So I am joining a group that is more RP-oriented than anything, and we decided that it would be fun (maybe, either than or just terrible) to generate random stats for our characters, and tack on a random race, background and class - so that we must be creative with what we get.
I rolled Wood Elf, Acolyte and Bard first, which just made me beg for Charisma, or at least Wisdom being high.
In the end, I got:
Str: 15
Dex: 16+2
Con: 13
Int: 10
Wis: 11+1
Cha: 10
Lol fail.
But not to fret, as this is just for fun. 
So I have a character that's strong, fast, relatively vigorous but... not exactly all there in the 'finer' departments.
I don't have too much trouble generating a backstory. Basically based on other stuff I rolled for the background too, my character was abandoned (cliche) and raised in a temple, of course aiming to become a powerful, devout follower. Unfortunately he is just more physical than er, mental, and prefer being active than anything else. Doesn't mean he prefers physical activities, he wants to be a devout follower. Just that he excels at building up his body.
The temple is devoted to the gods and an almighty creator, who spoke the multiverse into existence. Actually it's pretty easy, as the cult or whatever do believe in basically all the gods (or that there are plenty of gods) and other beings, just that their belief in regards to the start of the multiverse is what Bards believe in.
This makes my character only intolerant of alternative creation stories. Otherwise he is pretty cool with others. He follows that worship should be mandated, and that everyone believe in 'the songs of the multiverse' or some such. Given his low wisdom and all that, it is drilled in very deep - the way of belief here, which really explains why he is so intolerant.
He believes the temple, what it worships and those there are always right, and has placed the importance of its existence above all else.
Anyways, those at the temple though, decided to send him away to, er, spread the faith. In reality they just sort of got bored of teaching him stuff he takes forever to learn.
Of course, he takes this on as an important mission and decides that he must carry out the gods' will as close to what he believes in as possible. He would go around forcing his belief down people's throats, hopefully through... song.
Okay, so that's the gist of it. That is level 1, and my character is joining the group at level 5.
So... he would have been adventuring by himself over the four levels.
My questions are... what sort of spells would you recommend, for someone like this guy, to have learnt over those four levels?
And what is causing me grief the most - at level 4, what would he be getting, given this sort of life style? Stat increase? Or a feat? Which feat?
I am not even sure what he would have done during these four levels. Any ideas?
Eventually inspiration will probably come to me regardless, but I know you guys are always a fountain of unique storylines and stuff.
Valor bard with crossbow expertise at 4, shield master at level 8, and resilient Con at 12. Make sure to grab expertise in stealth and athletics.
Pick up buff and utility spells , like heroism, animal messenger, longstrider, invisibilitily, enhance ability, zone of truth, leomunds hut, enlarge reduce, and polymorph.
Cloud of daggers works too, paticularly if you grapple someone. Shoot while at range, then when they come close, cast cloud of daggers and hold them there.
The rest, is RP.
hehehe... this sounds like a lot of fun.
You have an awesome dex for a starting character. Mello already gave you good optimization advice and I second his post in terms of mechanical effectiveness - I would add +2 dex (to top out at 20) rather than Shield Master, but that's only a matter of preference.
I'm really posting because I wanted to recommend Dance as your performance skill. Take Athletics and Acrobatics and make sure the DM doesn't mind you rolling Performance (Dex) instead of Performance (Cha). For your instrument, take those little finger-cymbols that dancers use... or Tap-Shoes. Maybe maraccas.... something you can incorporate into a dance number. Crossbows are the most optimized weapon... but a couple scimitars with tassles and bells that are a part of you dance would be cool. One with yellow ribbons representing the sun, one with silver ribbons representing the moon - and your interpretive dance depicts the creation of sky and planet...
You could just change Church to "Iron Church" And the creator is the embodiment of every Mr. Olympia ever.