I have been playing table-top for about 13 years now. I am most experienced with the World of Darkness games and system and have a passing acquaintance with D&D 4.0. My group and I have only played 3.5 a few times and never past 10th level. However, Pathfinder seems like an interesting game. It has fixed some of the problems with 3.5 and has created a bunch of really interesting and unique classes. The Oracle is the one I am most interested in. We are a very roleplaying focused group, going for a lot of deep immersion, rich plot, heavy character backstory kind of gaming. We don't in any way shy from combat, but character creation and character plot is very important.
I have created a rather unique Human Oracle character. In his youth (17 or so) he committed murder. It was a crime of passion and he was so racked with guilt and remorse that he took his own life. When he crossed to the land of the dead, they told him that he had to make penance for his actions and bound to him the souls of murderers. A few murder victims were also bound to him and he was returned to life as an Oracle. He is here to avenge the slain and serve as a prison and warden for the slayers. His powers are all explained as coming from the ghosts bound to his soul (it's mostly an aesthetics thing, no rules changes).
I chose the Ancestor Mystery and (of course) the Haunted curse. In this campaign we are using advanced firearms--they are less costly than normal (about 1/10th their book cost). I am planning on going with a ranged combatant; Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot. We are starting at fifth level.
I am really not sure how to distribute his stats or skills. I am trying to make a 3 dimensional character, a "hand of retribution" sort of guy, but it's not all about the combat. Like I said, I am a little confused as to how to build an Oracle in the first place--their role is ill-defined as far as I'm concerned. Could someone help me out with a little advice, or just their thoughts on the matter?
I need a sounding board. Thanks