Mage, staff combat training

[Nifft]

This combo is just screaming Eldrich Knight!

Assuming Human. If you specialize, take Divinations -- you can never have too many True Strikes memorized.

1: Wiz1 - Combat Expertise, Improved Disarm
2: Wiz2
3: Wiz3 - Weapon Focus (Staff)
4: Wiz4
5: Wiz5
6: Ftr1 - TWFighting, TWDefense
7: EK1 - Power Attack -- particularly fun while under the effect of a True Strike
8: EK2
9: EK3 - Still Spell -- who's that guy casting in full armor?! -- or Craft Magic Arms & Armor
10: EK4
11: EK5
12: EK6 - Quicken Spell -- now you can Quicken your True Strikes while Power Attacking, Disarming, whatever you'd like

-- N

 

[BVB]

Good ideas, all. Many thanks.
(I often forget about disarming the other guy. Makes sense, though.)

I guess I want him to LOOK like a mage, ACT like a mage, have a least a few decent spells to CAST like a mage ... and then be able to surprise anyone who closes in thinking he's a push-over. *WHAM* sucker!

Alternately, I'm thinking how much fun it would be to develop a character who really truly believes he's a wizard, but his combat abilities are actually much stronger. Perhaps only a few levels of wizard or sorcerer. ... Again, he presents himself as a mage, but his friends know that his strengths lie elsewhere. Don't we all know someone like that, who dreams of one career even though he's better suited for something else?

 

[Pielorinho]

You could also consider a PrC or alternate core class based around stick-fighting. I'd imagine it looking something like the monk, except with different bonus feats (at first level, WF: staff; at second level, disarm or trip; at eighth level, WS: staff); instead of a Wis bonus to AC, the ability to treat a staff as a large wooden shield (and a magical staff as a magical large wooden shield). Stuff like that.

Daniel

 

[Darklone]

If you go Eldritch Knight, start as a fighter at all costs. You'll have enough skillpoints later to max out your wizard skills and you'll need the hitpoints.

Expertise will help you AC wise if you don't have enough time for magical protections.