Unfortunately, my DM has already put the fail stamp on DMM Persist (otherwise I'd just be a Cleric) and tends to be hitting Druids really hard with a nerfbat.
Anyway. For damage output in the tank/melee department, I personally really like either Daring Outlaw or Swift Hunter builds.
A simple Human or SHHalfling Rogue 3/Swashbuckler 17 is going to get nearly every Swashie feature, 10d6 of sneak attack, and if you're smart and take the penetrating strike ACF from Dungeonscape, is going to be doing at least half that extra damage almost no matter what.
Likewise, something like a Human Scout 3/Lion Totem Barbarian 2/Ranger 14 with swift hunter is going to be solid damage output, with the equivalent of 17th level Skirmish/Favored enemy damage and a lot of class feature synergy for charging.
This isn't to disparage Crusader. I am well aware that they function more than adequately in the tank department, but BoNS isn't my own personal specialty, not even owning the book yet, so I can't recommend any builds using it from first hand experience.
The build is here, and I can explain it a bit more, if you're interested. Ardents are strange to build, but I think the class is overall quite versatile in what it can do and can be powerful. I would have done things a bit differently if I didn't want the planar travel capabilities (I think they will be quite important in the game that character is in).
They're easier to play than vancian casters, because they have a fixed number of powers known, but also have some weird options and tricks to expand on this. There is also a lot of synergy to be found from having multiple psionic characters in a group, which itself can be borderline broken if you push it (see the Metaconcert spoiler for an example ;) ). I certainly don't find them as confining as sorcerers, though all of the psionic classes resemble sorcerers more than wizards.
There are lots of ways to exploit the action economy to the fullest without totally breaking it, too.
I really like psionics. Of the 6 PbPs I'm currently in, four of the characters are psychics of some flavor (two ardents, one psiwarrior, and a psion/thrallherd). Overall, they have fun and powerful abilities, but not as many over-the-top broken things as arcane and divine casters do.
They're easier to play than vancian casters, because they have a fixed number of powers known, but also have some weird options and tricks to expand on this. There is also a lot of synergy to be found from having multiple psionic characters in a group, which itself can be borderline broken if you push it (see here for an example ;) ). I certainly don't find them as confining as sorcerers, though all of the psionic classes resemble sorcerers more than wizards.
There are lots of ways to exploit the action economy to the fullest without totally breaking it, too.
This sounds really really nice actually. I'll have to go read some handbooks myself!
Bard, Cleric, Spirit shaman, Shaman (Oriental Adventures 3.0), druid, or something of that sort.
OR! you could always do a Crusader 1/Cleric 4/RKV 10/XXX 5?
Go with Dwarf would be the better thing to do.
Make sure you get Martial spirit and Crusader strike.
Quite frustrating really.
Personally, I like to play martial oriented characters, I dislike spellcasters, and don't mind manifesters.
Shadowblade would work. And your set.
Have one pimp Inspire Courage and have the other go Dragonfire Inspiration.
Two bards?
Have one pimp Inspire Courage and have the other go Dragonfire Inspiration.
They're doing that actually, but at this rate we won't live long enough to see the fruits of their labours.
At level 6 a decent build for this might be
Human Monk 2, Ranger 2, Fighter 2 (choose the monk style with the bonus feats that appeal to you and future goals the most, ranged combat style for the ranger)
Feats:
H- two weapon fighting
1- point blank shot
3- precise shot
4(ranger bonus)- rapid shot
5(fighter bonus)-Choice
6- Manyshot
6(fighter bonus)- improved rapidshot (taking off one of those -2's is a big deal when you have a bunch of them.)
Just something thrown together, I'm sure there are better options. But with an optimized Inspire Courage you should at least have +4 attack and damage, and +4d6 sonic (or at worst acid) damage per hit, so all those hits will really add up.
If you can get it, Shou Disciple from Unnapproachable East would be a good PrC to follow this with at some point (and at least one more monk level, to completely drop off the flurry penalties.)
A TWF Daring Outlaw is going to own as a tank in the above situation.
Likewise, a charging pounce swift hunter would own (probably even more if you can pull off leap attack goodness).
If you play without Multi-class XP penalties, the following is quite destructive...
Scout 3/Monk 2/Lion Totem Barbarian 1/Arcane Hunter Shooting Star Spell Reflection Ranger 14
With Ascetic Hunter, sword of the arcane order, and Swift hunter, the above has Pounce, +18 BAB, High skills, 17th level Skirmish/Favored Enemy, the full TWF tree, 16th level monk unarmed strike, extra spells, evasion, spell reflection, and the ability to cast wizard spells (like Greater Mighty Wallop) in his ranger slots.
You could potentially be rolling around 9 attacks/rnd with base damage of ~6d8 + Strength + Favored Enemy damage + Mighty Fists/Greater Magic Fang + ~6d6 Skirmish (after items/favored enemy it should work on anything) + Inspire Courage + Dragonfire Inspiration.
If you tack on Hunters Eye, he could add 3d6 sneak attack, and if you tacked on Wraithstrike, they'd all be touch attacks. At that point, you could even through in power attack, and really put the hurt on sacrificing the now unneeded Greater Magic Fang/Inspire Courage bonuses to hit, which could get doubled by leap attack.
That's all off the top of my head, but I've built something similar before and know I can make it work.
If you want further help, though, you need to post the books you are allowed to use and any houserules you have.
The only houserule is that we've given a Soulknife access to some of the powers on the Psywar list.
If you can get Able Learner or a feat to add UMD to your class list, you can still make it work and well with just:
Human Scout 3/Monk 2/Lion Totem Barbarian 1/Arcane Hunter Spell Reflection Ranger 14 (Not in that order)
That get's you all of the above minus the wizard spells and extra spells and lowers your base damage to a mere 2d10, though, you can possibly still raise that with the right feats/equipment/buffs. It also get's you back your animal companion though, which is a feature I generally dislike losing.
The Build, At 6th would be...
Human Scout 1/AH Ranger 1/Monk 2/LT Barb 1/Ranger +1/
And from there go...
Scout +2/Ranger +12
Feats would be-
Able Learner (Human), Improved Init (1), Track (Ranger), Ascetic Hunter (3), Improved Unarmed Strike (Monk), Stunning Fist (Monk), Combat Reflexes (Monk), Improved Natural Attack-Unarmed Strike (6), Two Weapon Fighting (Ranger)
and then followed up by
Endurance (Ranger), Swift Hunter (9), OPEN FEAT (12), Improved TWF (Ranger), OPEN FEAT (15), OPEN FEAT (18), Greater TWF (Ranger)
If you can get away with it, Extra Spell is a good feat to put Greater Mighty Wallop or Wraithstrike on your ranger list, but many DM's won't allow you to pick non-list spells with that feat.
The ACF's to take are:
Arcane Hunter (Ranger 1-Complete Mage)
Lion Totem (Barbarian 1-Complete Champion)
Whirling Frenzy (Barbarian 1-Unearthed Arcana but I'm only 50/50 on this, depends if your Sorcerer took haste as a spell or not)
Spell Reflection (Ranger 9-Complete Mage, you already have evasion from )
You could take another Improved Natural Attack in one of those open feats and get the 6d8 base damage back with your unarmed strikes, and I already mentioned Extra spell. Otherwise, I'd probably go (even though it isn't exactly optimal normally), with Power Attack and possibly Leap Attack (if I could get my jump modifier high enough). That'd let me sacrifice the IC bonus to hit for double that on damage, with a charge, which is pretty sweet. You could also look at Stand Still, if you can get reach for your natural attacks (enlarge person or polymorph from the sorcerer would work for this), to take advantage of the free Combat Reflexes feat to play a little battlefield control, which is a great combo with stunning fist. I'd probably take Stand Still before anything, and decide the other two based on the game.
That build starts out with Pounce and 1d6 of skirmish as well as 2 attacks/rnd and a +4 BAB at 6th, which is decent but not excellent. This can be more than made up for with all the bonuses from the bards, though. He's an okay/good tank throughout his career, with fairly high AC as long as he keeps moving and has a decent dex/wis, coupled with Evasion and Battlefield control (and his d8 hit dice), he should be rolling well. The build really comes into it's own at ~9th, and from there on, it's gravy train to damage town.
human rogue3/swashbuckler3/lion-totem whirling-frenzy barbarian2/swashbuckler12
1-able learner, twf
3-improved initative
6-daring outlaw
9-improved twf
12-greater twf
15-extra rage
18-two weapon rend