Class for a leader of men

[The Souljourner]

So, I have a character who I've been playing for a while who I would like to rebuild with a new class or classes that better represent his current outlook. He's become lawful good and is now the captain of the guard of a medium sized city. He's currently 10th level, fighter/swashbuckler/dervish. I'm looking for a class that makes a good leader of men... something along the lines of a conglomerate of paladin (but not so divine), knight, crusader, and marshal.

I like the flavor of knights and marshals, but the actual classes kinda suck. Crusader seems like it would be a hell of a lot of fun in combat, and the white raven maneuvers especially work towards the theme I'm going for, but doesn't really do anything for out of combat stuff (no diplomacy, really hardly any out-of-combat effects at all).

Soo.... yeah, I don't know what to do. I'd love a paladin without divine powers who gets white raven tactics maneuvers and some decent out-of-combat abilities and skills.

Any thoughts?

-Nate

 

[frankthedm]

I like the flavor of ...marshals, but the actual classes kinda suck.

Martial does not suck at all. And the more allies you have, the better it gets. The ruleset itself may do a very very poor job of making units of troops viable allies for 10th level play, but don't blame the martial for that.

How do the white raven tactics maneuvers aid your allies?

 

[Darklone]

Bard?

Dragon shaman or any other aura class might be great.

 

[brehobit]

Crusader/Bard works really quite well for this. And Marshal doesn't suck at all, either as a class by itself or multi-classed.

I've got a character named "Lt. Linda Tirell" (L.T. for short). And she's the classic small-unit (8-20 person) leader (Great War in Eberron, now small mercenary unit). Bard/Marshal and probably going warblade or crusader. With Song of the White Raven, it works nicely. Just take Perform (Oratory) or some such to avoid the singing/music silliness.

 

[The Souljourner]

If the marshal had full BAB it would still be pretty weak. As it is, it doesn't even have that. It's kinda like a bard that gets fewer skills and doesn't get spells. Bleh. (and this from a guy who likes bards).

A Bard with Perform: Oratory isn't a terrible idea, but I don't really want the spells. I wish the marshal were a little better... the idea is pretty good, but the execution needs some serious work. It's like they just thought up a bunch of ideas and stuck them in auras and said "done".

-Nate

 

[3catcircus]

Heroes of Battle - Legendary Leader...

 

[Aust Diamondew]

If the marshal had full BAB it would still be pretty weak. As it is, it doesn't even have that. It's kinda like a bard that gets fewer skills and doesn't get spells. Bleh. (and this from a guy who likes bards).

A Bard with Perform: Oratory isn't a terrible idea, but I don't really want the spells. I wish the marshal were a little better... the idea is pretty good, but the execution needs some serious work. It's like they just thought up a bunch of ideas and stuck them in auras and said "done".

-Nate

But the marshall is still fun for a 1-2 level dip.
Take 2 levels of bard and learn the 1st level spell inspirational boost (improves inspire courage effects by +1).
And I second using perform (oratory) if you go bard.

Both of these classes in a small amount would give you more leader like help-your-allies-out than Paladin, who other than being able to be okay at healing and cast a few weak buffs he only gets Aura of Courage to help his comrades out.

 

[Votan]

Why not a Warblade who maxes out the White Raven maneuvers and stances?

You can maximize Diplomacy as a skill (with plenty of skill points) and Warblades seem to be very good in melee as well as you are useful when you don't have allies in a particular encounter.

 

[The Souljourner]

Heroes of Battle - Legendary Leader...

Wow awesome. Hell that whole book looks awesome. I just ordered it from amazon... thanks!

-Nate

 

[Thurbane]

Marshall/Legendary Leader...that's the next character I'm going to play, too...