Making a melee/spellcaster combo and need help

[0bsolete]

I am currently trying to make a character who is a spellcaster/melee hybrid. Thing is, I want a character where both sides work together. I also want a normal range of spells, not just a bunch of evocations and combat boosts. Its a level 13 game, evil oriented classes are right out.

I know that there are classes out there who get close, and I can work with them if I have to, but could you guys give me some help with finding a build that gets as close as possible to that idea? I have access to pretty much all books, so thats not a problem.

 

[Thurbane]

Battle Sorcerer (UA)
Duskblade (PHBII)

PrCs:
Eldritch Knight
Havoc Mage (MH)

 

[Gloombunny]

I'm sure someone else can give more specific suggestions, but I would start by looking at the Abjurant Champion and Jade Phoenix Mage PrCs. (In Complete Mage and Tome of Battle, respectively.)

 

[Shin Okada]

Basically, I can think of two ways.

1: Straight Duskblade (PHB II)
2: Become Eldritch Knight (DMG) and/or Abjurant Champion (Complete Mage)

Fighter 1/Wizard 5/Eldritch Knight 2/Abjurant Champion 5 will work well. Basically, you are a 11th-level wizard with BAB of +10. With Practiced Spellcaster feat, you can have full caster level of 13. You also have 2 Fighter bonus feats and 1 Wizard bonus feat (and Scribe Scroll).

IF you also need some access to healing spells, you can take Arcane Disciple feat (Complete Divine) for some god with healing domain.

Or you can be a Warforged and just learn Repair spells to heal yourself.

 

[Gloombunny]

Before anyone else suggests duskblade, can I point out that it rather spectacularly fails the "normal range of spells" criterion?

 

[avr]

Knight Phantom (Five Nations) is a prestige class which is mechanically similar to the Eldritch Knight but has more flavour. The flavour may be a positive or negative thing for you.

It may not be exactly what you're after, but druids & clerics can melee and have a fairly wide array of spells. There's a prestige class in Faiths of Eberron called the Sovereign Speaker which allows you to add more domains at the cost of a caster level or two - unlike the druidic prestige class in the same book, it doesn't appear to be broken.

Bards - especially if they have sorcerous heritage feats - have a fair few spells by 13th level. What defines a normal range of spells to you?

 

[blargney the second]

Straight up warlock. Max out UMD, get scrolls and wands of whatever spells you want floating around.

 

[Darklone]

If you're more into the woodsy flavor, go scout/druid with the Swift Avenger from Dragon... essentially the same as swift hunter from CAdv. Nearly full druid spellcasting, full skirmish and all the other goodness.

 

[FEADIN]

And don't forget to take Arcane Strike a feat from the Complete Warrior.

 

[rgard]

And don't forget to take Arcane Strike a feat from the Complete Warrior.

Yes, if you get in melee and need the extra damage with your weapon, Arcane Strike is really helpful.

As Thurbane mentioned, Battlesorcerer from UA is a good one for this. Your character will know one less spell per level and will be casting one spell per level, but you can mitigate this by taking one of the Bloodline feats from the Dragon Magazine/Dragon Compendium.

Thanks,
Rich