Build help - Entry into the shadow dancer

[GureiKun]

Hey all, i'm building a shadow dancer for an upcomming game but since i start at level 1 i have five levels to play with. This is what i had in mind :

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aPCrQXnpqnZOpp1sb3A92RjiTB5dQcZpUU62HCJ 0b1U/edit?usp=sharing

Now before the 20d6 flaming comes in - i know bard could be regarded as a sub-optimal choice here! However its working as a way to up my will save, I want to keep investing in perform(dance) for fluff reasons so having it do some work for me via versatile performance appeals, and a couple of utility spells for random out of combat shenanigans can always be fun.

SO i'm keen to hear suggestions on bard alternatives, but i might not actually go with it even if the suggestion is a mechanically superior one.

With that said anything you'd recommend I do differently?
(i've read the guide on the shadow dancer on the guide to class guides)

[Imbicatus]

You are heavily multiclassing here for little benefit. You've got Ranger, Bard, and fighter levels before you even go into Shadowdancer.

I would pick one class and stick with it. If you have access to the ACG classes, Slayer is a great option for going into Shadowdancer. If not, then straight Lore Warder or straight Ranger will give you more than the three way multiclass you've got going on.

[GureiKun]

Nah we dont have access to ACG stuff. You're right it is a heavy multi class. I definitely want trap-finding though, so the only straight classes i can think of offhand are trapper(ranger) and Rogue/ninja.

Straight trapper for 5 levels would would grant a combat style feat, 2 favoured enemies, 1 favoured terrain, endurance, hunters bond, and basic traps that i wasn't intending using. I'd also mature the bonus from trapfinding by a couple of points.

Rogue/ninja i've not really looked at so much tbh. I do intend 2 handing a weapon (possibly a glaive-guisarme) and medium armour so i'm pretty sure i'd need to burn a feat on weapon proficiency and another on armour. Which considering i'm already on a feat treatmil to qualify for shadowdancer is a heavy tax, not insurmountable though. I'd also loose an aditional point of BAB.

Both of the above dont do much for my will bonus, and i'm without the satisfaction of using dance for anything other than... well dancing lol. But i can live with that last one.

I get that multiclassing is generally a bad call in pathfinder but without a nice "slam dunk" class for moving into shadow dancer i'm kind of left looking at the shadow dancer class stuff and pondering what would be fun to add to it/do till i get there.

[Imbicatus]

If you really want Trapfinding, I would go with either Urban Ranger or Archaeologist Bard. Urban Ranger is better than Trapper as you keep spellcasting. Archaeologist will give you better spellcasting, trapfinding, and archeologist luck. Just make sure you take lingering performance to triple your luck rounds.

[GureiKun]

Urban ranger could also access it, although dosn't the archeologist get "trap sense", which i dont think is strictly speaking the same thing?

[Imbicatus]

They get Clever Explorer, which is actually better than trapfinding.

Quote:

Clever Explorer (Ex)

At 2nd level, an archaeologist gains a bonus equal to half his class level on Disable Device and Perception checks. He can disable intricate and complex devices in half the normal amount of time (minimum 1 round) and open a lock as a standard action. At 6th level, an archaeologist can take 10 on Disable Device checks, even if distracted or endangered, and can disarm magical traps.

This ability replaces the versatile performance ability.

[GureiKun]

ach my bad xD

[Imbicatus]

Also, Clever Explorer is a bonus on ALL perceptions checks, not just perception checks to spot a trap.

[AndIMustMask]

two levels in lore warden fighter can cover a good deal or the prereq feat tax.