I want some advice! I have a few Bard concepts I am mulling over currently. Each concept is based on a high Dexterity build out of the Archaeologist archetype.
1) Archer Bard: Point Blank Shot Feat Chain
2) Whip Bard: Whip Mastery Feat Chain
3) Dervish Dance Bard: 'Nuff Said
4) Two-Weapon Fighting Bard: 'Nuff Said
Not sure where to go.
Hmmm...archer and TWF seem like they are strong contenders, since their large number of hits means you get more out of your luck bonuses to damage. Also, any penalties you might incur will not be so much of a problem with the bonuses to attack. I mean, heck, with fate's favored, you will probably hit as well as a similarly stated fighter using power attack (and that is your TWF against his...not).
Interesting thought on a TWF build though: you could actually go for a strength build on a 20 point buy...if skill points are not that important. A slight hit to wis too... but it is one of your good saves, and you bet massive save bonuses. Here is an example (let's assume a human, since floating ability score and the skill point that helps ease the pain of skills):
STR: 16(14) DEX: 16 CON: 14 INT: 7 WIS: 9 CHA: 14
The strength and dex could be switched if you want a race that gives a bonus to DEX instead. The point is that you only need 16 base DEX to pull off a good TWF build, particularly as a 3/4 BAB class. Adding to it with your level 4 ability score increase brings you to 17 DEX, which covers all the TWF feats that you would really want anyway. And the ability to focus on strength ease things a lot though.
I'm currently playing an Archaeologist (just hit lvl 8) following the Whip Mastery line. It's pretty fun, but you need a solid front liner with Combat Reflexes to take advantage of all the AoO you will generate, tripping and disarming everything in a 20' radius.
One great thing about the Whip Mastery line is that you don't really need to invest in Improved Trip or Disarm, since everything you do maneuvers on will be at reach. A few levels dip of Fighter (I chose Lore Warden) will also go a long way, boosting your BAB, and getting a few extra feats to get your build online faster.
Just make sure that you take Lingering Performance, and the Trait Fate's Favored. These are pretty much required for any Archaeologist build.
Oh, of course the lingering favored...thing. It means you get a +2 to attack and damage for pretty much all day. With a modest CHA of 14, you get 6 base rounds per day, which means 18 effective rounds. And if that isn't enough, you could easily grab extra performance too to double that amount.
Overall, you will just plain make your party barbarian jealous.
Also-yeah, I know this is all common sense for archaeologist builds. But hey, always good to throw these things out there to help spread the word.
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I played a Dervish Dancer archaeologist bard in PFS, half-elf for a scimitar proficiency and the favored class bonus of bonus performance rounds, and enjoyed myself tremendously.
It's a very quick and simple way to get decent combat effectiveness, so that you can use the rest of your feats for whatever you desire.