This is a different martial bard in the tradition of the norse skald. This is not the PF2 skald, but a historian bard and poet typically in the service of a noble of a warrior culture.
Start with a PF2 Bard. Remove all the regular cantrips and spell slots that a Bard gets. You retain access to the composition cantrips and composition spells as per a normal Bard. You can choose the tradition of this magic. You are Trained in it and know 2 cantrips of that tradition. A skald knows their compositions so well that they do not require concentration. Hint.
You have Hit points as per a Ranger
Replace the Initial Proficiencies for Saving Throws, Attack and Defences with the Rangers. As your character goes up levels you gain the increases to these abilities as if you were a Ranger. That is:
* Iron Will
* Ranger Skald Weapon Expertise except that you gain access to the critical specialization effects of all simple and martial weapons and unarmed attacks while singing or while under the effect of a composition spell.
* Evasion
* Weapon Specialization
* Ranger Skald Expertise
* Juggernaut
* Medium Armor Expertise
* Weapon Mastery
* Greater Weapon Specialization
* Improved Evasion
* Second Skin
Your Muse is the Warrior Muse but you gain no other benefits from it. You gain Bard feats and Skill and General feats as normal for a bard. Plus
* Expert Spellcaster at level 7
* Vigilant Senses at level 11
* Master Spellcaster at level 19 (yes it is late)
You are forbidden to take the Bard Multiclass Archetype like other Bards are. But you can gain some Bard spellcasting ability by taking these feats as if you had taken the Bard Dedication feat. There is no skill requirement and the tradition of this magic is whatever you chose before
* Basic Bard Spellcasting at level 4
* Occult Breadth at level 8
* Expert Bard Spellcasting at level 8
* Master Bard Spellcasting at level 18
In summary Bard compositions on a generic martial chassis.
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Interesting. Overall looks like something that might be fun to play.
To pick out a few details -
* You're supposed to gain weapon specialization also when using a composition that doesn't affect you, like Dirge of Doom, but then you need to do it early in your turn?
* Is your key stat still Charisma?
* You could flex into using a different tradition & spell list entirely?
* Can you still take multifarious muse to put your hands on Lingering Composition?
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You're supposed to gain weapon specialization also when using a composition that doesn't affect you, like Dirge of Doom, but then you need to do it early in your turn?
That is what while singing or is for. It can just be free action singing. It is mostly a stylistic choice.
Is your key stat still Charisma?
Yes if it is not mentioned it is same as a regular Bard. But I would be open to Strength as well. So I agree: Primary ability score Strength or Charisma.
You could flex into using a different tradition & spell list entirely?
Yes but you have to pay for it in feats and you don't get much. It is a secondary feature. I see some of these types of bard as devout followers of the gods, some as tricksters, some as keepers of arcane secrets, or protectors of the natural old ways. So yes any one of the traditions. Bards in older versions of d20 games have been all over the place. Each type makes sense narratively to me.
Can you still take multifarious muse to put your hands on Lingering Composition?
Sure I just put you in the Warrior muse to start as that is the one that fits this type of bard.