Build discussion - Kitsune Fox Shape melee

[Jondera]

OK. I know it's a horrible idea, but I find the idea entertaining, and my inner optimizer is tickled by the challenge.

So, I want to create a Kitsune build that meets the following criteria:

1) Is PFS legal
2) Remains in Fox Shape almost all the time
3) Is capable of contributing meaningfully in melee combat

I've got a couple different ideas mostly-formed, not entirely sure which one will prove most practical in the long run, though.

So, without further adieu:

Build 1:

Kitsune Slayer
Str: 10 Dex: 18 Con: 12 Int: 12 Wis: 12 Cha: 14

Level 1: Weapon Finesse
Level 2: Slayer talent: Rogue Talent: Fast Stealth
Level 3: Fox Shape, Sneak Attack +1d6
Level 4: Slayer Talent: Ranger Combat Style: Natural Weapon: Aspect of the Beast (2x Claws)
Level 5: Shadow Strike
Level 6: Slayer Talent: RCS: Natural Weapon: Eldritch Claws, Sneak Attack +2d6
Level 7: Lunge
Level 8: Slayer Talent: Rogue Talent: Combat Trick: Multiattack
Level 9: Swift Kitsune Shapechanger, Sneak Attack +3d6
Level 10: Slayer Talent: Rogue Talent: Combat Trick: Vulpine Pounce
Level 11: (???)
Level 12: Slayer Talent: Either Evasion or Assassinate. *shrug* Also Sneak Attack +4d6

Thoughts: Focuses more on multiattack and getting several hits in per turn with less damage per hit. Needs an Amulet of Mighty Fists with Agile ASAP (~level 4 at the earliest, probably).

Prior to level 7, sneak attacks rely heavily on stealth. Stealth rules state that when fighting an enemy two sizes larger than you are and sharing a space with them, you can hide from them using their own body as cover, taking only a -20 penalty; with the size bonus for being tiny, dex 22+, full ranks, and a cloak of elvenkind, that's nominally possible.

That said, I'm not entirely clear on whether restealthing under those circumstances requires an action or not - if it follows the same rules as sniping, then it's a move action, and I can only make one attack per round (which is why the feat progression puts Multiattack after Lunge; since I'll only be using my Bite up until I can benefit from flanks). If it's a free action or not an action, then I can full attack and restealth, in which case I would move Multiattack up to level 5 and drop Shadow Strike and Lunge down to 7 and 8, respectively.

Build 2:

Kitsune Unchained Rogue
Str: 10 Dex: 18 Con: 12 Int: 12 Wis: 12 Cha: 14

Level 1: Finesse Training, (???), Sneak Attack +1d6
Level 2: Rogue Talent: Fast Stealth
Level 3: Finesse Training: Bite, (???), Sneak Attack +2d6
Level 4: Rogue Talent: Surprise Attack
Level 5: Fox Shape, Sneak Attack +3d6
Level 6: Rogue Talent: Slow Reactions

Thoughts: Not entirely sure if there's much more to this one; obviously, continuing to boost Sneak Attack damage is good, but unlike the Slayer build, this one is mostly just one attack per round, hitting as hard as possible. With Finesse Training, I don't need to rely on an Agile Amulet of Mighty Fists to get Dex to damage - downside though is I can't get it on more than one attack type until level 11+. I'm unsure about Piranha Strike; the damage bonus would help, but the attack penalty might be problematic, since I won't have much in the way of enhancement bonuses on my attacks. Of course, I also get a size bonus to hit, so that will balance it somewhat.

Tactics for this are the same "Attack from stealth, hide in enemy's square using them for cover with -20 penalty" as outlined above, except with only one attack per round, I don't have to worry about balancing multiattack and lunge.

Featwise... I'm tempted to throw a whole bunch of feats in this build at Magic Tail, because the actual combat end of things can mostly be covered by unchained rogue class abilities, so getting a whole bunch of SLAs could be fun. As an Unchained Rogue, I don't need Shadow Strike. I'm unsure about going for Vulpine Pounce - it would come online shortly after I'd be getting iterative attacks, but I'm not sure a two feat investment for one extra attack on a charge (and only on a charge) is really worth it in this case.

Could theoretically splash 2 levels of ranger at 11 and 12 to pick up Aspect of the Beast just in time to take Claws as my second Finesse Training weapon (and Multiattack) at 13, but that's getting high enough that it's out of PFS play range. In this case, Vulpine Pounce would be more worthwhile, but not sure it would really see play.

Possible further builds that I haven't thoroughly examined yet:

Ninja; unsure if there's any way to get dex to damage other than the Agile AoMF, but I'm given to understand there's easy invisibility and some other useful stuff here. Something to consider.

Mesmerist, maybe? Could fit well with the whole trickster & illusionist role of kitsune without needing Tail feats, and could probably get decent damage leveraging Painful Stare.

Other things? Maybe?

[BadBird]

Combat as a tiny animal with a reach of 0ft. is going to be interesting...

[Firebug]

My Kitsune went mostly Occultist, with 1 level of Mouser Swashbuckler because if you are going to be tiny anyway, you might as well give the penalties for being up in their business.

Occultist was nice, because you get the magical feel, tricks and versatility with a bunch of self buffing and can cast just fine as a fox because there are no somatic or verbal components. You may have to have someone attach your focus items to your collar or something, though. Communication was difficult for a while, but you can get around that by using a wand of beastspeak or having a familiar/sha'ir companion translate.

I had taken 2 levels of Urban Barbarian for Rage Claws early on, but eventually swapped that out for a single level of Sacred Fist Warpriest. Wisdom to AC, blessings, improved unarmed strike for iteratives and flurry (tail slam). Daikitsu is the god of Kitsune and has Animal, Artifice, Community, Plant and Weather domains. I had taken the Artifice and Plant blessings because who doesn't want to ignore hardness and dig your way through a wall several times per day, and the swift action entangle after a hit seemed useful even at a low DC.

Edit: As a tiny creature you always provoke for entering an opponents space (except for the mouser ability, and a few others), so expect to be attacked a good amount, high Con is useful.

[Kaboogy]

Your first build isn't PFS legal. Multiattack isn't legal for play, except through ranger combat styles (and the slayer talents). Which means you need to push it to level 10.
Another idea, although it doesn't fit comfortably into the number of feats in PFS, is monkey style. Only monkey shine is relevant, and you can only get it at 11, but it's a hell of a bonus, if you have a monk level in your build that is. The combination of monkey shine and a level in mouser swashbuckler is pretty nasty. Look up the songbird of doom for inspiration.