Melee Archaeologist Bard Build

[Cathulhu]

20 point buy, Half Elf Bard

STR 15 (17)
DEX 14
CON 14
INT 12
WIS 07
CHA 14

traits:
Fate's Favored
Maestro of the Society

Half-Elf Options:
Dual Minded (+2 Will, Replaces Adaptability)
Favored Class Bonus (bard): +1 round of Performance/level

1 Power Attack
3 Lingering Performance
5 Weapon Focus: Longsword
7 ???
9 Imp. Critical: Longsword
11 Toughness

Rogue Talents:
4 Combat trick: Arcane Strike
8 Resiliency
12 Skill Mastery

Equipment: Chainshirt> Elven Chainmail, Longsword, Buckler/Heavy Shield, Shortbow,

What should i do for my free feat? Any tweaks to make the build better? Any suggestions?

Thanks Everyone!

[proftobe]

1.You can't take PA at first level you have to have a +1 BAB to qualify. Instead move arcane strike to your first level feat and move PA to your bonus feat if you need it
2 IMO dont dump wis so low. a 10 int is perfectly fine as is 6 skill points/level. Also lower your str to 14 (16) afterwards it has no impact before 4th level and soon after you should be getting/crafting your attribute gear. It can also opens up adapatable which you can then trade in for an exotic weapon: I'd suggest the falcata. If you went that route
3 instead of weapon focus I suggest either craft arms and armor or wondrous items. Either can get you a +1 to hit for a lot less than a feat
4 I'd also take toughness a LOT earlier maybe even wait on PA until the toughness slot. You should be doing respectable bard level DPR without it especially with your luck bonus and arcane strike.

[Matthew Morris]

Instead of dump wisdom and taking dual minded, why not take ancestral arms and falcata?

(yes it's threadomancy)

[Magda Luckbender]

You might consider using a reach weapon. You are proficient with the longspear. Your damage output will likely be more than double what it would be with the Longsword. Here's why. Here's a bard who speaks from experience on this topic (level 1 - 15).

[Renegadeshepherd]

I'm not sure i c what ur aiming for with this build. For a power attack character 18 is the sweet spot for two handed weapons which long sword can be used as for that extra +1 to hit and +2 damage over 17. If u want power attack as combat trick that would be fine if u boost from 17 to 18 at level 4. BUT if u did that there goes buckler/shield.

That brings me to ur 14 dex. I'm not sure why u want a 14 as u do so little with it. I personally would rather c more INT or wisdom back to 10 LONG before a 14 in dex based on power attack.

And power attack confuses me as well...

What is the character trying to do? He is a squishy long sword fighter with low AC. He is not a skill monkey by the standards of bard, rogue, inquisitor (only bardic knowledge makes him viable). And as a caster the bard list is average. He has disable trap abilities but I think u can do better. I'm just not sure what ur aiming for. U seem to be aiming for a modest skill monkey that brings death with a long sword.

If that's the case is say go get an inquisitor whose deity gives u a long sword proficiency and use bane and judgements instead of commiting 2 feats and a trait to do what the inquisitor still does better.