Help me make this character

[Animal]

what about posting some actual builds, guys?
it seems to me that fighter 2/wiz(maybe specialist wiz?) 4/spellsword 1/abjurant champion 5/eldritch knight X would be the best choice for spiked chain wielding warrior-mage. but i'm not sure about feats and spells selection. arcane strike seems okay, maybe some reserve feats too.

 

[0bsolete]

After all, it sounds to me like he just want to be able to reach in there sometimes and take a whack at something to feel good about doing some good ol' fashioned physical damage.

I love the RP'ing possibilities here. I can just imagine thr wizard/sorceror dragging around this spiked chain he can barely use and then suddenly castihg a spell and... thwacka! Of course he'd never do a whole lot of damage, most liklely, but what fun!

This is more of what I'm thinking here. I'm wanting a character who uses a chain (spiked chain stats, bludgeoning instead of piercing)

Yeah, you guys are getting a bit confused here. My problem is not power. I can survive the campaign well enough and thats not really my fear. I'm not looking for min/maxing advice as much as I just want to know some potential methods to make the character I have in mind while still retaining as much spellcasting as possible. I want a caster-type character who uses a spiked chain occasionally and basically floats along the edge of combat, casting spells and reaching in when necessary to deliver a blow instead of a spell. Yes, I want to remain viable to the group, but I'm stuck on the feel of the character I'm going with. I'm not wanting to sacrifice parts of it for more power. I just want to know what my options are as far as ways to make this build useful to the party.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

The Force Mage w/Spiked Chain

Race: Human

Ftr2 (Armored Mage ACF; CompMage p32-33)/SpecWiz5: Abjurer or Evoker (Focused Specialist ACF; CompMage p34)

Class Progression (assuming PC thinks more like Wiz and started off in that class):

Lvl1: Wiz- take feats Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot
Lvl2: Wiz
Lvl3: Ftr- take feats XWP: Spiked Chain and Weapon Finesse
Lvl4: Wiz- boost Dex or Int
Lvl5: Wiz
Lvl6: Ftr- take feats Combat Expertise and either Imp. Trip or Imp. Disarm
Lvl7: Wiz- take feat Invisible Needle
Lvl8+: Wiz

WeaponProf: Simple, Martial

ArmorProf: Lt Armor & Shield (remember what mithril does, and also that there are good Lt/M armors in Oriental Adventures)

Special: No ASF in Lt Armor & Shield

Possible Spells:
Lvl0: Disrupt Undead, Ray of Frost, Mending, Bigby's Insulting Hand ( )
Lvl1: Bigby's Tripping Hand, Shield, Magic Missile, Persistent Blade, Ray of Flame
Lvl2: Blast of Force, Force Ladder, Whirling Blade (if you choose an edged weapon)
Lvl3: Chain Missile, Mage Armor (Mass)

Equipment:

Spiked Chain, Comp. Longbow, Quiver of Ehlonna (stocked with arrows, javelins and spears)

Other Wizard Options:

1) lose Familiar for Abjurer Resistance to Energy (UA p59);
2) lose Familiar for Abjurer Immediate Magic (force shield granting +2AC; PHB2 p68-70);
3) lose Familiar for Abjurer School Mastery (Abj spells targeting others have 2x duration; Dragon#357 p89);
4) lose Familiar and Scribe Scroll for Eidetic Spellcaster (Dragon#357 p89);
5) lose Familiar for Evoker Energy Affinity (UA p62);
6) lose Familiar for Evoker Immediate Magic (counterfire for 1d6 per 3 Wiz levels; PHB2 p68-70);
7) lose Familiar for Evoker School Mastery (+1 HP dmg per evoker spell target; Dragon#357 p89)

Other Fighter Options:

1) Use Guisarme (2d4 x3 slashing) instead of Spiked Chain (and Weapon Finesse), taking the feats Combat Reflexes, and any one of Short Haft, Deft Opportunist, Hold the Line, or Stand Still. This also makes Whirling Blade (2nd level spell) a viable spell option, and the weapon fits in the Quiver, so you can carry multiples.

2) Use Greatspear (2d6 x3 piercing, RI 10') instead of Spiked Chain (and Combat Expertise feat tree and Weapon Finesse), taking the feats Combat Reflexes, and up to any two of Short Haft, Deft Opportunist, Hold the Line, or Stand Still. The weapon fits in the Quiver, so you can carry multiples.

3) Use Naginata (1d10 x3 slashing) instead of Spiked Chain (and Combat Expertise feat tree and Weapon Finesse), taking the feats Combat Reflexes, and up to any two of Short Haft, Deft Opportunist, Hold the Line, or Stand Still. This also makes Whirling Blade (2nd level spell) a viable spell option, and the weapon fits in the Quiver, so you can carry multiples.

4) Use Kusari-gama (1d6/1d4 x2 slashing/bludgeoning double weapon) instead of Spiked Chain. This does less damage, but makes Whirling Blade (2nd level spell) a viable spell option.

He only loses 2 spellcasting levels, but that doesn't significantly affect his spells/day vs a standard wizard due to Focused Specialist. Nor does it affect the highest level of spell he can take.