So we're starting a new campaign with 3 players. One player will be a melee focused Shark Shaman and the third player is playing a Merfolk Master Summoner. I gave him a little bit of a hard time regarding his speed, but after much consideration I think I'm going to (if you can't beat 'em) "join 'em" and play a Merfolk Cleric. Both of us will have the "strong tail" alternate trait so we'll have a 15' move. I understand this will be problematic tactically.
That being said, we have 25 points to work with (a bonus from the GM because there are only 3 of us) and I'm going with a fighter + negative energy channeling build. A decent CHA is typically tough to pull off on a battle cleric, but between the 25 points and the Merfolk ability bonuses, I came up with this for stat points:
STR 16
DEX 14
CON 12
INT 8
WIS 16
CHA 16
Domains: Tactics, Deception
Traits: Armor Expert, Sacred Conduit
Feats:
1 - Selective Channel
3 - Channel Smite
5 - Improved Channel
7 - Control Undead
9 - Power Attack
11 - Toughness
13 - Improved Initiative
15 - Extra Channel
At first level I'm going Cutlass (GM fiat to allow as replacement for Besmara's normal favored weapon, the rapier) and buckler. This plus leather lamellar brings my ac to a fairly respectable 19.
I'm considering splashing another class to add flavor and utility and would like feedback on my options below:
1 - Freebooter Ranger (1 level) for skills, martial weapons, and Freebooter's Bane
2 - Fighter (1-2 levels) for martial weapons and 2 feats
3 - Corsair Fighter (2 levels) for martial weapons, 1 feat + free cleave w/o an AC penalty
4 - Musketeer/Emissary/Order of the Cockatrice Cavalier (2 levels) for a pistol (thematically nifty), martial weapons, mounted combat, medium armor w/o decreasing my already tiny land speed, and Dazzling Display for free (you also don't need a weapon in hand and you get an additional +2 to attack rolls when attacking a demoralized foe)
Critique / comments / advice on the build and the splash options are greatly appreciated.
Xykal