So how does this build sound

[Halfling's Shadow]

My friends and I are finally out of the bash demos for the beginner's box and we are going to start into a adventure path of our own creation. For this path I decided to play a bard. I tested the waters of my bard build using a human bard whose build was focused on melee distraction casting.

The build was this:

Str: 16 +3
Dex: 14 +2
Con: 14 +2
Int: 13 +1
Wis: 10 +0
Cha: 16 +2

(Note: These abilites were non standard point buys based on 6 groups of 4d6 drop the lowest roll)

Fort: +2
Ref: +4
Will: +2

Equip:
Longsword
shortbow
leather armor

attack bonus
+3 melee
+2 ranged

AC: 14
touch: 12
flat:12

init: +2
spd: 30

feats:
[human]arcane strike
[lv1] eschew material

nine skill ranks: (too long to list all but but ranks in these)
acrobatics
diplomacy
knowledge arcana
knowledge planes
linguistics
perception
perform oratory
spellcraft
use magic device

spells:
lv 0
dancing lights
detect magic
mage hand
predestigitation (sp?)

lv1
grease
sleep

What I found was that this bard was average in encounters and was only good for diplomacy outside of combat. So after this I decided to change the flavor of my bard and decided to go with my gut on the build than stick to a guide.

I changed the race to halfling and I have him set as jack of all trades from the get go. I stuck to a 25pt buy so I could use him outside the group if needed.

Str: 14 +2
Dex: 18 +4
Con: 12 +1
Int: 12 +1
Wis: 7 -2
Cha: 16 +3

(This is after racial bonuses/penalties are applied)

Fort: +2
Ref: +7
Will: +1

Equip:
longsword (sm)
H. Slin Staff (sm)
Leather Armor

Attack bonuses:
melee: +3
ranged: +5

AC: 17
touch: 15
flat: 13

init: +4
spd: 20

feats:
martial weapon proficency(H. Sling Staff)

7 skill ranks: (again going to list the one with ranks in them)
knowledge(planes)
perception
perform oratory
perform dance
spellcraft
stealth
use magic device

spells:
lv 0
dancing lights
detect magic
ghost sounds
mage hand

lv 1
grease
silent image

For some reason this build screams fun, my plans are to take the feats at lv3, if my GM allows it rapid reload(H. Sling Staff); so I can make reloading the sling staff a free action and get some distance if I need to; but if not then I will take fleet or point blank shot, then at level 5 take then other of the two then at level seven take mounted combat for the phantom steed. Then mounted archery after that at 9.

So how does this sound? Interesting? A flagrent disreguard what a bard is?

[666bender]

i think bards need to be alot more focus, since they are alot and notheing at all ...

off combat, roleplay, diplomacy, knowledge you'll always be a king.
now you need to take 1 role in combat - which rely alot on the rest...

1. buffer suprem. take any buff spell / item and such, use barding music, and shoot every now or than when nothing better to do...
2. mini buffer + third melle, this require big STR and reach
3. range - VERY hard to make as bard, since not enough feats to be good
4. debuffer - my favorute. enhence your friends while effect the rest. intimidate, trip with whip from afar, and so on,.

[Matt2VK]

Something you might want to take a look at it you haven't around. At the top of the advice forums is a sticky thread for a Guide to the Guide threads. Go to that thread and look for the Guide on Bards. While some of the info there is dated, a lot of it is still good.

Two quick questions -

1) What books are you allowed to use?

2) What other classes are going to be in the party?

Now, my commets -

Stats look good. I'd probably make some changes with INT and WIS. As you need a good WIS for two things, Will saves and Perception checks (perception is the most used skill in pathfinder.)
You don't really need to change them around as having a good INT is also nice but something to think about.

Feats: There's better feats at there for a bard. One of the favorites are Lingering Preformance: allows your song effects to linger after you stop preforming (think it's 2 rounds after).

Spells: Your cantrips look good and your first level Grease is a very nice spell but the second leaves a lot to be desired. Sleep is good but has a limited life and I'm not sure I know how often bard can change their spells around. Silent Image, while it has it's uses, there are just so many better spells out there for bards.

[theonetruetom]

Bards have spell changing at 4th iirc.

Here's a suggestion: Try to come by a Wand of Silent Image. Ghost sound+Silent Image can be a very good combo for distracting enemies by artificially increasing party numbers. Until your enemies make their Will saves for interacting with the images. Which, depending on where you put things, can take them a couple of rounds. By then your other party members may have had a chance to thin their numbers a bit.

Bonus: Silent image to create 4 nightmarish looking horses when fighting goblins? It's great RPing.

[Halfling's Shadow]

I am only allowed Core thus why i am not using halfling feats and traits that would make things easier. Also I have looked thought the guides in the Guide to Guides thread. I tried a melee and a archer bard descried in Treantmonks guide to bards but i decided to go with my own bard build. with as close to a halfling origins as i can