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A party member in my last PFS game had a +11 Initiative bonus at level 1, which got me thinking ways to beat it. The highest I got was the following:
Any Race
1st level Wizard
20 Dexerity (+5)
Reactionary Trait (+2)
Improved Initiative Feat(+4)
Scorpion/Compsognathus Familiar (+4)
Forewarned/Divination School (+1 - half level bonus)
Total= +16 Initiative
Coupled with the Defensive Strategist Trait and the Forewarned class feature, the wizard always acts in surprise rounds and isn't flat footed before acting/when surprised.
A much more capable (but 1 less bonus) version is:
Human
1st level Tattooed Sorcerer
Any Bloodline (or Arcane if you don't want Tattooed)
20 Charisma
Reactionary Trait (+2)
Noble Scion feat (Scion of War, Cha to Init, +5)
Improved Initiative feat (+4)
Scorpion/Compsognathus Familiar (+4)
Total= +15
Can anyone beat those bonuses at 1st level (or even 2nd or 3rd?)
You're missing out on the 500gp Cracked Dusty Rose Prism for +1 init.
Also, a goblin gets a +4 to dex, so for your first post there, he could have a 22 starting dex and +1 more init for a total of 17.
Tengu Inquisitor 2:
Str 7
Dex 20
Con 6
Int 7
Wis 20
Cha 7
Reactionary Trait (+2)
Improved Initiative Feat(+4)
Cracked Dusty Rose Prism (+1)
Dex (5)
Wis (5)
Feather subdomain +2 (sometimes)
+17/19
(he mentioned PFS, and there is no way to play a goblin in PFS. Tengu requires a boon as a note)
Anticipate peril +caster level max 5
Corsair of taldor feat, +2 on ships
You're missing out on the 500gp Cracked Dusty Rose Prism for +1 init.Unless you start with rich parents that is out of reach for a 1st level.
Rich parents isn't legal for PFS use. But it's still possible to get 500g before lv 2, each tier 1-2 gives roughly 500g (more if they play up), so you could get it after 1-2 games. Or you could just spend 2 prestige points and get any 1 item (worth up to 750g).
Also, a goblin gets a +4 to dex, so for your first post there, he could have a 22 starting dex and +1 more init for a total of 17.
Goblin isn't a playable race in PFS unless you have a special boon that allows it.
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The ioun stone is a great idea!
The wizard I built had the following stats :
Str 7; Dex 20; Con 14; Int 14; Wis 11; Cha 7
I made a half-orc for flavor as well as free Endurance, whip proficiency (divination bonus spell - true strike) skilled and darkvision. Although a human would be optimal in getting toughness at first level for 12 HP.
Although if I wanted to compete with the tengu build, I would go human to get Varisian Tattoo - divination feat and use anticipate peril spell. With that spell at +1 CL, I think the build would stay ahead of the inquisitor by 1 (17/20 buffed at level 2). Of course, the inquisitor benefits from raising both Wis and Dex, but that could be offset by the half level bonus of the Diviner.
Tengu Inquisitor 2:
Str 7
Dex 20
Con 6
Int 7
Wis 20
Cha 7Reactionary Trait (+2)
Improved Initiative Feat(+4)
Cracked Dusty Rose Prism (+1)
Dex (5)
Wis (5)
Feather subdomain +2 (sometimes)+17/19
(he mentioned PFS, and there is no way to play a goblin in PFS. Tengu requires a boon as a note)
Just for fun as above except 18 wis and 13 cha with Dawnflower Dervish 1 inquisitor 2 and the eldrich heritage (arcane) feat for a Compsognathus familiar so.
Reactionary Trait (+2)
Improved Initiative Feat(+4)
Cracked Dusty Rose Prism (+1)
Dex (5)
Wis (4)
Feather subdomain +2 (sometimes)
Familiar (4)
So 20(22) and still scary with a scimitar :P
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The same tengu starting as a Dawnflower Dervish would use his first level feat on Improved Initiative, not meeting the Skill Focus (Knowledge Arcana) requirement of Eldritch Heritage (Arcane) until level 5.
Combining our builds, a PFS tengu wizard/inquisitor build could be slightly more optimal (but ridiculously frail):
Wizard 1/Inquisitor 2
Str 7; Dex 20; Con 5; Int 14; Wis 18; Cha 7
Reactionary/Improved Initiative/cracked ioun stone/Dex 5/ Wis 4/Diviner bonus/Familiar (+21)
Feather Domain (plus the benefit of always acting on surprise rounds as a diviner) +2 situational
Varisian Tattoo- Divination (+1 CL) + Magical Knack (wizard) +2 CL
Anticipate Peril CL 4
So +21 normally, +25 with the spell, and whenever there is a surprise round an automatic +2. And at Wizard 4/Inquisitor 2 it'll increase by one, and every two levels thereafter!