Illiterate Bard Suggestions

[BullMarkOne]

Things that don't work for me if I'm doing a primitive Celtic bard: Tumble, Use Magic Device, Decipher Script, Weapon Proficiency (Rapier), Weapon Proficiency (Whip), literacy. Plus I'd like some class features that actually give the character the Bronze Age/early Iron Age feel I'm looking for.

As has been said, the class skills that don't fit the flavor, you can just not take, and not use. I do agree with the thought that UMD doesn't have to insinuate literacy (just don't use scrolls).

For the feats, you could try working with your DM to swap them out for another martial, and exotic weapon proficiency, or possibly a couple of the '+2 to two skill' type feats. I have to confess I can't think of weapons that the bard doesnt have proficiency with that would feel appropriate for a celtic type character. Did the Celts use a version of the forward curved sword? Could you swap rapier proficiency for something like that, using scimitar stats maybe?