Due to multiclassing penalties I've got the following lv 20 progression
Paladin 2/sorcerer 2/fighter 2/Abjurant Champ 5/Spellsword 1/Eldritch Knight 8
I was wondering if there was a good way to retain more caster levels without hurting BAB too much. If I can save one level I can get to lv8 spells by 20.
I considered pal 2/battle sorcerer 4 as a start but ran into multiclass penalities.
Thanks to anyone who can help. :D
Also, instead of Eldritch Knight, use Sacred Exorcist (in Complete Divine). It will offer you a full casting progression and 3/4 BAB progression. Although, being forced into that 3rd paladin level will also keep you from getting BAB +16.
Basically, you're forcing yourself down a hard path by being a halfling.
But wow, you're right: Halflings stink at this kind of thing.
Halfling
Paladin 3/ Sorceror 3/ Ruathar 3/ Warrior Skald 1/ Sublime Chord 2/ EK 8 or Knight phantom 8
BAB +16
9th lvl Spells
no XP penalties
feats required:
Still Spell
Power Attack
Cleave
Warrior Skald
Warrior Skald(able to use bardic music to empower allies & frighten enemies)(RoF p186)reqs: Concentration: 6 ranks. Perform (including poetry): 9 ranks.
Feats: Power Attack, Cleave.
HD: d6
Skill Points: 4
Attack: Fighter
Good Save:
Fort, Ref
Weap: Martial
Armor: All
Class Lvs: 10
Str: Climb, Jump,
Swim.
Dex: Escape Artist,
Hide, Move
Silently.
Int: Craft.
Wis: Listen,
Profession, Sense
Motive.
Con: Concentrate.
Cha: Bluff,
Diplomacy,
Perform.
Speak Language.
1st: Gain ‘Bardic Music’. Add Class level to Bard levels (if
any) to determine number of uses per day.
2nd: All allies who can hear you speak (& understand what
you are saying) for 1 minute have their Fatigue
removed. Any who were Exhausted are now only
Fatigued. This ability can only be used once per hour
& consumes one daily use of Bardic Music.
Feats: Power Attack, Cleave.
HD: d6
Skill Points: 4
Attack: Fighter
Good Save:
Fort, Ref
Weap: Martial
Armor: All
Class Lvs: 10
Str: Climb, Jump,
Swim.
Dex: Escape Artist,
Hide, Move
Silently.
Int: Craft.
Wis: Listen,
Profession, Sense
Motive.
Con: Concentrate.
Cha: Bluff,
Diplomacy,
Perform.
Speak Language.
1st: Gain ‘Bardic Music’. Add Class level to Bard levels (if
any) to determine number of uses per day.
2nd: All allies who can hear you speak (& understand what
you are saying) for 1 minute have their Fatigue
removed. Any who were Exhausted are now only
Fatigued. This ability can only be used once per hour
& consumes one daily use of Bardic Music.
i would try to stay away from direct combat.
why dont u try to fit in 2 levels of arcane archer? the dex bonuses really help too..
The Magic-Blooded template (page 15) from Dragon 306 (3.0) has +0 LA and switches your favored class Sorcerer, along with a few other benefits. Use that and go Paladin 2/ Sorcerer 4/ Spellsword 1/ Abjurant Champion 5/ Sacred Exorcist 8. You'll have a +16 BAB and 18th level spellcasting at level 20. Note that Sacred Exorcist grants Dispel Evil as a spell-like ability at the 4th level, so at that point it qualifies you for itself so you can switch out Dismissal for another spell.
great catch with the template!
being a halfling, and being a gish both are traditionally kinda squishy..
i would try to stay away from direct combat.
why dont u try to fit in 2 levels of arcane archer? the dex bonuses really help too..
AA is elf-only...
Halflings don't get a Con penalty, and with the right buffs I'm sure he'll be able to stand toe-to-toe with anything the DM throws at him. Melee is the best way to go with a Gish, take Power Attack, Arcane Strike, Leap Attack, and use the PHB2 Sorcerer variant for faster metamagic. Use a Lesser Rod of Extend with Wraithstrike, due to its casting time and the wording on the rules for spontaneous casters and metamagic it will still be a Swift Action to cast it Extended. Later on get a Lesser Rod of Quicken which you'll use with your PHB2 variant; on the 2nd round of an Extended Wraithstrike use Arcane Strike and Charge/Power Attack/Leap Attack and then cast a Rod of Quickened Whirling Blade, all your obscene bonuses will still apply.
Get Extend Spell and eventually Persistent Spell, it may even be worth getting Draconic Heritage for Practical Metamagic: Persistent. Use that on buffs like Shield, Swift Fly, Wraithstrike, Bladeweave, Displacement, etc.
Since you're a Halfling you could try going for a mounted charger build, get Improved Familiar (CW) and get a Blink Dog. Be sure to take Benign Transposition (SC) since your familiar can blink to an out of reach spot/room, then you can swap positions with him and then he can blink back to you for only a 1st level spell. Even without making a mounted charger Improved Familiar for a Blink Dog is made of pure win for a Paladin Gish.