One member of my gaming group is starting up a new Pathfinder campaign, and I was hoping for some advice. Stats were 4d6, drop the lowest and I ended up (before racial mods) with: 15, 14, 14, 13, 10, 16. We're starting at level 10, and since I've never made a Bard or melee-centric character, I thought it'd be fun to do both and try out the Arcane Duelist. We have the APG and CRB to use as resources.
My current build is:
Str 19 (+2 Human, +1 @4&8)
Dex 14
Con 14
Int 13
Wis 10
Cha 16
1: Arcane Strike (bonus), Toughness, Dodge
2: Combat Casting (bonus)
3: Power Attack
5: Mobility
6: Disruptive (bonus)
7: Spring Attack
9: Cleave
10: Spellbreaker (bonus)
Feedback on this bard would be appreciated. I was also considering taking Dragon Disciple once it's available, but couldn't decide if it'd be worth the loss in Bardic abilities.
After 8th level in bard I'm good with some dd dipping. The strength bonus increase will make up for the lost increase in inspire courage (for you) the claws and bite give back up options, the natural armor is highly useful and the blindsense doubly so (as well as some good fortitude save fun and the d12 hit dice).
Bard 11/dd 9 is fine and grants most of the features you'll want, thought bard 12/dd 8 keep from hitting your BAB. Grab yourself some robes of arcane heritage to help get your bloodline abilities faster.
Think about your spell list. If you spells with save DCs, then a 16 CHA isn't such a bad idea.
If you don't (ex: CLW), then you can get by with a 14; I'd switch CHA and CON.
Greetings, fellow travellers.
In response to you, rkraus2, I think the stats are fine as is - he is a human and a bard - skill ranks are already 8/level and he can easily afford to put his fav. class bonus into hp (although the alternative with adding another spell is also quite tempting), which will account for the lower CON.
Ruyan.