Ways to boost melee attack bonus?

[kerbarian]

Specifically, I'm thinking in terms of an arcane caster trying to make up for his reduced BAB and (probably) strength.

The obvious choices are polymorph, to get a huge strength and thus good attack bonus, and wraithstrike, so that you don't need a good attack bonus. Polymorph generally requires a round of in-combat buffing, though, and wraithstrike burns through spells pretty quickly. Plus, both are arguably broken and might be restricted or disallowed in some campaigns.

So what are the other options? What spells, items, or feats can significantly boost an arcane caster's attack bonus? Or even small level dips into another class. Is there perhaps some way to sacrifice damage or AC for a better attack roll?

I've thought of a few things so far, but they each have their issues:
Quickened True Strike
Tenser's Transformation
(Greater) Heroism
Greater Magic Weapon
Bite of the Weretiger (or similar)
Arcane Strike
The "Skillful" weapon property

 

[Question]

I dont understand what you mean by a round of in cobmat buffing?

 

[shilsen]

I dont understand what you mean by a round of in cobmat buffing?

I presume he means it needs to be cast during combat, due to the short duration, as opposed to being cast a while beforehand.

 

[Iku Rex]

(Not all "significant", but still potentially useful.)

Create magic tattoo (SC) can get you a +1 luck and/or a +2 competence bonus on attacks, but the 100 gp material component hurts.

Sure strike (PHBII, lv 2) gives you a +1/3 CL insight bonus on one attack roll (swift spell).

Blink, greater blink (SC) or improved invisibility give you +2 on attacks against opponents that can't see invisible and have other benefits.

Fly could arguably give you +1 for higher "ground" against most opponents.

Heroics (SC, lv 2) could give you Weapon Focus. (As well as other fighter feats.)

Haste gives you +1 on attacks.

Beyond that it's mostly about Str. Rage (+2 Str +) isn't very good. Elation (BoED, lv 3) (+2 Str, +2 Dex, +5' move, large area) can be worthwhile, especially in a large party. Girallon's blessing (SC, lv 3) + fuse arms (SC, lv 2) (or just fuse arms, if you don't mind having only one arm) is +4 Str.

Spells or effects that affects you opponents's AC can accomplish the same as an increased AB. Improved Trip (prone, -4 AC) can be very effective if you've polymorphed into something big and strong, or if you're just strong and using enlarge person. Ray of clumsiness (SC, lv 1) or scale weakening (SC, lv 2) are ray spells with no save and lower AC.

Arcane Disciple (CD) lets you add some cleric spells to your spell list (if you have the Wis). Divine favor, divine power or righteous might can be handy for a melee mage, especially if you can find some way to cast them more than once/day. (Limitation in the feat. )

 

[kerbarian]

Sure strike (PHBII, lv 2) gives you a +1/3 CL insight bonus on one attack roll (swift spell).

That would be decent if it were for one round instead of just one attack :\.

Fly could arguably give you +1 for higher "ground" against most opponents.

Heh, I hadn't thought about that. It's a good one to stack on when possible.

Heroics (SC, lv 2) could give you Weapon Focus. (As well as other fighter feats.)

Are there any feats that really help with attack bonus, though, aside from weapon focus? I can't think of any except for very situational ones.

Beyond that it's mostly about Str. Rage (+2 Str +) isn't very good. Elation (BoED, lv 3) (+2 Str, +2 Dex, +5' move, large area) can be worthwhile, especially in a large party. Girallon's blessing (SC, lv 3) + fuse arms (SC, lv 2) (or just fuse arms, if you don't mind having only one arm) is +4 Str.

Hmm... just fuse arms could work for the enlightened fist build I was considering. One issue, though -- can you wear gloves, bracers, and 2 rings on one arm?

Arcane Disciple (CD) lets you add some cleric spells to your spell list (if you have the Wis). Divine favor, divine power or righteous might can be handy for a melee mage, especially if you can find some way to cast them more than once/day. (Limitation in the feat. )

Divine Power would be the holy grail for this type of improvement, I think. I don't see any way to cast it more than once per day, though, which kindof rules it out as a general solution. If there were any way for a Sorcerer to get access to the War domain (actually adding the domain, not just arcane disciple for it), he'd be able to cast it as often as he wanted, but I don't know of any way to get that.

You can always use limited wish for it, and that might actually be worthwhile at very high levels, but not until then.