Character Help : retcon a dwarven warpriest

[wynlyndd]

First off, I have a kind, wonderful, and simply amazing GM (in case he is reading this)...
But seriously, since he wants everyone to have fun, he usually allows a one-time character re-edit if you have a bunch of feats that you haven't really used. After our last session, he said that if I was going to change anything, now is the time to do it, before we get too deep into the storyline. So let me describe the setting, my character concept, my issues, and then what I have now.
We are starting the Wrath of the Righteous Adventure Path. While I don't want to spoil anything (or have anything spoiled for me), we are into the second book, after having received a level of mythic power. I am currently a level 7 Dwarven Warpriest (of Torag)/1 Mythic (Guardian). Stats are: Str 20 Dex 15 Con 18 Int 14 Wisdom 20 Cha 11.
I cannot retcon my race(dwarf), class(warpriest), nor Mythic tier. I believe I can move the +2 ability score from Str to something else, as they picked it for me as I had to leave before we experienced ascension and they picked it for me.
Character/Party Concept: We have a paladin/champion, a slayer/trickster, an arcanist/archmage, and me, a warpriest/guardian. I believe we are all 7th level/1 tier.
When asked to play Wrath of the Righteous, I immediately imagined a fiesty dwarf. As we talked about classes, some recommended a warpriest, and without researching I said that sounds neat. I envisioned a heavily armored tin can. The immovable object upon which irresistible forces pushed on. I could hear him yelling out, "None shall pass!". I wanted him to be the tank. Granted, I was partially thinking a World of Warcraft tank...
It seems most tactics in Pathfinder revolve around the idea that a good defense is a good offense and try to dish out the most damage as possible and defense is really a second thought. I want to get in there and mix it up, but I wanted to be the heroic defender while everyone else gets their licks in. As such, I want to be hard to hit, but yet help my fellows. But I don't know what I am doing. I usually play mages. My only other melee character is a magus who is more of a dex based crit , bursty dmg, mage who hits with a sword (and I am having much fun with it).(Btw, these forums helped out tremendously with building my magus)
I am currently a sword and board taking a buttload of feats to try and get good with both dwarven waraxe and the shield. I see potential, but I need advice. It seems I am not going to be as useful as others. I don't need to be the "best" because roleplaying and concepts win out, but I just want to make sure I am on the right track.
Current Feats: Dodge, Dodge (Mythic), Double Slice, Improved Shield Bash, Two Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus - dwarven waraxe, Weapon Focus - heavy shield, Weapon Specialization - dwarven waraxe, (I need to pick one more for level 7)
Guardian Call Ability: Absorb Blow (although I was torn and almost picked Sudden Block)
I know in order to get Improved Two Weapon fighting I need to get my dex to 17.
Oh, just because he wanted to, our DM gave each of us a Legendary Item when we ascended into mythic. I have an adamantine full plate with the upgradeable option. It started +1 which I have upgraded so now it is +3. My waraxe is +1 cold iron. My shield is a heavy steel shield.
Any suggestions?

[Zhangar]

Absorb blow isn't as good as sudden block. Sudden block can stop crits, which is huge. But it sounds like you're stuck with those?

Though absorb blow's fun if you're backing it up with mythic paragon.

"You take 23 damage from the bite."

"Nah."

"Okay then."

I'd suggest ditching Dodge for Shield Focus, maybe? Hopefully someone who's done a "fight with shield" build will chime in; my own preference is to go with a buckler and then swing my sword or equivalent with both hands when I don't need the defense.

For feat number 7, You probably want power attack so that you can start hitting hard when you need to?

I don't see what your path ability went into. I strongly recommend ever-ready followed by retributive reach if you want to be a walking zone of hurt. (My L9/tier 3 magus guardian/archmage is having fun with that combo.)

Mythic feat... Mythic paragon would work well with absorb blow or ever-ready. Mythic spell lore will let you start getting mythic spells and make your self buffs much better.

Mythic two-weapon fighting can cancel your dualweilding penalties (though I believe those are eventually ended by a feat you can take?) and mythic power attack will let you hit harder.

Dual path will let you get into hierophant, which has all sorts of goodies and will let you use mythic power to just cast spells on the fly.

[Magda Luckbender]

It seems you are concerned you may not be able to contribute as much as you wish to. Your allies seem quite optimal and organized. I don't see any probable 'loose cannon' allies.

Perhaps consider completely switching your melee style to a two handed reach weapon using reach tactics. Dwarven Longhammer is a good choice. This is more powerful offensively and, arguably, also more effective defensively. This was the basis for the historic Pike Square. Pathfinder reach & AoO rules model how pike formations tended to dominate historical battlefields. Your character will tend to take less damage (despite having a worse Armor Class!), will tend to inflict a lot more damage, and will provide a defensive screen for your more vulnerable allies, the Wizard & the Trickster. This also frees up feats, as this combat style excels with just Combat Reflexes and Power Attack.

Were your PC to take this approach, here's how you might interact with allies during battle:

* The Wizard will want to be near you, to shelter in your reach shadow. Any foe wishing to attack the Wizard must face your AoO, which might be a trip. The Wizard can safely retreat through your threatened zone, but foes can not safely follow. The combination of a Wizard's offensive power and the reach fighter's defensive power works much like an optimal pike-and-shot formation. Here's an illustrative Youtube video, told from the perspective of a Gunslinger in a Spanish tercio pike-and-shot formation.
* You'll probably want to give flanks to your Trickster ally. This works especially well if you have a way to threaten adjacent, such as wearing Armor Spikes. This lets you 5' step appropriately and do something else while still giving your ally a flanking sneak attack.
* You'll want to coordinate tactics with your Paladin ally. This will depend on how the Paladin fights (e.g. archery, mounted charges, also reach, whatever).
* Although a War Priest is not a full caster, you will sometimes want to cast a spell. Reach tactics allow you to sometimes both cast a spell and attack in the same round.
* Considering how aggressive and impulsive demons tend to be, smart reach tactics seem likely to be particularly effective. Reach tactics work best against aggressive, impulsive foes.

[Rezol Born-in-Steel]

Step 1 is dumping the shield and using a weapon in both hands. This will do a lot for your offensive capabilities. Warpriests are actually pretty good at the facebeating, since you can swift action buff and then go to town on bad guys. There are options in the Guardian mythic path that are actually pretty good offensively, and you should probably focus on them.

This here is my Half-orc Warpriest of Gorum, focused around using Vital Strike with the Weapon of the Chosen line. Lets me wreck faces with a big 2H sword and is generally a lot of fun. I also act as a "tank" for my group by clubbing things and making them mad at me. I have decent HP and AC, and the ability to heal myself, so it works out pretty well. :)

[wynlyndd]

Thank you for some ideas