Input wanted on my Bard-barian (Core only)

[Diirk]

Its in the SRD. Check the Special Materials section, under mithral.

 

[Bront]

Reasons to not use a shield

A bard can cast bard spells while wearing light armor without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. However, like any other arcane spellcaster, a bard wearing medium or heavy armor or using a shield incurs a chance of arcane spell failure if the spell in question has a somatic component (most do).

I like the Power Attack, Cleave, and maybe Improved Initiative or Dodge.

Bard for 1st level will give you a few more skill points, but the outdoor skills you wanted are more from the Barb. However, if you do Bard3/Barb2, you'll still have lots of skills for the barb, you get Uncanny Dodge, and few extra HP. Unfortunately, you miss out on 2nd level bard spells (Sound Burst is wonderful).