With regard to the Sound Striker (my favorite archetype for my favorite class!), I really like the swap. I gladly give up suggestion (action economy is much better as a Spell than a performance, at least early to midlevels) and inspire competence for those sonic attacks (which are Supernatural and thus cannot be impacted by Spell Resistance! Only Sonic Resistance/Immunity, which is very rare!). Also, WeirdWords gets a boost from the 11th level Bard feat Discordant Voice (Why? Because Rays are weapons!) doing 5d6+CHA mod instead of just 4d6+mod. Most Bards want that feat anyway.
Court Bard isn't bad for what it does, either.
I wouldn't dip Rogue. Dex to Damage is nice, but not great for you since you are only looking at a 14 DEX anyway. I find sneak attack to be too situational to count on. Personally, I think trying to make this guy melee competent is a waste. Even if you invest feats and dip something a few levels, you will only be barely adequate.
I'd focus instead on spells and bard abilities. I'd also think about either going down the dazzling display route or possibly going for animal ally/boon companion if you really think you need to bring some melee to your party (it looks to me like you have plenty already.)
Really with 3-4 other combat focused characters, if all you ever did was provide inspire courage, some out of combat skills and some utility spells you will be more than pulling your weight. Obviously you want something else that will be fun for you to do every turn (both my thoughts above would suffice), but I wouldn't let pursuing that mess up your core competencies.
Also, WeirdWords gets a boost from the 11th level Bard feat Discordant Voice (Why? Because Rays are weapons!) doing 5d6+CHA mod instead of just 4d6+mod.I am not sure this is correct. First, Rays are weapon-like, but not weapons. Second, weird words are not rays. (All Rays are ranged touch, but not all ranged touch attacks are rays).
That said, it is a good feat anyway.
My only advice for this AP is to leave no skill uncovered. The social combat system makes every skill relevant eventually. Abilities like Bardic Knowledge and Versatile Performance will be too valuable to give up in my opinion.
Dave, I was thinking of making him ranged competent, in fact but, calculated that it would take at least three feats to make him so and even then, the contribution would be underwhelming (especially since he would be useless with a bow). I am, though, open to suggestions in that area.
I don't think your physical stats are good enough to be worth investing in that. I like archer bards, but you really aren't set up to be one. That said, sometimes an underwhelming archer can still make a huge difference, if you target intelligently. If you can bring down a foe that otherwise would survive to his turn even though he only had a few hit points, that can make quite a difference, and one nice thing about archery is that you can usually target any opponent on the field, not just the one you are next to.
Focusing on spells and bard abilities is good but, my concern is, what happens when we find stuff that is immune to mental influence or magic?
I would primarily be focused on the stuff that buffs your friends rather than hinders your enemies. I will say though that one thing I always have my bards do is take see invisibility and glitter dust.
(it would be a huge stretch to take Nature Soul with this character and I very much doubt the GM would allow it).
I'm not sure I understand why it would be a stretch to take this feat or why a GM would not allow it.
First of all, thanks to everyone for the great advice!
Foushadow, I agree with you regarding the Sound Striker, I played one in the Kingmaker campaign and that extra damage source was more than welcome, especially in a campaign full of non humanoids and things immune to mental effects.
My doubt in this case regards the fact that, if I understand the AP correctly, there will be a LOT more social interaction. In that case, I am wondering it suggestion might not actually be much more lethal than the sonic equivalent of a second level spell (powerful as it may be). I mean, a properly put Suggestion has limitless potential, especially in an environment in which everyone is plotting against everyone (so, not many moral qualms to stop your suggestion from working).Dave, I was thinking of making him ranged competent, in fact but, calculated that it would take at least three feats to make him so and even then, the contribution would be underwhelming (especially since he would be useless with a bow). I am, though, open to suggestions in that area.
Focusing on spells and bard abilities is good but, my concern is, what happens when we find stuff that is immune to mental influence or magic?
I guess you missed the part about WeirdWords being Supernatural? Not subject to Spell Resistance or DR? Only subject to Sonic resistance, which is very rare. That's the only thing that can stop Weirdwords.
Also, WeirdWords gets a boost from the 11th level Bard feat Discordant Voice (Why? Because Rays are weapons!) doing 5d6+CHA mod instead of just 4d6+mod.I am not sure this is correct. First, Rays are weapon-like, but not weapons. Second, weird words are not rays. (All Rays are ranged touch, but not all ranged touch attacks are rays).
How do I know this is correct? SKR said so. He created the archetype.
He stated in the thread we were discussing the archetype, that WeirdWords are rays and therefore subject to the weapon feats such as Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot. Hence, if counted as a weapon for those, why not Discordant Voice? Why should that be an exception?[url]https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2q7yp&page=7?Sound-Striker-Wierd-Words-Abi lity-questions#307[/url]
Ugh, cannot get it to become a link. Too rusty at this.
How do I know this is correct? SKR said so.
1) Since that opinion by SKR (2013), the weird words ability has been errated (2015) changing the text. It is still not a ray. As far as I know, weapon-like is rays and spells that function 'as a weapon' (flame blade).
2) SKR is correct that weapon-like spells and abilities can use things like weapon focus etc. That is what weapon-like means.3) Weapon-like is still not always a weapon. Perhaps I am wrong, but I seem to recall some instances where it doesn't work. I will admit I am unsure whether Discordant Voice would apply to weapon-like spells or not.
In any event, this is veering away from the topic.