard, and summoning abilities to help the front line in combat. Once you gain some levels and get the ability to wild shape, you'll feel like a super hero. After repeatedly saving the entire party over and over again, the rest of the party will think so, too.
*To be fair, the bard isn't quite as useless as the Ninja, Samurai, or Gunslinger...but it's close.
You sir have a skewed image of the bard.
That is okay you're young and foolish.
Why play a bard? Because all that swirling melee you're talking about is the work of uncouth brutes who don't know any better. When the bard and a group goes to the tavern it's the bard who gets all the elven babes slavering for a blow on his flute. When we go to deal with the orcs, it's the bard who convinces the orcs that he should be the war chieftain and succeeds.
Brother, you're talking about lute's? That's my weekend gig, son. During the weekdays I sing, dance, do comedy, or give inspirational speeches like Captain F'n America! You want bonuses? I got so many bonuses falling out of my pocket I don't even know what's what. You want spells? I got six, count em, six levels of bardic spells. You want saves? I got two good ones. You want skills? Son, I got 6 PLUS my int modifier. As if that wasn't enough my singing and dancing boosts up my skills too! KAPOW! I'm like a singing, dancin, inspirational, machine! He don't need pets! The whole group is his pet! You follow him!
Go for a Elven Archer Bard. If you have the APG available take Breadth of Experience and really crank those knowledge's. Arcane strike would help with the damage.
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was trying to think dwarf do to the parties choice of smaller characters, and a decent handicap, plus my first pc ever was a dwarf!! Though true a half-orc is an easier build but yeah I can say thats true, I think I might redo it for a gnome or halfling but am really looking at the dwarf bard. So I think dwarf bard.
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So I think dwarf bard.
Then go for it! A Dwarf Bard can be awesome thematically and if that's what you're happy with, don't let anyone stop you. I was just laying the options out there (also, imagining Half-Orc bards singing rousing war-songs while their falchions drip with the blood of their fallen enemies appeals to me).
What point-buy are you using, or do you roll for stats?
You'll probably want to avoid spells utilizing a Save since your Charisma's going to be low, but that lets you focus on party enhancement and utility spells:
Cure Light Wounds, Summon Monster 1, and Expeditious Retreat leap out immediately (to me) as good, useful, 1st level spells that won't be adversely effected by low Charisma. Invigorate and Timely Inspiration from the APG look good, too.