After my roommate lamented that we've not done any games with Pathfinder that have really TESTED the party in gruelling combat, challenging all of its members to be built and behave smart, our group has decided to do a game with super-optimized characters pitted against twinked out monsters. For the challenge. Or something.
I'm not really an optimizer. Once I got bored of tormenting my roommate with promises of Bard/Assassin/Master Spies and Shadowdancers I buckled down and realized that I really, really want to play a flipping Illusionist.
So now I need to munchkin one out. I do not know what I am doing.
My ability scores (edit: rolled) are something like these before racial adjustments,
STR 7
DEX 15
CON 14
INT 17
WIS 14
CHA 10
Things I have more or less decided include...
Class: Wizard, with the Illusion - Shadow subschool in the APG
Race: Probably elf
Arcane Bond: I am going to take a wand for my Bonded Item
Skills: I want to take Craft: Alchemy and Disable Device as skills. I know this is not really "optimal," but I figure I can stand to do some weird things with my skills. Apart from those, taking normal Wizard stuff. Knowledges, Spellcraft, Linguistics...
Feats: Spell Focus in Illusion, Spell Perfection in... something, I don't know what yet, and possibly Preferred Spell Greater Invisibility? Or maybe just in Vanish, I think I could go for some spontaneous quickened vanishes.
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Rest of the party is undecided, but tentatively is looking to be a Battle Oracle, a Cavalier, and the Oracle taking Leadership for I-don't-know-what. I'd guess a Life Oracle.
My ability scores are something like these before racial adjustments,STR 7 (-4)
DEX 15 (7)
CON 14 (5)
INT 17 (13)
WIS 14 (5)
CHA 10 (0)
26 point buy? Or rolled stats? If 25 point buy and an elf. . .
Str 7 (-4)
Dex 18 (10) (+2 racial)
Con 12 (5) (-2 racial)
Int 19 (13) (+2 racial)
Wis 14 (5)
Cha 7 (-4)
Feats: Spell Focus in Illusion, Spell Perfection in... something, I don't know what yet, and possibly Preferred Spell Greater Invisibility? Or maybe just in Vanish, I think I could go for some spontaneous quickened vanishes.
What level are you starting at? Spell Perfection is a 15th level feat. Try to focus it around spells you'd be taking around that level that benefit from Spell Focus/Penetration (greater shadow conjuration/evocation) -- or maybe a 5th level spell for free quicken spell (phantasmal web/shadow evocation).
26 point buy? Or rolled stats? If 25 point buy and an elf. . .
Rolled, sorry. Should have specified.
What level are you starting at? Spell Perfection is a 15th level feat. Try to focus it around spells you'd be taking around that level that benefit from Spell Focus/Penetration (greater shadow conjuration/evocation) -- or maybe a 5th level spell for free quicken spell (phantasmal web/shadow evocation).
Starting at level 1, but I want to figure out now what I am taking later.
Did you roll the stats or is it a point buy?
For an illusionist you could go either Wizard or Sorcerer. If you go Wizard defiantly play and elf, but for a sorcerer go human every time. The Wizard is going to give you a better selection of spells, but a focused sorcerer can also be highly effective.
Without a level in Rouge or Urban Ranger you are not going to be able to use disable device vs. magical traps. If you are doing for flavor that is ok but I would not spend too many skill points on it.
The other thing you may want to go for is an Arcane Trickster. Not optimal, but would work well with your concept. You would need to take 3 levels or Wizard and 3 levels of rouge to qualify. Take the trait Magical Knack to keep your caster level up, but be aware this will still slow getting the spells. I would recommend using an amulet or a ring for the bonded item so you can take advantage of the ability to enchant it without having to take the item creation feat.
A shadow bloodline sorcerer would also make a decent illusionist. The human favored class bonus makes playing a sorcerer a decent option. Illusions are also flexible enough that the limited number of spells is not going to hurt as much. Also with an sorcerer you will be able to better use the meta magic feats.
Without a level in Rouge or Urban Ranger you are not going to be able to use disable device vs. magical traps. If you are doing for flavor that is ok but I would not spend too many skill points on it.
It is for flavour, yes, I want to hide my spell components in boxes with horrible acid traps and jagged needles. Don't want the rest of the party getting up in my bizniz. You know how it is.
Ability scores addressed above, they were rolled. WRT Sorcerer vs wizard, I am positive that I wish to be a wizard, and one of the three illusionist options for school specialization. I am pretty sure about taking the Shadow subschool, but I do like the Phantasm subschool as well ... I just can't imagine a situation where I actually want to be within 30ft of my enemies to use the higher tier ability.
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Optimal Illusionist ko power: Gnome with Greater Spell Focus & everything he can put into Int.
Elf, Human, Half-Elf come in next, since +2 Int equals +1 save DC fairly easily.
Arcane Bond is basically user preference, but a familiar, and later an improved version can net you extra actions in combat. Just something to think on.
If you're set on hard-core optimizing, I'd recommend Treantmonk's Guide to Wizards (available on d20pfsrd.com, or just Google search for it).
Feats should be all about upping your save DC's or increasing your actions, like quicken spell or improved familiar.
Skills won't matter too much, but Diplomacy & Bluff, combined with Illusions is a very, very powerful toolset.