A good wizard/fighter build?

[Elder-Basilisk]

Optimal builds (IMO):

Fighter 1/Wiz 6/Eldritch Knight 10 (Core only)

Paladin 2/Sorcerer 6/Eldritch Knight 10 (core only)

Core only tactics:

True Strike+Power Attack is nifty, but only helps you dish out more damage than simply attacking once (instead of casting true strike) and then attacking again when:
A. the NPC is out of range in the first round but expected to be in range in the second,
B. The NPC is difficult for you to hit whether through armor class, concealment miss chance, or mirror image.

It is often more useful for succeeding on an opposed attack roll such as a disarm or sunder attempt.

Other good core spells:
Shield+two handed weapon.
Ray of enfeeblement+improved trip or improved bull rush
Enlarge Person+Improved Trip/Bull Rush/Sunder/Disarm and/or combat reflexes and cleave

Alter Self+troglodyte form (or, if an Aasimar, alter self+nifty outsider forms)
mirror image
see invisibility (because most fighters can't see invisible foes on their own)
false life
Bull's strength was great in 3.0, but in 3.5 its short duration gives it a very short window of usefulness; usually, you'd be better off just attacking one more time.
Resist Energy

Greater Magic Weapon (primarily at higher levels)
heroism
blink
displacement
fly (an option most fighters don't have)
flame arrow (in the even that you're an archer)

Polymorph
greater invisibility
enervation (quite nice when used with opposed roll tactics such as trip, etc)
Dimension Door (the fighter/mage's grapple defense (other than blink that is))

With the first complete books, you add:

A more fighting than spellcasting focused option:
Fighter 2/Wizard 4/Spellsword 10
Paladin 2/Wizard 4/Spellsword 10

and an improvement to the spellcasting focused version:
Fighter 1/Wizard 6/Spellsword 1/Eldritch Knight 10
Paladin 2/Sorcerer 4/Spellsword 1/Eldritch KNight 10

You also add a number of options that seem like they should be good, but are really only marginal, even if maximally tweaked:
Hexblade
Suel Arcanamach
Bladesinger

You add one extremely useful feat:

Arcane Strike

and one sometimes useful feat (it gets more useful, the more caster levels you lose):
Practiced Spellcaster

You also add a bevy of useful spells:

Fist of Stone
Critical Strike
Master's Touch
Swift Expeditious Retreat
Lesser orb spells
guided shot
arrow mind

Swift Fly
Whirling blade
bladeweave (it sure looks like it could be good, but I've never had a character the right level to make it work)
wraithstrike (one of the most broken spells in any edition, so IMO, no sane DM should let you have it, and most players will agree as soon as it's busted out against their PCs but it is in the books)

Greater Blink (High level, but incredible for a fighting wizard)

Fires of Purity (high level, but soo good that you have to mention it)

Spell Compendium adds a number of spells that I never had the opportunity to properly play with:

Blades of fire (new and improved from complete book version)
Weaponshift

Sonic Weapon
Mountain Stance
Burning Sword
Fearsome Grapple
Heroics

Diamondsteel
Dragonskin
Spiderskin
Steeldance (mostly for the heinousness you can do with multiple magic weapons--at high levels, a pair of bane or wounding weapons could be pretty deadly)

Greater Resistance
Orb of X,Y,Z

Nightstalker's Transformation
Greater Enlarge Person

Stone Body

Reaving Dispel

Moving on to the PHB II:

you gain a new fighting focused magical class that is more straightforward:
Duskblade

You gain a few spells:
Blade of blood

Dimension Hop (the cheaper get out of grapple free card)
Electric Vengeance
Stretch Weapon

Crown of Might
Energy Surge (but only if you get really cheesy and chain it, then use telekinesis to toss all the weapons at an enemy)
Evard's Menacing Tentacles

Slashing Dispel
Greater Mirror Image
Toxic Weapon

Greater Electric Vengeance

Complete Mage, I haven't fully read, but it adds the incredible Abjurant Champion prestige class which takes pretty much everything about Eldritch Knight and Suel Arcanamach get, rolls them into one package, and ties them up with a bow. The only reason to play Eldritch Knight if it is available is because you ran out of abjurant champion levels.

I believe the Ebberon Campaign Setting also has Knight Phantom which is like Eldritch Knight, but gets a bunch of relatively minor bonus abilities and the major ability: it's a class other than Eldritch Knight so it lets you extend your progressions to level 20 without either giving up 9th level spells or going back to sorcerer or wizard.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

One of my favorite spells for a Greatsword-using spellcaster is Whirling Blade.

Once the spell is cast, the spellcaster throws his edged weapon (here, the greatsword, but any edged weapon will do- even magical ones) and it attacks all targets within a 60' line at the caster's full BAB, which returns instantly to the caster's hand at the end of the spell's duration. As I recall, the caster uses either his Str or his spellcasting stat's bonus to his attacks, whichever is best.

The only question you'd need to ask before using the combo (assuming you can use the spell) is whether the DM considers it an Area Effect spell or an Effect spell (its wording is reminiscent of both, and if it is the latter, its truly unique among WotC spells). If its the former, choose Sculpt Spell as one of the PC's feats.

While its use against higher level opponents would be limited, its definitely a nice mooksweeper.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Actually, whirling blade is great against high level foes--at least when you actually mean high level foes rather than tough foes for your level.

A quickened whirling blade is a great 6th level spell because, not only does it work like a quickened lightning bolt with an attack roll rather than a save; it also can serve to get you another attack with arcane strike on a foe you just full attacked. Thus, the damage it does scales with your melee capability all the way into the stratosphere even while other 2nd level offensive spells remain mired in damage caps and low save DCs.

Arcane Strike the highest level spell you can spare and full attack with haste. Ordinarily you'd be done, but a quickened whirling blade lets you make another attack with the arcane strike attack and damage bonus (and fires of purity too if you managed to get that off before combat) against the enemy you just full attacked... and you get to attack any of his friends that you can catch in the line too. An extra 2d6+14+2d6 (holy) +1 con +7d4 (arcane strike) +14 (7 points of Power Attack, replacing the attack bonus from Arcane Strike) +15 fire (fires of purity (note the nerfed Spell Compendium version in use--not the Complete Divine version that I would empower with a rod of empower spell for (1d6+15)1.5 or about 27 points of damage on average)--total average: 74.5 +1 con. That's not just a mook sweeper, even at 15th-17th level. Without fires of purity, it's still pretty darn good at 59.5 average damage. (Note that the damage above assumes a +1 holy wounding greatsword greater magic weaponed up to +4 wielded by a character with a 24 intelligence who gets 1.5 intelligence damage with a 2-handed weapon during whirling blade (the last bit being perhaps questionable rules-wise)).

That's much more than a mook-sweeper. That's pretty darn good output for a 6th level slot spent for a swift action.

Heck, it's often worth the 7th level spell, 6th level spell, and 2nd level spell it costs to do that twice by just Arcane Striking and casting whirling blade and following it up with a quickened whirling blade.

While its use against higher level opponents would be limited, its definitely a nice mooksweeper.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

My comment about usefulness vs higher-level NPCs was in regards to things like Globes of Invulnerability or other effects that would prevent a 2nd level spell from affecting them.

OTOH, If you put it in the hands of a Giant Barbarian/Sorcerer aiming his 2-Handed Battleaxe aiming at a party coming up a hallway at him...

 

[Iku Rex]

Good post as usual Elder-Basilisk. Some thoughts:

Core spells:

Polymorph! deserves an exclamation mark. It is the most broken spell available to a fighter/mage. Annis hag, troll, treant or stone giant form makes you big, strong and almost invulnerable. Throw in a hydra form for lots of attacks.

Haste - Extra attack for you and everyone else.
Stoneskin and fire shield - Both excellent spells, deserve mention.
Overland flight - 1 hour/level fly, less speed.
Tenser's transformation - Keeps you from casting spells (bad), but can add a lot for a melee mage with a low BAB.
Iron body - 50% ASF, but can make you very hard to hurt
Shapechange - The ultimate buff spell.

With the first complete books, you add:

A more fighting than spellcasting focused option:
Fighter 2/Wizard 4/Spellsword 10
Paladin 2/Wizard 4/Spellsword 10

I really don't like more than one level of spellsword (for the "free" BAB and reduced ASF). You give up too much spellcasting for too little benefit.

Non-core prestige classes:
Master Transmorgifist (CArc) - Low on spellcasting, but offers some nifty abilities for a polymorph expert, especially on higher levels.
Recaster (RacEbb) - Changeling only. You loose one spellcasting level but get some decent options and (!) you get to add two spells from any spell list to your spells known. Divine power is a given, divine favor, righteous might or conviction (SC) are candidates for the second. I'm sure there are others. (Fiend-Blooded from Heroes of Horror has a similar ability, but it's restricted to Illusion, Enchantment and Necromancy spells. Not sure what to pick then.)
Runesmith (RacSto) - Cast in armor. Good for a mystic theurge.
Jade Phoenix Mage (Tome of Battle) - You loose two spellcasting levels, but it has full BAB and good class abilities.
Raumathari Battlemage (UnnaprEast) - Medium BAB, channel spells through sword. You loose one spellcasting level at lv 5, so four level dip ideal.
Sacred Exorcist (CDiv) - Medium BAB and turn undead - sorcerer with Divine Might feat!

As for class options the stalwart sorcerer or focused specialist from Complete MAge are good for melee mages.

Non-core spells you didn't mention:

Spell compendium:
Neverskitter (lv1) - Easy Init bonus
Girallon's blessing (lv 3) - Lots of attacks. Add fuse arms (lv2) for a 10 min/level unnamed +4 Str bonus or just go nuts with wraithstrike for lots of damage.
Greater mage armor (lv3) - 2 AC may not seem like much compared to mage armor, but can be good if already high AC.
Elemental body (lv7) - Lasts 24h. Great buff.

Races of the Dragon:
Wings of the dragon (lv2) - Total cover as immediate action. Sorcerer only. Must have if DM allows.
Greater mighty wallop (lv3) - More damage bludgeoning weapon.

Complete Mage:
Dimension Jumper (lv5) - Swift action, short teleports as move action for 1 round/level. Can attack after teleport. 9th level version too - teleport as swift action.
Heart of [Element] - 1 hour/level spells, minor bonuses, fortification, activate other spell (feather fall, stoneskin, fire shield, freedom of movement) as immediate or swift action one round/level (ends spell).
Karmic aura/backlash/retribution (lv1,3,6) - swift action, attacker becomes fatigued/exhausted/stunned if fail Will save.
Unicorn [X] (lv 3,5,7) - three unicorn themed spells with varying duration that grant bonuses and synergy effects together.

Draconomicon:
Draconic polymorph - Polymorph with +8 Str/+2 Con.

Champions of Valor.
Skin of the steel dragon - SR as immediate action.

 

[JiffyPopTart]

One of my favorite spells for a Greatsword-using spellcaster is Whirling Blade.

I have a greataxe wielding spellcaster with that spell available but never see why I would want to cast this instead of Lightning Bolt.

DS

 

[silentspace]

I have a greataxe wielding spellcaster with that spell available but never see why I would want to cast this instead of Lightning Bolt.

Because it's a lower level?

 

[Dross]

Eeks. One level of Bladesinger only looks pretty sick to me. And not even a limit to the Int to AC. Many prereq feats, this class has been written to make elven fighters surviveable.

I think that the CW Bladesingers INT bonus to AC goes only as high as your BS levels.

 

[rgard]

you want a wizard/fighter or a fighter/wizard?
I really like the battle sorcerer from UA.

Yes, it's a great class. I multiclassed mine with 3 lvls of swashbuckler. Also took a bloodline feat from the Dragon compendium and the Focus Item feat Unfamilar Territory article in the Dragon.

 

[Votan]

Complete Mage, I haven't fully read, but it adds the incredible Abjurant Champion prestige class which takes pretty much everything about Eldritch Knight and Suel Arcanamach get, rolls them into one package, and ties them up with a bow. The only reason to play Eldritch Knight if it is available is because you ran out of abjurant champion levels.

Am I the only person who wishes that there were another 5 levels of Abjurant Champion included in the book. Even without the abilities, the d10 hp and full caster progression are nice. Another 5 levels might extend some of those great abilities and increase class features like quickening abjuration spells.