Looking for general input and suggestions on a build, which started with the question "Can I make an numerically viable, and thematically fun, character out of the not very good (Aldori) Swordlord fighter Archetype?" The following is what I came up with; it takes advantage (via Racial Heritage) of the Halfling's defensive fighting feats.
Human
20-pt buy
Str 19
Dex 14
Con 14
Int 7
Wis 14
Cha 7
25-pt buy
Str 19
Dex 16
Con 14
Int 7
Wis 14
Cha 7
2 skills each level of Fighter (min one from class, one from human): Acrobatics and Perception (both of which will be class skills from Monk). At levels of monk, one more skill point; doesn't matter much what to choose; maybe one rank in Swim for a +4, just because drowning is lame.
Uses a dueling sword, which can be treated like a longsword when you don't have Exotic Weapon Proficiency
Traits:
* Defender of the Society (+1 AC in medium or heavy armor).
* IF allowed by DM: Sword Scion (+1 trait bonus to attacks and maneuvers with a longsword or dueling sword)
* Otherwise: Lessons of Chaldira (reroll 1 failed save per day) otherwise (fits thematically because of this fella's racial heritage, too.)
If Sword Scion IS allowed, may be worth taking Additional Traits feat to pick up Lessons of Chaldira anyway.
Level 1: Fighter 1 [Aldori Swordlord]. Racial Heritage: Halfling. Dodge. Cautious Fighter (additional +2 dodge to AC when fighting defensively or full-defense)
Level 2: Monk 1 [Master of Many Styles, Sohei]. Bonus Feat: Crane Style, Devoted Guardian (+1 initiative, always act in surprise rounds)
I'm assuming, reasonably I think, that the "Fuse Style" ability does not work when wearing armor, since it replaces Flurry of Blows. Thus, no two styles. None of the others are much good for this build anyway.
Level 3: Fighter 2 Feat: Weapon Focus (dueling sword)???, Bonus Feat: Blundering Defense (adjacent allies gain 1/2 your dodge bonus from fighting defensively as a luck bonus to AC and CMD)
Level 4: Fighter 3. Defensive Parry +1 (+1 AC against melee attacks when making a full attack with a dueling sword). Lame, but can't be helped. Strength increases to 20.
Level 5: Fighter 4. Bonus Feat: Uncanny Defense (Gain an (untyped) bonus to your reflex saves and CMD equal to half the bonus from fighting defensively) Level 5 Feat: Weapon Specialization???
Level 6: Fighter 5. Disarming Strike: Deal your damage when you successful disarm opponent. Completely useless for this build, but can't be helped.
Level 7: Fighter 6. Level 7 feat: ??? Bonus Feat: ???
Level 8: Fighter 7. Defensive Parry +2. Steel Net. Reduce penalties and increase benefits of fighting defensively by 2 when using a dueling sword. Strength increases to 21.
Level 9. Fighter 8. Level 9 feat: ??? Bonus Feat: Improved Critical (dueling sword)???
Level 10. Fighter 9. Weapon Training: Large blades (now we can use Dueling Gloves, as is right and proper).
Level 11. Monk 2. Level 11 feat: ??? Evasion, bonus style feat: finish out Crane Style chain?
Level 12. Fighter 10. Bonus feat??? Strength increases to 22.
Level 13. Fighter 11. Counterattack: AoO as an immediate action whenever you are struck in melee. (kinda nice, as if you have the whole Crane Style chain, you would *always* get an AoO, whether they hit you or not. Level 13 feat: ???
Note that at level 8, can fight defensively with no penalty. Bonus to AC is +8 dodge (+2, +1 from Acrobatics ranks, +1 from Crane Style, +2 from Cautious Fighter,
+2 from Steel Net). Bonus to CMD is that same +8 dodge, +4 untyped from Uncanny Defense. +4 untyped bonus to Reflex saves.
Equipment: Without going into too much detail:
+X adamantine dueling sword
+X mithral breastplate (will have the dex to make use of it)
Gloves of Dueling at level 10 (when he gets Weapon Training)
Obviously some strength enhancement
Ring of Deflection
Cloak of Resistance
What other equipment is crucial?
So, other questions:
Is it worth getting The rest of the Crane Style chain? The high AC of this fellow means he'll be able to use the AoO fairly reliably. Plus, if he takes the 2nd level of monk for saves and evasion, will have to get another style feat anyway.
What other feats to fill in? Probably Combat Reflexes at some point, but I'm also going to want to shore up this fella's damage dealing capabilities; not even sure if Weapon Specialization is the best option.
Would it be better to lower dex a bit (maybe more into CON), and switch to Full Plate?
In a previous game, I had a GM who allowed custom items, specifically a 3/day command word shield spell item. With a less generous GM, or PFS, is there any reliable way to get this guy a decent shield bonus? (Note, if you didn't know, that the Swordlord fighter archetype loses its benefits when you use a shield)