Mage Tank (3.5e Optimized Character Build)

Introduction

This is just a basic Gish I made one day when our gaming group had half the people cancel one day due to various reasons. I had a lot of fun with it. It starts out very powerful, but you have to be careful since after you use all of your spells you become a Fighter with no feats, and low hp. I decided to use the Thug variant of Fighter since you wont be wearing heavy armor anyhow, most likely. Likewise, I chose the Battle variant for Sorceror, since you get a higher BAB and d8 HD though you do sacrifice spell slots in the long run. Neither of these variants are required, to make the build work, it's just my personal taste.

References

PHB, Unearthed Arcana, Complete Warrior, Complete Adventurer, Complete Mage, Unearthed Arcana

Game Rule Components

Spells, Powers, Soulmelds, Stances, etc...

Wraithstrike, Arcane Strike

Items

<- items used in this build ->

Progression

Starting Ability Scores (Before Racial Adjustments): Str 16, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 16 with a 36 point buy

Race (Templates): Human

Starting Racial Traits: Bonus Feat, Extra Skill points

ECL	Class/HD/LA	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Feats	Class Features	Special
			Fort	Ref	Will
1st	Fighter (Thug) 1	+1	+2	+0	+0	Power Attack, Weapon Focus (Greatsword)	Boring	Martial Weapon Proficiency, Light Armor Proficiency
2nd	Fighter (Thug) 2	+2	+3	+0	+0	Combat Expertise	Boring
3rd	Fighter (Thug) 2, Battle Sorceror 1	+2	+3	+0	+2	Combat Casting	1st level Spells!	A familiar if you want it
4th	Fighter (Thug) 2, Battle Sorceror 2	+3	+3	+0	+3		+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class
5th	Fighter (Thug) 2, Battle Sorceror 3	+4	+4	+1	+3		+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class
6th	Fighter (Thug) 2, Battle Sorceror 4	+5	+4	+1	+4	Optional	+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class
7th	Fighter (Thug) 2, Battle Sorceror 4, Abjurant Champion 1	+6	+4	+1	+6		+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class	Abjurant Armor, Extended Abjuration
8th	Fighter (Thug) 2, Battle Sorceror 4, Abjurant Champion 2	+7	+4	+1	+7		+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class	Swift Abjuration
9th	Fighter (Thug) 2, Battle Sorceror 4, Abjurant Champion 3	+8	+5	+2	+7	Arcane Strike	+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class
10th	Fighter (Thug) 2, Battle Sorceror 4, Abjurant Champion 4	+9	+5	+2	+8		+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class	Arcane Boost
11th	Fighter (Thug) 2, Battle Sorceror 4, Abjurant Champion 5	+10	+5	+2	+8		+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class	Martial Arcanist
12th	Fighter (Thug) 2, Battle Sorceror 4, Abjurant Champion 5, Eldritch Knight 1	+11	+7	+2	+8	Optional		Bonus Feat
13th	Fighter (Thug) 2, Battle Sorceror 4, Abjurant Champion 5, Eldritch Knight 2	+12	+8	+2	+8		+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class
14th	Fighter (Thug) 2, Battle Sorceror 4, Abjurant Champion 5, Eldritch Knight 3	+13	+8	+3	+9		+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class
15th	Fighter (Thug) 2, Battle Sorceror 4, Abjurant Champion 5, Eldritch Knight 4	+14	+9	+3	+9		+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class
16th	Fighter (Thug) 2, Battle Sorceror 4, Abjurant Champion 5, Eldritch Knight 5	+15	+9	+3	+9		More spells
17th	Fighter (Thug) 2, Battle Sorceror 4, Abjurant Champion 5, Eldritch Knight 6	+16	+10	+4	+10		+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class
18th	Fighter (Thug) 2, Battle Sorceror 4, Abjurant Champion 5, Eldritch Knight 7	+17	+10	+4	+10		+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class
19th	Fighter (Thug) 2, Battle Sorceror 4, Abjurant Champion 5, Eldritch Knight 8	+18	+11	+4	+10		+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class
20th	Fighter (Thug) 2, Battle Sorceror 4, Abjurant Champion 5, Eldritch Knight 9	+19	+11	+5	+11		+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class

Other Components

Optional feats: Toughness and Improved Toughness to make up for low hit die. Improved Combat Expertise and Defensive Strike You might also want to take Exotic Weapon Proficiency. Spiked Chain and Jovar are both nice. Spiked Chain gives you reach, the Jovar is basically a Greatsword with a 18-20/x2. Stack on Improved Critical and the like, and that's a lot of damage.

Highlights

Basically, the idea is you cast Shield, then you use Wraithstrike on yourself making all of your attacks for that round resolve as touch attacks. You then use Power Attack, sacrificing most of your BAB for damage. Then you start feeding Arcane Strike with your spells slots to get your BAB back for those attacks, and to get additional damage dice as well. So at say, level 13 you can sacrifice 4 level 3 spells for a +12 bonus to attack, and +12d4 damage to all attacks. If you have Haste cast, that's 4 attacks, and all touch attacks. If they all hit, you're dealing 8d6+48d4+96+(STRx1.5) before you even factor in things like if your weapon is magical. At level 13.

Munchkin-Size Me

You're already fairly munchkin, aren't you?

Side Notes

Limitations

It only truly shines when you have spells. Once you're out of spells? Well, you're a fighter with almost no feats and low health.

DM Counters

Things that force you to make Reflex saves. Usual melee counters such as concealment, distance. Throwing enough monsters at you that you run out of spells to feed to Arcane Strike.

Miscellaneous

<- Any other side notes that don't fit in the above sections. ->

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