Help finishing a Dwarf Bard

[SometimesCrumb]

I know it's not really optimal to play a Dwarven Bard, but I'm going to give it a go, and I need some help if you'd be so kind.
I am joining a group that is around level 9-10 in the next couple weeks and not super sure on group composition, but I'm building to 10, I can easily cut back a level if need be. I'm going to try for a melee bard, singing/telling drinking songs/stories for inspiration.. not going to be very dexterous, because... he's a dwarf :P
Anyway, here's what I've got so far: 25 pt buy with racial mods
STR 16
DEX 12
CON 16
INT 13
WIS 10
CHR 13 (+2 level 4/8 stat boosts)

L1 - Lingering Performance (will probably retrain out of this once I have sufficient rounds, any suggestions)
L3 - Weapon Focus (battleaxe)
L5 - Arcane Strike
L7 - Intimidating Performance
L9 - ???
L11 - Discordant Voice

not sure on traits
Diety - Cayden Cailean

alternatively I'm thinking of adding 2 levels of Fighter
not sure exactly what the group
What do you think? am I missing anything?
is this going to be completely useless as I've built him? any must have gear?

any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.

[Blave]

Somethoughts (in no real order):

• Don't multiclass to fighter. It's not worth it.
  
• You probably won't need lingering performance if you start out at level 10.
  
• Don't play a strength melee build without Power Attack.
  
• Consider taking one of the combat-ish Archetypes like Arcane Duelist. Core bard is not that great at melee.
  
• Intimidating Performance seems like a bad feat. You really have nothing better to do with your standard action than to demoralize one foe? At level 7+ as a caster/melee-hybrid...? If you want to make a foe shaken (to set up a save-or-suck spell from another party member or something like that) just use Dirge of Doom.
  
• If you have a spare feat, get Steel Soul.
  
• Do something about your low AC. Mirror image is nice but won't last long against enemies with 2+ attacks at level 10+. I'd probably wield a shield. You have plenty of damage sources that don't care about two-handing your weapon.
  
• Traits: Something to improve your Fort-Save is probably a good idea.
  
• Your attributes are all over the place. You don't need Int 13 or Cha 15 on a melee bard. I'd go with 16 / 12 / 16 / 10 / 10 /14 and put all increases into Strength. Get a +2 headband for Charisma and be done with it.
  
• 20 ft movement can get extremely annoying for a melee character. Buy boots of striding and springing.
  
• If you want to use a battleaxe, go for it. However, I personally prefer Rapier or Longsword for a Bard. A dwarf with a Rapier probably looks funny, but it's reasonable if Cayden is your diety.

[Cavall]

My friend made a Dwarven skald for my skull and Shackles. A natural captain and leader, yes the penalty to charisma wasn't great, but he was a buffer so saves were less important.

He enjoyed the slow build to wear heavy armour made of mithril with no penalties thanks to the skalds favoured bonus, making it really a big reward. It also gave him a long hammer.

He focused on celestial rage powers and lesser path of glory.

Does a dwarf bard work just as well? Well, honestly maybe not AS well but so long as the focus is on buffs then as I pointed out the saves aren't as important.

I do like the court bard archtype myself. It's a huge was to boost the group as its essentially giving AC and DR to the party in a penalty to the enemy. With no saves and a built in penalty to fear effects you may enjoy that.

Take a look at the Skald first if you've got a few strength based companions. If not then a fear based court bard would be fun, and if not that just really focus on spells that don't need many saves.

[avr]

If you want to intimidate people then Cornugon Smash is more action-economy friendly than Intimidating Performance. Also the spell Blistering Invective can completely replace Intimidating Performance, and it's not even a good spell!

You might like the Encouraging Spell metamagic feat.

[Sir Thugsalot]

10th level? ...shoot, just be a gnome or halfling bard (optimized all to heck) who simply enjoys tromping around with some illusions up. Act like the crappiest dwarf scald ever, but pull your weight (miraculously making most ref saves, etc.) and more.

[Bomanz]

I mirror the Skald suggestion, they are just so much better than a standard Bard and frankly, I'm a Bard enthusiast.

[ChaiGuy]

The skald works better for a dwarf, primarily since they can cast in medium armor, which is good when you have a 12 dex. An arcane duelist can cast in medium armor at lv 10, which could help if you want to stay bard, they get arcane strike too, freeing up a feat, but limiting their skill focus. They also get a bonded object, their weapon which helps get more magic per day.

[Purplefixer]

Flag bearer flag bearer flag bearer flag bearer...
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/flagbearer-local

+

Banner of Ancient Kings
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/a-b/banne r-of-the-ancient-kings

Breaks bard outright no matter what kind. You're limited to verbal performance (oratory, comedy, song) and a one handed weapon, but you can easily contribute by adding sonic damage to your parties weapons while you perform, and using a one-handed weapon such as a hand-axe with arcane strike. I actually advise a light pick. Highly under-used and literally the ideal weapon for breaking through walls and stone doors, inherently ignoring the hardness of stone. Plus a coup de' grace with a pick is wild.

[Dastis]

For bard RP may I suggest perform(oratory(ancestral stories))

Definitely need to go into one of the combat bard archetypes

Power attack is a must

Rather than boosting cha with ability advancement buy a headband

[Pounce]

As mentioned upthread, maybe consider the Arcane Duelist or Chelish Diva archetypes, gaining medium/heavy armor proficiency would help keep your AC up with your low-ish dex without relying on Mirror Image every single fight to keep you from kicking the bucket. A special shoutout to the Diva for getting Heavy Armor Prof at level 11, which shouldn't be too long of a wait. Medium/Heavy Armor works quite well with Slow and Steady anyway.

Another way to keep your AC up would be to get Quick Draw together with a Quickdraw Shield and a one-handed weapon, so you can two-hand your weapon on your turn when you attack, getting 1,5x Strength and Power Attack damage, and then draw your shield as a free action when you're done attacking.

Seconding the suggestion of going 16 / 12 / 16 / 10 / 10 / 14 with your point buy.

For extra style points to go with your battleaxe focus you could consider getting a fancy lute.

Also, you could save yourself a feat by getting an advanced versatile performance at level 6, netting you Weapon Focus (Battleaxe) if you choose Versatile Performance (String) at level 2.

Maybe a feat order like this?

L1: Steel Soul
L3: Power Attack
L5: Arcane Strike
L6B: Weapon Focus (Battleaxe)
L7: Cornugon Smash
L9: Quick Draw
L11: Discordant Voice

Alternatively, you could also work Riving Strike in there if you really want to be a debuffer. Best of luck!

[Grumbaki]

I'd vote for going Skald, and making him into a grudge keeper.

Keep a big book on his back, filled with every grudge made against his people and the party. Each one written in his own blood, and only crossed out when the grudge has been avenged.

When he reads out the grudges within the book, he magically infuses his allies with righteous anger against those who have wronged them.

Think this:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/9a/2f/38/9a2f3861ad79114ecc73bb09 0bb6c3f8.jpg

Other bards are effeminate elves and whatnot, prancing around and dancing. You are a dwarf. You have anger in your heart, an axe in your hand, and the broken bodies of your foes at your feet.

-------

Inspired Rage (Unfulfilled Grudges)
Song of Marching (Tales of long struggles that fulfilled grudges)
Song of Strength (Tales of battles that fulfilled grudges)
Dirge of Doom (Tales of how villains vainly tried to flee justice and failed)
Song of the Fallen (Reminding allies about how if they die now, then their enemies won't!)

All of it is really dwarven.

[SometimesCrumb]

want to thank you all for the feedback
took a harder look at the skald but ended up going with the Arcane Duelist, fixed my stats and feats and added FlagBearer/Banner of the Ancient Kings combo for some fun and now I think I have a decent little Bard to play.

[Cavall]

That will make for a fun character. You really can't go wrong with a bard.

Just make sure to perhaps avoid immediate or swift cast spells as you'll be using arcane strike a lot, and that takes a swift action.

Hope you have a blast.

I've often found chord of shards to be an amazing level one spell for bards. 2d6 damage means an almost instant kill on most enemies at lower levels, and you can trade it out later. It's 15 feet cone AOE and zero damage on a save.

[lemeres]

finishing a dwarf beard?

A proper beard must be approximately 3/4 of your height (so 3 feet for the average dwarf), and must be generously peppered with crumbles and bits as meat, before allwoed to ferment by dousing it in the mead that spills while you drink in order to attain the true essence of...

...wait...bard? bArd? Oh....oh. Never mind then.