PFS-Styled Build (Best in Core)

[The Genie]

Ok so this is not actually for PFS but I do wanna use its rules as a restriction on what I can or cannot do.

Races open are all open to PFS without a boon
Classes open are all open to PFS without a boon (If they have class boons?)

Starting level is 5.

I want a character who goes against his races normal sterotype (No this is not special snowflake status) I want a character who is not easily defined as *Insert Race here*

The character will be CN dipping CG and CE when the need arises.

As for a class I want a class that can handle virtually any situation well, does not have to be the best at every situation but a good grasp on virtually every situation that might come up.

Strongly leaning on a Bard, if someone can make an Uber Bard within the restrictions of PFS I would love to see it.

[Iterman]

Level Advancement: Lore Warden 1, Archivist 2-6, Lore Warden 7, Archivist 8-20
Half Elf
Traits: Magical Knack, Metamagic Master

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)

Not your typical bard; this one specializes in taking the hits while providing enough support to keep everyone happy (masterpieces: dance of 23 steps & symphony of the elysian heart). Or, if your 're tired of tanking you can start hitting things with a power attack reach weapon that should have a +10 strength, increased size damage, +1d6 behind it from your feats alone. Lastly, spell perfection allows some nice action economy and increased spell slots with quicken and echoing metamagics.

[Iterman]

Or you could go with a more standard bow wielder with either the sound strike archetype or the arcane duelist.

[EvilPaladin]

Well, if you will be playing in a fashion common to your typical PFS scenario(as far as content, not play base), then the Improvisation line for humans might be worth pursuing. In a lot of PFS scenarios there is a random skill check you need to make, and having that +4 bonus can help, along with saving you from needing to put ranks in the lesser knowledges. I'd probably do something like this

Handy the Bard:

Human Bard 5
Str10
Dex14
Con14
Int14(13+1level)
Wis12
Cha16

Feats:
1Fast Learner
1Improvisation
3Improved Improvisation
5Lingering Performance

Class Features:
Bardic Performance 15/day
*Inspire Courage+2
*Inspire Competence+2
*Countersong
*Fascinate
*Distraction
Bardic Knowledge+2
Versatile Performance(Dance)
Well Versed
Lore Master

Skills:
Perform(Dance)+11
Diplomacy+11
Use Magic Device+11
Knowledge Arcana+12
Knowledge Planes+12
Perception+9
Spellcraft+10
Knowledge Nature+12
Knowledge Local+12
Knowledge Dungeoneering+12

Spells Known:
0:Light
0:Detect Magic
0:Read Magic
0:Dancing Lights
0:Prestidigitation
0:Spark
1:Grease
1:Cure Light Wounds
1:Heightened Awareness
1:Comprehend Languages
2:Heroism
2:Glitterdust
2:Invisibility

Attacks:
MWK Shortbow +6(1d6)
Cestus +3(1d4)
MWK Longspear +4(1d8)

Tactics:
In combat, try to buff allies with performance and spells, throw out debuffs/control spells like Grease, and move to flank allies with your longspear(or shoot far away enemies).

Out of Combat, you can make every skill check at a decent bonus, all knowledges you don't have trained have a +8, you can make any obscure craft or profession check with a better bonus than most, and you are a good party face to boot.

[Protoman]

People have been liking half-orc investigators empiricist recently. Low Charisma but use Student of Philosophy to negate the penalty somewhat and potentially be one of the most intelligent, versatile, and articulate members of the party.

[Fruian Thistlefoot]

fake it till you make it bard
This is the start of my theory crafting

Basically at level 5 you have just about every skill in the game you would want. You use pageant of the peacock to make Int checks with bluff skill. Means you make wizards look like they are in special ed classes compared to your knowledge skills.

As for combat...well you just prefer not to get your hands dirty. But if you want you can get a wand or scorching or abmonishing ray. Bardic performance works on ray spells.

You also can face better then most. You have over 13 skills. You can control the battlefield. Enchantments are great as well.

You can take the core and apply it to a kitsune or some other race.

From playing it I can say this character shines bright....just combat abilities are lower then most...but your team mates combat just got better turning sub par into par. Make optimized combat characters go above and beyond. Remember it IS a team game. You cant do everything but you can come close to it.

[Markov Spiked Chain]

If you're thinking about Bard for versatility, consider Skald from the ACG as well. Rage Song makes you a bit more martially focus, but you've got the same casting as a bard, can take most masterpieces, etc. Spell Kenning is great for "handle virtually any situation" 1/day.

Fated Champion is a pretty good default archetype.

[Fruian Thistlefoot]

The issue with rage song is typically most people dont want it. Cutting off mental skills, casting, -1 ac tends to turn most people off. Sure the skald wants it but not many others at the table. Some already can rage. Also it is 2 less skill points

[Zach Klopfleisch]

Depending on your group, you could go with Inquisitor for a more direct approach to combat instead of the Bard's more supportive approach: You're starting out when Inquisitors get Bane, which vaults them up to the front of the class when it comes to combat.

You've got fewer skills than a Bard, but a ton of useful skills. You've got adaptable teamwork feats for just the right thing in this situation. You can take Conversion Inquisition to be almost as good a face as a Bard while dumping Cha, or another inquisition or domain to further improve your combat abilities. Dwarven Inquisitors can be among the sturdiest possible characters with amazing saves and excellent armor classes while still blowing things up, or half orc Inquisitors can blow things up like a Barbarian while still having knowledge skills comparable to a Wizard and social skills like a Paladin.

Going off-type, you could worship Cayden Cailean and focus on the Bill and Ted-style "be excellent to each other" side of his worship rather than the bro-style "let's all get drunk and partay" part. A dwarf who totes around a rapier and says things like "Remember, it's not about the drinking, it's about feeling comfortable enough with yourself to be awesome to everyone else!" isn't something you see every day. Likewise, I doubt you've run into many half orcs who fight with a falchion but are the party face and mainly focus on making sure the unpopular are still included and have fun, and occasionally protecting the weak.

[Cap. Darling]

A Dwarf wizard. Dwarfs are mostly lawfull so that will solve the going against race stereotype. Wizards can be good in any situation. Student of philisophy can even make you a decent backup face.