Vigilante with a few more tricks than usual.
Racial Traits:
Focused Study
Fey Magic (Urban)
Traits:
Power of Suggestion
Librarian (or any other Linguistics trait)
Feats:
1 Combat Reflexes, Skill Focus (Linguistics), Psychic Sensitivity (B)
2 Object Reading, First Implement: Necromancy
3 Intrigue Feats: Orator (B), +1 Feat
4 Shield of Blades, Power Attack (B)
5 Social Grace (Linguistics, Sense Motive), +1 Feat
6 Second Implement: Transmutation
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Orator allows you to use Linguistics for the social uses of Bluff, Intimidate, and Diplomacy. With Social Grace and a Cracked Magenta Prism you would have a +19 modifier for all these uses.
Fey Magic keyed to Urban would basically give you three 0-level spells all day long if the 1st level spell you choose is Recharge Innate Magic.
The Transmutation implement's base focus power allows you to apply weapon enchantments on the fly, so just go for Bane and enjoy that +3/+10 to attack/damage.
Necromancy has a focus power that let's you summon a familiar, so a Sage/Figment familiar could answer any knowledge questions you have and a Mauler is a melee buddy. Etc.
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Even a Fighter can be made to work rather well, if you go down the Improved Familiar Bond feat path and take Advanced Weapon Training: Versatile Training at lv 5. Combined with the Emphatic Diplomat trait you'd have Wisdom to Diplomacy, bonus ranks in both Diplomacy and Sense Motive equal to your BAB, and a familiar that specializes in knowledge skills.
Well, anyone with a decent Charisma score, a few skill points to throw around, and a willingness to devote some feats/traits to social interactions should be able to fit that role easily, and it helps if the class you choose has a few things to boost them as well.
So, let's start with that. Charisma should be either your main ability score or a firm secondary score. Most martial oriented characters that make use of Charisma don't rely on it too heavy, so 14-16 range would be good for 1st level.
Are you looking for just a normal vigilante or are you thinking of using some archetypes to pick up more magical abilities? Teiatsu uses Charisma for their Ki Pool and abilities. Magical Child uses it for their spellcasting.
You might want to think about a Dandy Archetype Ranger. Still a pretty strong martial character at the base, CHR is a major secondary stat, and some really good bonuses on face skills as well as a few unique abilities that might be a lot of fun.
It has some spell casting, but not a lot and that might be a good way to get into the magic of the game, without needing mastery to make the character 'work.'
Inteligence based can also be very viable through the use of traits to change Cha based skills to inteligence. There aren't a lot of int based melee types, but it is an option.
For good Cha based melee's you've got paladin, swashbuckler and bloodrager. Slayer makes for a pretty good face character too if you are willing to dip a class, or invest a trait to make Diplomacy a class skill. Studied target is a nice boost To both sense motive and bluff and is very easy to apply in a social situation. It's a solid melee choice for an intriguey campaign. If you are going to go Dex based look at the stygian slayer for a touch of magic without having to learn it all at once.
Str 17, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 11
That's supposed to be a Wis 10 for a 20 PB.
Also, what's the starting level?
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My Hell's Rebels Dawnflower Dervish is an effective melee face character. Lot's of intrigue in Hell's Rebels!
Note: We're using Background Skills for this campaign.
I was going to say I'm surprised no one's mentioned Investigator, but there you were as the last post PCScipio.
I'd say Paladin/Bloodrager/Dandy-Ranger are probably the best choice. They have spell-casting, but it's not their main focus so it doesn't need to be optimised at all. Also it comes online slowly enough that you can learn as you go, which means you can use the character to help you learn the rules.
You mentioned that Bloodrager is uncivilized, but you can flavour Bloodrage (or Rage) however you want - maybe it's a battle-trance, or an unusual magical technique (works well for arcane bloodline), or even just an impatient noble who throws tantrums. My bloodrager is anything but civilized, but the qay I play him he only rages as a last resort.
The other one I'm surprised no one's mentioned is the Cavalier. A CHA focused melee character who has a focus on teamwork seems like they'd do pretty well.
(Other options like the Vigelante and Swashbuckler look good too. I have no experience with the Vigelante and you seem like you already know the swashbuckler, so I didn't think I'd add anything significant.)
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With the traits student of philosophy, clever wordplay, Persuasive Insight, Empathic Diplomat, Cunning Liar any melee build can be a face.
I have a goliath druid that uses traits to change the skill and diplomacy as a class skill to be a face.
Turncoat slayer can use bluff for the purpose of diplomacy.
The empiricist investigates as mentioned above.
Inquisitor with the conversion domain.
Ultimately, the summary of everyone's suggestion are actually just good build advice for pathfinder generally. If there is a skill or skills that are important to your build full ranks + class skill + positive stat with the later addition of an item or two (masterwork tool and an ioun stone are common) is all you need to get you there.
