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You do not have Power Attack. This is a mistake on almost any melee character with sufficient Str for it. Arcane Strike isn't bad, but it's not nearly as good as Power Attack. This is particularly true if wielding a two-handed weapon, which you probably should (though weapon and shield isn't terrible or anything, just not as good). I mean, your AC will be pretty solid just due to Beast Totem and you've got Mirror Image as well.
Lingering Performance isn't all that useful to you, I wouldn't recommend taking it, personally. I mean, there's Saving Finale, but that's something you reactivate your Song next round because of, not take a whole Feat, IMO (especially since Skald's Vigor won't apply while it's lingering).
For mental stats, I'd drop Wis to 8 (you can afford it due to high Will Save, Raging song's bonus, and Versatile Performance) and get Cha to 16. -1 Will Save and Perception (which is basically all Wis gives you) aren't worth as much as +1 round of rage and +1 to all Cha skills (and getting to put yet more level-up[ points into Str).
Unless planning on using blasting spells (and your whole build seems to indicate you aren't...plus Skalds being bad blasters anyway), you should take the Fated Champion Archetype. If not using blasts, it just causes you to lose Well Versed for +1/2 level on Initiative, and Dirge of Doom for the ability to make yourself immune to fear (and give your allies a +5 against it) whenever you have Raging Song going. It's basically a straight upgrade, and pretty cool thematically too.
For skills, I'd put a rank in Stealth at some point, not that that'll make you great, but with, say, Invisibility Sphere it'll keep you from being the weak link. Depending on party makeup, maxing a Knowledge skill might also be more valuable than Spellcraft (it depends on if they have any Int casters and how many casters with maxed Spellcraft there are...and how many Knowlege skills are well covered).
As for spells, primarily go buffs and utility, not attack spells. Then buff and whack people with a weapon. Think of yourself as a warrior who spends a turn at the start of combat buffing more than a combat caster. It's pretty simple. Some recommendations:
1st: Alarm, Comprehend Languages, Cure Light Wounds, Feather Fall, Feather Step, Moment of Greatness, Saving Finale, Share Language (trust me, this and spells like it are a super good idea in this campaign), Undetectable Alignment (if you want),
2nd: Acute Senses, Bladed Dash, Glitterdust (reveals invisible foes even if they make the save), Heroism (worse than and redundant with Good Hope, but lasts longer), Invisibility, Mirror Image (TAKE THIS), Communal Share Language, Silence, Tongues, Whispering Wind,
3rd: Blink, Dispel Magic, Glibness (not as good since you lack Bluff, still might be handy), Flexible Fury (TAKE THIS...you can use it for Pounce, if you want), Mass Feather Step, Good Hope (TAKE THIS), Haste (TAKE THIS), Invisibility Sphere, Remove Curse, Communal Tongues,
4th: Break Enchantment, Dance of 100 Cuts, Dimension Door, Echolocation, Greater Invisibility, Neutralize Poison,
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I'm in the process of building a Skald as well! He's seeking to form the greatest band in the world to liberate people with his music.
I have a few questions for you:
First, are you wanting to fight primarily with a two-handed weapon or a sword and shield? If the former, I would opt for Power Attack over Arcane Strike. If the latter, I would lean towards Arcane Strike and then Riving Strike to put even more pressure on enemies and provide a nice debuff for your spellcasters to take advantage of. I'm starting out with a two-handed weapon and will see if I can survive. If I switch to shield, I'll use a buckler so I can still cast and hold a weapon.
Second, are you planning on giving your party Greater Beast Totem through your raging song? Looks like you are making the choice of giving your party claws, natural armor, and the pounce ability over saves against spells, extra damage against casters, and melee abilities to dispel magic. Either are potent, but I would go the first route if you have more melee types and the second route if you have more spellcasters.
Third, are you set on being human? If so, that's great. If not and you can pick up a cohort, then I would race to the feat Amplified Rage.
I'll add that a cheaper form of Lingering Performance exists in the trait Community-Minded. May not fit your background, but it looks super helpful. I'm also not sold on Improved Initiative in this build. Going first is wonderful, but isn't a must for this build. Perhaps your cleric can go first, cast a buff, and then accept your song. If you want a boost to initiative, I would second the suggestion of Fated Champion.
Keep us posted how your build works out and for those about to rock, we salute you!
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And dude for your first level spell list, what about grease? Isn't that kind of a staple spell? I am also working on cantrips but in an argument with someone about whether or not Ghost Sounds can make the sound of instruments playing a basic song. No lyrics, just instrumentals.
Grease is lovely, and if you were starting at level 1 I'd recommend it. But you're right about Save DCs since you aren't focusing on those. At 10th level, almost nothing is gonna reliably fail a 16, which is the best you can muster on a level 1 spell. It's maybe still worth it for terrain control, but only maybe (it takes a standard action to do, after all).
As for cantrips, yeah, I think Ghost Sound can manage instrumentals.
EDIT: Oh, and you can have Superstition + the Beast Totem line (at 12th, when you can have Greater Beast Totem at all). That seems like a good setup to give people. Witch Hunter and Spell Sunder are shiny, but bonus AC and Pounce are shinier, IMO.
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I have a Suggestion for a Build.
Skald 8/Dragon Disciple 2 (Shooting for 4 Levels here, 8 if you end up loving the Idea of becoming a dragon as a SLA and gaining lots of Inherent Bonuses...Never more than 8 Levels )
What you gain from 4-8 Levels of Dragon Disciple:
+4 to Str (Your melee just got so much better)
Natural Armor Increase (Ex): +3 (to be exact)
Resist Energy 5: (Your Choice. Must match Breath weapon)
Claws
Bite attack
Breath Weapon (Your Choice...Fire seems good tho for this Campaign)
4 levels of D12 Hit Dice.
Bonus Feat: 1 for 4 Levels
What you loose out of:
-1 CL
Gaining/advancing Skald Abilities for 4 Levels (But you can still take Extra Rage Powers. And after 4 Levels you can come back to Skald to Keep going.)
I recommend a Reach weapon. And going off some of your Choices here is the Build I recommend:
Race: Human
Trait: Transmuter- Cat's Grace (recovers the -1 CL for your Transmutations AND allows you to Extend a Cat's Grace on yourself.
Trait: Fate's Favored
25 Point buy
Str 14 (+2 human, +1 level 4, +1 level 8)
Dex 14
Con 14
Int 12
Wis 11
Cha 15
Feats:
H: Improved Initiative
1: Skald's Vigor
3: Combat Reflexes
5: Flag Bearer
7: Extra rage power Superstition
9: Extra rage power Witch hunter
10: (Dragon Bloodline): Power Attack
11: Extra Rage Power: Spell Sunder
13:
15: Extra Rage Power: Greater Beast Totem
Class rage powers:
3: Lesser beast totem
6: Beast totem
7: Superstition
9: Witch hunter
11: Spell Sunder
13:
15: Greater Beast Totem
16: (if you get here IDK if the campaign ends at 15 or not)
Spells:
o: Sift, Message, Detect Magic, Read Magic,
1: Saving Finale, Vanish, Feather Fall
2: Cat's Grace, Heroism, Mirror Image
3: Haste, Cure Serious Wounds, Good Hope
4: D. Door, Freedom of Movement
Item Suggestions:
+1 Furious Adamantine Reach Weapon
+1 Mithral Armor
Ring of Protection +1
Amulet of Natural Armor +1 (Enhancement to your +3 Natural armor..giving you +4)
Banner of the Ancient Kings
A raging song counts as the bard's bardic performance special ability for any effect that affects bardic performances.
Headband of Wisdom +2
Belt of Str +2 (or +4 if you can swing it)Cloak of Resistance +2
Jingasa of the Fortunate Solider
Luck stone
Circlet of Persuasion
Dusty rose Prism + Wayfinder (+1 Insight Bonus AC, +2 to CMB and CMD...You plan to sunder)
Cracked Dusty Rose Prism (Cheap bump to Initiative that adds up with Luck stone, Cat's Grace, Improved Initiative.)
Wands of Moment of Greatness (Flagbearer Fun here), Longstrider, Feather Step, Enlarge Person or Longarm, Cure Light Wounds
25 Point buy
Str 15 (+2 human, +1 level 4, +1 level 8)
Dex 14
Con 14
Int 12
Wis 11
Cha 14
This is the better distribution. Way better. CHA 15 is identical to 14, but higher STR will be relevant and a +1 to-hit / +1.5 damage half of your character levels.
Why do you suggest Banner of the Ancient Kings Fruian Thistlefoot? Just because it counts as bardic performance doesn't let you have inspire courage for the banner.
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You can't share Witch Hunter because you can't share the Pre-Req, so you'd want to swap Superstitious and Witch Hunter if you're going that way. I'm not a big fan of sharing Superstitious, but maybe it will work since your group is consistent. Rage is already limiting enough, losing friendly spells makes it a harder sell.
I totally missed/forgot that in my haste in replying. Taking that into consideration Perhaps a few changes:
Feats:
H: Improved Initiative
1: Skald's Vigor
3: Combat Reflexes
5: Flag Bearer
7: Extra Rage Power: Spell Sunder
9: Sunder (since your starting @ 10)
10: (Dragon Bloodline): Power Attack
11: Greater Skald's Vigor
13: Discordant Voice
15: Extra Rage Power: Greater Beast Totem
Class rage powers:
3: Lesser beast totem
6: Beast totem
7: Spell Sunder
13: Disruptive??? (This is kind of a Free spot to pick whats best for your group.)
15: Greater Beast Totem
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Why do you suggest Banner of the Ancient Kings Fruian Thistlefoot? Just because it counts as bardic performance doesn't let you have inspire courage for the banner.Because of the Raging Song benefiting from boosts that would effect bardic Performance. With the 4 level Dip into DD you would have the Inspired Rage go from +3 to +4. Which means the teams Will saves go up by the +1. At least that is my understanding of the tag line of
A raging song counts as the bard's bardic performance special ability for any effect that affects bardic performances.
If the AP goes into 16th level he would be Skald 12/DD 4 and could push Inspired rage to +5 (+6 str/con).
BUT there is a few other Benefits of the Banner:
As long as the longspear or pole to which the banner is attached is firmly wielded in two hands, its carrier gains a +4 circumstance bonus on Initiative checks. In addition, when so wielded, it grants the wielder and all allies within 30 feet a +2 resistance bonus on all saving throws against mind-affecting effects. ((If you wanna be budget...Banner+Heroism+Luckstone+Fate's Favored is +6 to your saves WITHOUT a cloak...then you could us the Shoulder lot for something else. Plus you still have your Rage Bonus to will saves...so your not doing bad at all.)) ((( Adding the Banner+ Imp. Imitative+ Cracked dusty Rose prism+cat's Grace+ Luckstone combo= +15 Initiative...going first is a thing.)))
If the banner’s carrier possesses the Flagbearer feat, the banner of the ancient kings doubles the morale bonuses granted by that feat. ((add in a Wand of Moment of Greatness and you have instant profit.))
The problem is that Banner boosts Inspire courage specifically, not Bardic Performances.
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Fruian, why do you have greater beast totem taken as a feat and a class level rage power?
Dragon disciple is okay, but it takes away time that could be used giving my party the Pounce ability.
Guru, but a 19 strength is the same as an 18 strength so why do that?
Cause I list it as gaining it as a feat then it becomes part of your rage powers list. Cause you wouldn't get another rage power naturally till 16th.
Pounce is a great ability.
two weapon ranger, a winter witch, a rogue that likes smoke bombs, an inquisitor, and a sorcerer.
The Ranger, His pet, the Rogue, and yourself will want the rage song. The inquisitor will sometimes want it and sometimes not depending on his build. The Witch and Sorcerer should NEVER be using the ability.
The decision to Dip DD is up to you. Do you want to boost your own combat prowess or focus more on boosting the other 3 maybe 4 characters who will then outshine you cause most people don't give credit where it is truly due.
I myself would rather just wait 4 levels for Pounce and gain a lot more benefits for myself since the group will benefit from you just being there already.
Its really the difference between Hammer/Arm verses Arm roles. I prefer the Hammer/Arm cause at least I'm doing more than performing and throwing down buffs.
But the decision is really up to you if a single rage power has so much to be desired then just straight Skald. Or DO your first 10 in Skald to get Greater beast totem then dip DD later after you grab pounce ability. Cause you could have it out the gate that way. Cause remember when you create a character at 10 or Retrain you can instantly qualify for Level 10 feats/powers. Its like Magus who retrains at level 2 and grabs dervish dance with the retrain.
Guru, but a 19 strength is the same as an 18 strength so why do that?
You get another stat raise at 12th level. They you'll be at base-STR 20.