Lightly or unarmored melee

[Yora]

Though while from a rules-standpoint, it's always best to wear mithril full plate, a lot of fantasy stories have veteran warriors wandering the land with only a light pack and pretty much no armor.

How would you do that in 3.5e/PF? Getting some bracers of armor, a decent amulet of natural armor, and a high Dex score would be a good way to start. But is there something along the line of feats or alternate class features that would benefit such a character?

[Keld Denar]

Defensive Bonus rules? (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/adventuring/defenseBonus.htm#)

Alternatively, all of those wander dudes are Swordsages? Light Armor + Wise. Kung-Fu optional.

[Fouredged Sword]

Classes. A two level dip in swordsage goes a long way to being able to fight in melee in a mitheral brestplate.

Other options are defending armor spikes and or shield spikes - items that grant arrays of stacking bonuses, miss chances, ect.

[Greenish]

Though while from a rules-standpoint, it's always best to wear mithril full plateThat's not true. Which armour is best depends on your Dex mod, your class features and your budget.

[sreservoir]

That's not true. Which armour is best depends on your Dex mod, your class features and your budget.

you could always get bondleaf wrap!