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So I have been working on building an Oracle for Pathfinder Society play. I have played 1 game as a Battle Oracle, Also have been looking at Metal and Wood. With metal and wood I have noticed I would spend rounds summoning weapons or armor. Also if I rely on buffs I am spending rounds on that. I also notice that I am suffering as an Oracle on BAB. Can anyone suggest anything that might help Min Max a Combat focused Oracle. I do realize I will sacrifice for the nature of the Oracle class just trying to minimize as much as possible. Thanks in advance for assistance with this.
I like the Wood mystery for melee. It's pretty straight-forward:
Wood Armor is hourly, so you shouldn't be donning it during a fight unless you were caught with your pants down overnight or something. During the adventuring day, you should spend an hour at the first sign of anything fishy. People often like to play an Aasimar (elf will do, but isn't ideal) and drop the favored points into Wood Armor for advanced AC progression. Either way, with Barkskin and Magic Vestment up your AC should be terrific.
Wood Weapon is a little trickier, I'll agree, and really only gets good at mid-late levels. It may not even fully pay off in PFS. Early in your career you probably just want to carry a regular q-staff and buff it with Shillelagh if you know a fight is about to go down. However, know that as a melee character you'll often have a round or two to kill while the cowardly archers and squishy spellcasters lob their garbage at each other. Having good scouting is key for powers like this, so you'll know when to prep it. If done right, it can save you a lot of cash on magic weapons. Maybe pick this up at 7th or earlier with Extra Revelation? While you're playing without it, during each encounter think about when you would summon a weapon and count the number of times you'd have the standard action to spare.
Wood Bond is what will make up the difference between your 3/4 BAB and a full BAB. You won't get the extra attacks, but that's okay: It's basically a scaling Weapon Focus (any kind of wooden weapon) and that's pretty great.
Thorn Burst ain't too bad, either. The damage is pretty weak, but it has two things going for it: it's a swift action, and the caltrop effect may deter movement.
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I have two friends that play Battle Oracles. They are very powerful choices and are very durable. You just have to focus on what you really need.
There's nothing wrong with Metal or Wood. They can make great melee characters too. I think it's easier to do well with the Battle mystery though.
If you take the Fate's Favored Trait, you can keep pace with full-BAB characters easily. Don't give in to the temptation to buff more than once in a given combat. It's wasteful when considering action economy.
Think about Divine Favor as your 'combat spell' and use the rest of your spells known to solve problems, remove conditions, or for emergency cures/rescues. If there's a lull in a combat, throw up a Prayer or something like that.
I don't suggest archery, as you don't really get enough feats to make it really shine.
Just grab your favorite two-handed weapon, heavy armor, Divine Favor and go for it.