Buffer and Face

[Seeten]

Alright, lets say we're making a character, a face, and buffer for a group. The character is a 5th wheel, so he's gonna be the buffer for sure. Any base classes allowed, but only 5th level, so you have to stop there.

Stats are: 16, 16, 15, 13, 13, 11 (and +1 to one of these at level 4, of course) races can be any in phb.

I'm kinda leaning towards some bard and some rogue, but I never play buffers, so my ideas are likely not so great. =)

 

[shilsen]

A simple combo would be an elf bard. Make the stats (after racial modifiers) Str 13, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 11, Cha 16, and stay in the back row and use archery while using bardic song during fights. If you can use the Song of the Heart feat from the Eberron CS, you're giving all allies a +2 morale bonus to hit/dmg during fights. And on top of that you have 56 skill pts to support the 'face' angle.

 

[Seeten]

An elf bard.

Interesting.

 

[Fishbone]

That is a good idea. Use inspirational boost/harmony (swift action, +1 to Inspire Courage), Song of the Heart, and a masterwork horn. I always reccomend this to somebody when they post a thread like "Help! I want a easy low level bard build that doesn't suck!"
Feytouched, aasimar, and human make good Bard race choices along with the elf. The other races wouldn't have the longbow or dexterity boost but they would have other attractive options going for them, for the first 2 improved Charisma scores.
Pre-Combat: Alter Self into a Troglodyte for the +6 boost to armor class. 50 minute duration is nice here. You'll have a nice Armor class here in a chainshirt, 25 with a buckler.
Round 1: Inspire Courage and watch the fighter and cleric really get a kick out of +3 or +4 to attacks and damage.
Round 2: Lay the smack down with your +1 Mighty(+1) Shortbow/Longbow. 1d6+6 damage, not bad. Feats are point blank shot and precise shot. Within 30 feet you attack at +13.
I'd hold back on Song of the Heart until 6th level or just take it right away if human. Then take archery feats afterwards and Leadership for a cohort who can do the heavy lifting in melee for you.