So Here's the Build:
Level Advancement: Lore Warden 1, Archivist 2-6, Lore Warden 7, Archivist 8-20
Half Elf
Traits: Magical Knack??,Metamagic Master?? (Don't like Defensive Strategist)
Weapon: Bill (+1 shield bonus to AC when fighting defensively)
Armor: Chain Shirt
Favored Class Bonus: Add one spell known from the bard spell list. This spell must be at least one level below the highest spell level the bard can cast.
Feats
1: Skill Focus (Survival[Half Elf trait]), Power Attack (Bonus Feat), Extend Spell
3: Lingering Performance
5: Eldritch Heritage (Touch of Rage - Orc Bloodline)
7: Shield of Swings (Bonus Feat), Combat Expertise (Lore Warden), Echoing Spell
9: Quicken Spell
11: Discordant Voice
13: Improved Eldritch Heritage (Fearless)
15: Spell Perfection (??Summon Monster V or Shadowbard??)
17: Greater Eldritch Heritage (Power of Giants)
19: Improved Eldritch Heritage (Strength of Beast)
(Sadly no Arcane Strike since Strength of the Beast trumps it with regards to most things)
Spell List
Cantrips: Detect Magic, Ghost Sound, Mending, Message, Prestidigitation, Read Magic
1st: Comprehend Languages, Cure Light Wounds, Ear-Piercing Scream, Feather Fall, Grease, Moment of Greatness, Saving Finale, Touch of Gracelessness, Vanish/Silent Image
2nd: Blistering Invective, Cacophonous Call/Haunting Mists, Glitterdust, Invisibility, Mirror Image, Misdirection, Sound Burst, Tongues, Versatile Weapon
3rd: Arcane Concordance, Confusion, Dispel Magic, Reviving Finale/Displacement, Exquisite Accompaniment, Good Hope, Haste, Slow, Summon Monster III
4th: Dance of a Hundred Cuts, Dominate Person, Greater Invisibility, Sonic Thrust, Summon Monster IV, Virtuoso Performance/Shadow Conjuration, Wall of Sound
5th: Bard’s Escape, Cloak of Dreams, Greater Dispel Magic, Ki Shout, Shadowbard, Shadow Evocation, Summon Monster V
6th: Euphoric Tranquility, Hymn of Peace, Project Image, Summon Monster VI
Masterpieces:
The Dance of 23 Steps (Dance)
Symphony of the Elysian Heart (Keyboard, Wind)
Possibilities: The Canticle of Joy (Sing) & The Quickening Pulse (Percussion, Wind)
(Caveat: Paizo products only[no D&D or third party products], Our group uses the Standard method to determine ability scores)
After Spending a bit of time on this build and looking over every other bard type (If only "you" could say for certain whether of not a Dervish Dancer gave up inspire courage in lieu of its' battle dances) I find the class to be very underwhelming. From the mediocrity of its' buffs (which can be outdone by an Evangelist - Those sons of pig deflowering orcs stole "our" groove!!), to the fact that it only gets 3/5 the spells of a full spellcaster, makes me think this is a very sad/MAD class indeed. I must say, in their defense, that not much love has been given to the bard with respect to their feats.
As you can see, the only two bard-only feats I chose were Lingering Performance and Discordant Voice; with Spellsong/Harmonic Spells being decent possibilities as well. Whereas a witch, a newer class in all aspects of the game, has more class only feats than this standard class that was here since the core rulebook.... Anyways, that's enough griping for now. The crux of my problem is that besides the heavily self indulgent bards (sound striker, thundercaller, dervish dancers) that don't seem to fully realize the capabilities of their buffs, there doesn't seem to be a bard that can buff in a way that outstrips a full spellcaster. Does anyone disagree with this statement or is bard relegated to non-combat fluffery that anyone could do with a smooth tongue and a sharp wit without rolling a d20?
PS I've played a 3/5 casters before and quite liked it (magus), even to the point where I thought the class overpowered.
