Advice for Elvish FVS/Fighter

[MooseFly]

I'm currently at level 6 and looking for recommendations on improving this build as I develop. I enjoy a healing role in-party or extra tank support, while fully capable when solo. I chose 2 levels of Fighter to pick up two extra feats which I'm using for ranged combat. Fighter also gave me more weapon variety if I needed, better armor (I always try to get mithral plate medium armor) plus favorable enhancements. I went Aerenal as I find the better longswords much more readily available than scimitars (I'll pick up a rapier if I can catch a good one with Keen, Pure Good, etc.). I usually use stat bonus items that will take me to the next bonus modifier, otherwise I hold back (same with feats - I'll pick more stat bonus feats when I can get +3 items).

Stats with Equipment are:
HP=142 AC=26
SP=462

STR 18
DEX 18
CON 14
INT 8
WIS 14
CHA 18

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My Build
Level 6 Lawful Good Elf Male
(2 Fighter \ 4 Favored Soul) 
Hit Points: 126
Spell Points: 399 
BAB: 5\5\10
Fortitude: 8
Reflex: 7
Will: 5

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 6)
Strength             14                    16
Dexterity            16                    16
Constitution         12                    12
Intelligence          8                     8
Wisdom               12                    12
Charisma             16                    17

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 6)
Balance               4                     4
Bluff                 3                     3
Concentration         3                     5
Diplomacy             3                     3
Disable Device       n/a                   n/a
Haggle                3                     3
Heal                  1                     1
Hide                  3                     3
Intimidate            3                     3
Jump                  2                     4
Listen                1                     3
Move Silently         3                     3
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair               -1                    -1
Search               -1                     1
Spot                  1                     3
Swim                  2                     3
Tumble                n/a                   4
Use Magic Device      n/a                   n/a

Level 1 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Diety) Favored by the Sovereign Host
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Aerenal Elf Melee Damage I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Energy of the Scion I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Toughness I


Level 2 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Point Blank Shot
Enhancement: Fighter Armored Agility I
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Life Magic I


Level 3 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Rapid Shot
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I


Level 4 (Favored Soul)
Enhancement: Aerenal Elf Melee Attack I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Charisma I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Wand and Scroll Mastery I


Level 5 (Favored Soul)


Level 6 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Healing Spell
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Life Magic II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Toughness II

I prefer a superior devotion for a shield for more healing.

I intend to go 18/2 FVS/FTR, I'd like to get eventually a lvl 9 spell, prob. mass heal.

Should I see Fred and swap the ranged feats for something else? I'm seeing less use for ranged, specially in-party. Drop the shield and go TWF/OSF?

Should I sacrifice the level 9 spell and splash with a third class or train more fighter levels? (I don't have Monk).

Ideas? I love my character and she plays really well so far -

Thanks!

[Khayvan]

My Drow is heading for 18/2 FvS/fighter, although I didn't take the first fighter level til 8 when I could qualify for ITWF and I won't pick up the 2nd fighter til late to squeeze in power attack. It's a build I've been enjoying a lot as well.

Unfortunately, I think your feats are pretty much screwed here. Sorry, bud. The ranged feats are totally a waste. Heck, I even think weapon focus is a waste, I know it looks attractive but that +1 to hit just isn't neccessary.

I highly suggest you go for the TWF line. I carry a Devotion shield and switch to it when I'm in a group and need to go full-on healer mode, otherwise you'll do much, much better swinging two swords.

Feats you'll want:
TWF, ITWF, GTWF
Toughness
Extend Spell
Quicken Spell
Maximize Spell
Improved Critical
Power Attack

It's tight fit for this build. You may want to take Over-sized TWF early on, but trade it out later for one of the others when you can more easily absorb the attack penalty.

Also, for your enhancements, you want to pick up Fighter Haste Boost, makes a big difference in your damage output for big fights. Take all the Toughness you can, as well as the healing enhancements. Fit in the attack/dmg enhancements when you can and only bother with the stat boosters when they'll put you at an even number.

[MooseFly]

A lot of food for thought. I agree with the weapon focus, at the moment of the pick I was unsure what was best with what I had so far and indeed expect to swap it out. Your suggested mix looks really good to work for - and we got bonus xp weekends so lvl 8 is around the corner.

I'll switch the ranged for TWF line, that should be liberating. Switching out between devotion shield and twf between party/solo ... why I never thought about that while already having 8 combos set for other combat situations... thanks.

Does the Toughness stack if I had it from my initial char creation and then select again on each class? I'm pretty sure I saw it selectable again when I was up for a new feat.

Would Maximize be any useful as I'm not an offensive caster - will it apply to heals & buffs I'm likely to have memorized?

Power Attack - important early on or later in the game? The other feats suggested do appear they should be higher priority.

Thanks!

[Khayvan]

Toughness - You can take the feat multiple times and it does stack. But you only need to take it once, especially on a build that's stretched tight as it is. But take all the Toughness enhancements you can, each one adds +10 HP.

Maximize - applies to the Cure line of spells (Cure Light, Mod, Serious, Crit) but not to Heal. Only Empower Healing will affect the Heal spell. Most all FvS are going to pick up Blade Barrier I think, even if they don't consider them selves and offensive caster, and there are a few off. spells that allow no save you might want. maximize is good for all of that. Whether you take Maximize, Empower, or Empower Healing is up to you, there's some varied opinions on which is better.

Power Attack - later, definitely later. Early to mid levels the to-hit penalty is heavy, especially on top of the TWF penalty.