Half plate doesn't have a str requirement actually so your ac would be 15+dex Max of 2, so you would be 1 ac behind the fighter till level 4 and then you'd be matching him. You'll also have access to the shield spell.
Absolutely correct on the 1 shot thing, fighter gets this off the ground faster. Or you could grab xbow expert instead of the dex increase and deal with getting hit 5% more often.