D&D 3E/3.5 Good Melee Builds For Low-Wealth 3.5 Campaigns?

[Venator]

One of the veteran players in my group is playing a character that would do incredibly well in a low-magic setting.

He is going:

1 cleric
2-6 paladin
7 pious templar
8-17 fist of raziel
18-20 cleric

Hes a smiting machine that can pour out massive amounts of damage, is immune to several different things, can cast 7th lvl cleric spells, tank, and every weapon he picks up is considered holy (and therefor good aligned).

 

[Tessarael]

Kensai is actually not a full BAB class so the BAB for that build would be +16 and the attack progression would be +30/+28/+23/+18 (2 lower with flurry). Also you seem to be flurrying with a guisarme which is not a monk weapon. I don't think that's possible.

Correct on the BAB, it is +16 at 20th level, attacks at +30/+30/+25/+20/+15. I am not including flurry, but I am assuming that Speed is one of the weapon enhancements chosen for the Kensai signature weapon.

 

[Toptomcat]

Frenzied Berserker is tasty in any sort of campaign.
The Oriental Adventures Samurai (I know, I know, not 3.5) also works well in this kind of situation for its kensai/Ancestral Weapon-like ability.

 

[Mistwell]

I think the new classes from Player's Handbook II would work well with this concept. Knight and Dragon Shaman both make fine front line people while they also have either magical or "special" abilities that boost their combat abilities. Duskblade is basically a fighter/mage who could also be front-line. All three would probably work with what you are looking for in a low-magic game.