when making a single-classed arcane spellcaster who can cast spells while wearing armor without the use of still spell, the following would be helpful:
feats- light armor proficiency, medium armor proficiency, heavy armor proficiency, arcane armor training, arcane armor mastery.
traits- armor expert.
what else would help such a character?
Being a Magus?
Or a bard. There is also a prestige class for wizards
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/other-paizo/e-h/hellknight -signifer
This isnt a concept that has been explored much in pathfinder.
Bard and Magus can both cast and wear armor, but it isnt advisable to go with anything heavier then light. Arcane armor training is a punishing feat line but it does get the job halfway done.
There are prestige classes in 3.5 that will let you don heavy armor as an arcane caster, at heavy loss in your casting ability.
Spellsword (Complete Warrior) does the trick, to transfer it over from 3.5 to pathfinder drop the Knowledge (Arcana) requirement to 3 ranks instead of 6, and to update the class to Pathfinder power standards you might add a clause to the Channel spell ability that victims of a channeled spell arent allowed reflex saves even if the channeled spell usually allows them. Finally, gaining a second bonus feat at 5th level and a third at 9th will round out the caster level penalty.
You might want to note that the arcane spell failure reduction ought to stack with Arcane armor training.
actually, i was thinking sorcerer or wizard.
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If you're staying single class wizard, pick up Craft Magic Arms and Armor for your armor.
Endurance feat. Sleep in up to medium armor.
Elven chain (20% ASF) or mithral breastplate (25% ASF). Not sure if there are other materials or items that offset ASF (especially if you are going to wear heavy armor).
If you ever expect to wield a weapon, pick up the Arcane Strike feat.
If you can afford to multiclass, take a level of fighter and then Eldritch Knight prestige class. Offset the lost caster levels with the Magical Knack trait.
Single classed wizards and sorcerers are not supposed to be casting spells in armor, especially heavy armor. If you want to blend magic and fighting than you should be playing a class that does this. You are going to have to trade off something to achieve this. If all you want is a little bit of extra protection without having to pay through the nose for it look at some of the light armor. Silken Ceremonial armor only gives a +1 AC, but has no armor check penalty, or arcane spell failure. A wizard or sorcerer could wear this armor with no penalties or spell failure even without having proficiency in any armor. Technically you take a -0 penalty on skills and attack rolls, but the net result is no effect. This armor can be enchanted like any other armor so is much cheaper than bracers of armor. +2 Bracers cost 4,000 GP, +1 silken ceremonial armor which gives the same AC costs 1,180 GP.
depending on what type of caster you want to be, you might be able to build as a divine caster instead... a flame or lore oracle could seem a lot like an arcane caster with the right spell selection, and I'm not super familiar with the shaman but I'm guessing they could too depending on what spirits they're using.
somewhere in a thread (or two) on this forum there's a list of arcane spells that have no somatic components... those spells naturally have no ASF% so they're really handy to bear in mind.
Using wands and staves will bypass ASF entirely.
If you just want to look as if you're wearing armor and actually get your defence in some way which is more practical for a wizard, mock armor is a thing.
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I'm sort of in the same boat, I want a caster that can wear armor Light or Med, but have full casting under the wizard progression.
Edit: I understand that light armor proficiency & arcane armor training, can be 2 feats taken at first level but would taking Metamagic Master & Still spell be worth it instead?
One level of fighter(opens up feat options since you get light, medium, and heavy armor for free) or 2 of paladin(for Divine Grave) and the rest of your levels as a Psychic Bloodline sorcerer and you won't need Arcane Armor Training at all.
The Shielded Mage feat from Armor Master's Handbook lets you reduce the Arcane Spell Failure chance by 15%.
You may also want to look into the Armored Battlemage archetype from the same book.
One exploit you can pull as early as 1st level is to wear the combination of either a Haramaki or a Silken Ceremonial Robe with an Armored Kilt. That combination gives you an armor bonus of +2 (plus any enhancement bonus on the Haramaki or Silken Ceremonial Robe) and has a total arcane spell failure chance of zero but counts as medium armor, meaning that you are slowed down a bit.
Also, you are most likely not proficient with medium armor, which means that you suffer the full armor check penalty of this armor combination for all attack rolls. Fortunately, that armor check penalty is also zero.
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what else would help such a character?
Realizing you are a mighty wizard and wielder of awesome magics and don't need to depend on something as mundane as a metal suit to keep you safe.
Seriously, the feats and actions you invest on making this work are far better spent elsewhere.
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Pick spells without somatic components. Divination is a great choice with illusion coming next.
Get spell storing armor, weapon, and rings. Cast somatc spells into them.
Just get still spell, you have a ton of bonus feats and it will help fill your specialist spell slots.
Use an armored coat at low levels, move action to take off/put on.
Skip the Prof feats if you don't plan on making attacks.
This is still a wizard, so it will be awesome.
Edit:if you change your mind on still spell, there are two traits to off set the penalty for a spell each.
there is an advanced spell search option on pfsrd.