[PF] Kitsune Shapeshifter looking for advice

[NightbringerGGZ]

I really love the idea of a Kitsune that uses the Realistic Likeness feat to shift between humanoid appearances at will. I'm going to be playing one in an upcoming home brew game, but have been having some trouble coming up with a built that will be effective in combat and let me shape shift right at first level. I've been toying with the concept of a Bard (Dawnflower Dervish) / Ninja build, but was hoping some of the masters on this site might point out some other options for me.

All books & supplements from Paizo are allowed. Classes should come from official PF sources only, but feats from 3rd party or 3.5 can be picked up with DM approval (for instance Improved Weapon Finesse was already allowed). We're using a 20 point buy to build our characters.

[avr]

The obvious answer is to be a sorcerer and use their charisma, racial ability, favoured class bonus, and bloodline arcana to max out the save DCs of enchantment spells. Dead easy.

OTOH someone used the Mysterious Stranger archetype to put together a kitsune gunslinger, which should also work.

Did you especially want a ninja or bard?

[QuidEst]

Kitsune Rakshasa-Blooded Sorcerer is an absolute master of disguise and manipulation. You get cool stuff like temporary +5 to Bluff with resistance against truth compulsion, mind reading as a standard action, permanent non-detection, at-will unlimited duration Alter Self, and a useless capstone. Eventually, consider the Robe of Arcane Heritage (16k, 8k if you craft) to boost your bloodline four levels. This route lets you permanently turn into non-human humanoids eventually, no disguise check needed.

[NightbringerGGZ]

I've been told that I can expect to see heavy use of undead and demonic forces in this campaign. I'll face regular humanoids as well, but I worry about an Enchantment specialist being useless on fights with undead.

Would it be worth it to go Cross-blooded and pick up the Undead bloodline just for the ability to affect corporeal undead with my spells? I suppose casting Unnatural Lust on a zombie could be funny =).

What I really want is a character that can Shapeshift at will as early as possible and still be able participate effectively in combat. I've been focusing on ways of getting Dex to Damage as quickly as possible, but I'll start looking at sorcerer options too.

[Thomar_of_Uointer]

A better option might be to play an Egoist. They can get minor metamorphosis (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/psionic-powers/m/metamorphosis) at first level, which has a long list of combat buffs for you.

[QuidEst]

Would it be worth it to go Cross-blooded and pick up the Undead bloodline just for the ability to affect corporeal undead with my spells? I suppose casting Unnatural Lust on a zombie could be funny =).

What I really want is a character that can Shapeshift at will as early as possible and still be able participate effectively in combat. I've been focusing on ways of getting Dex to Damage as quickly as possible, but I'll start looking at sorcerer options too.
Cross-Blooded is a very effective way to not be combat effective, I'm afraid. Delaying all your spells even further than the Sorc's one-level delay hurts. Rakshasa bloodline is very focused on Enchantment, so unless you take a two level dip into Agent of the Grave, you're not going to be very effective against the undead. If you go Undead, you're not going doing much shapeshifting.

I don't know that I would bother mixing Dervish Dancer in with Ninja. Go straight Ninja with Weapon Finesse at level one. Either get Dervish Dance (the feat) at level three, or grab a weapon with the Agile enhancement. (From Pathfinder Society, so it's official PF material.) Without crafting, though, a +1 Agile weapon runs 8k. :smallannoyed: