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Don't get surprised by clearly state that while exploring you're taking 10 on Perception, and actively asking to roll if you believe it's the case. Then, rise your Perception bonus with:
- Heightened Awareness extract: +2 competence bonus. It can be expended for a +4 to Initiative, which lets you be flatfooted for less time.
- Eyes of the Eagle: +5 competence bonus (does not stack with Heightened Awareness).
- Clear Ear: +2 alchemical bonus.
- hawk Tumor Familiar: Alertness (+2 bonus) and a second Perception roll with sky high modifier. The +3 to Perception in bright light is just icing on the cake.
- Alchemical Allocation --> potion of Countless Eyes, just because it fits the theme.
If you still get surprised, increase your flatfooted AC:
- get a magic armor.
- get a magic buckler.
- Barkskin CL12
- Mutagen already imbibed
And if you get hit nonetheless, improve your resiliency:
- False Life to increase the amount of damage you can take.
- Preserve Organs discovery to partially negate sneak attacks while flat-footed.
- Protection from Arrows to get DR 10/magic vs ranged ambushes from low-level armies.
- Mummification + Ablative Barrier to get DR 5/-
Nature Soul
Animal Ally -> Bodyguard Archetype Animal Companion
Lookout
Bodyguard animal companions can always act in the surprise round. Bump your companions Int to 3, and it will be able to take the Teamwork feat Lookout, which will grant you the ability to always act in the surprise round.
Cost: 3 feats
(2 feats and 11,000 gp if you buy a Ring of Tactical Precision and your companion can use rings)
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Shield Proficiency
Equipment Trick (Shield)
Little Wall is a trick that allows you to get Cover instead of the Dodge bonus from full defense. So walk around with your shield up, and Stealth. If they don't know that you're there, they can't attack you.
Cost: 2 feats, 5 ranks in Escape Artist and some investment into Stealth
(1 feat if you have Shield proficiency from some source)