The Wisdomancer (3.5e Optimized Character Build)

Introduction

Although not a True Spellcaster, the Wisdomancer makes up for this by addressing the two problems with The Two Most MAD Classes in Core. Paladin, and Monk. We'll be sacrificing 3 Paladin Spellcasting Levels. (Oh noes.) But we'll be gaining some nice bonuses to Lay on Hands, Divine Grace Saves, and pretty much everything else. If your DM does not allow Oriental Adventures, then pop that extra level into Monk or Paladin, your choice (I'd suggest Paladin.)

References

Dragon Compendium Core Complete Adventurer Book of Exalted Deeds Unearthed Arcana

Game Rule Components

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

None

Items

None

Progression

As always, we'll be using 32 Point buy. 18 Wis, 18 Con, 8 in Everything else. (Craziness, I know!)

Race (Templates): Human preferred. (I needs mah featz!)

Starting Racial Traits:

ECL	Class/HD/LA	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Feats	Class Features	Special
			Fort	Ref	Will
1st	Paladin of Freedom 1	+1	+2	+0	+0	Combat Expertise, Alertness, Sacred Vow, Vow of Poverty.	Aura of Good, Detect Evil, Smite Evil 1/day	Take Shaky and Pathetic for your Flaws. Which stat to lower? Charisma, baby!
2nd	Pal2	+2	+3	+0	+0	-	Divine Grace, Lay on Hands	Take Intuitive Attack for your Exalted Feat. Do it.
3rd	Pal2/Passive Way Monk1	+2	+5	+2	+2	Iron Will, Combat Expertise	Unarmed Strike, Unarmored AC Bonus, Flurry of Blows	We use Passive Way Monks to get around the required 13 int to get combat expertise.
4th	Pal2/Monk2	+3	+6	+3	+3	Improved Trip	Evasion	You could take just one level in Monk, but meh, you get evasion.
5th	Pal2/Monk2/Unarmed Swordsage1	+3	+6	+5	+5	-	Quick to Act, Discipline Focus (Weapon Focus)	Goody. Choose a Discipline that focuses on unarmed strikes. Shadow hand is nifty. Free weapon focus isn't bad.
6th	Pal2/Monk2/Swordsage2	+4	+6	+6	+6	Serenity	AC Bonus	Doesn't stack with monk. Oh well. Still, your unarmed damage SHOULD stack. If not, it doesn't really matter.
7th	Pal2/Monk2/Swordsage3	+5	+7	+6	+6	-	-	Well you don't get a whole lot this level, except for a new discipline level, so that's not too bad.
8th	Pal2/Monk2/Swordsage4	+6/+1	+7	+7	+7	Discipline Focus (Insightful Strike	-	You get to add your wisdom to your damage rolls now. Not too shabby.
9th	Pal2/Monk2/Swordsage4/Protector of Shiba1	+6/+1	+9	+7	+9	Ascetic Knight/Superior Unarmed Strike		Now you get to add your wisdom to your damage AGAIN, plus you add it to your attack rolls. So with Intuitive Attack, Insightful Strike, and No Thought, you get to add your wisdom to your Attack and Damage rolls twice. See? wasn't that worth it?
10th	Pal2/Mnk2/S.Sage4/Protector of Shiba1/Forsaker1	+7/+2	+11	+7	+11	-	-	You're probably asking why you should be going Forsaker. Well it's because you get +1 to one of your ability scores per level. So put it in Wisdom, considering it controls your AC, Saves, Attack, and Damage Rolls. That, and you've already given up magic items, might as well get an extra payoff for it. Once you max out Forsaker, take a level in Barbarian for the Spirit Lion Totem variant. Full attack after a charge? Yes, please.

Other Components

This class doesn't use magic. It's sort of his thing. No magic items, no magic spells. This can definitely suck for you, so get friendly with the party mage (Don't worry, he can get past your SR with no difficulty whatsoever).

Highlights

Wisdom Controls everything but your HP, and if you've done it right, you should have 24 for your Con by level 20. You're snazzy.

A breakdown at level 10
STR: 8
DEX: 8
CON: 18
INT: 8
WIS: 23
CHA: 8

HP (Using Average Rules): 88
AC: 24
Touch: 16
Flat: 24
Fort/Ref/Will: +21/+12/+23
Attack: +22/+17, 1d8+13 (+1/1d4 Against Evil)
Flurry of Blows: +20/+20/+15, 1d10+13 (+1/1d4 Against Evil)
Smite Evil: +6 Attack, +2 Dmg.

Feats:
Human Feat- Sacred Vow
Level 1- Vow of Poverty
Flaw Feat- Alertness
Flaw Feat2- Iron Will
Level 3- Expertise (Combat Expertise)
Level 6- Ascetic Knight
Level 9- Serenity

Exalted Feats
2: Intuitive Attack
4: Exalted Smite
6: Celestial Mount
8: Sanctify Natural Attack
10: Touch of Golden Ice



Now. So what we can see here, is that much of your abilities are now boosted AND controlled by your wisdom.

Your Attack Rolls are boosted by +14 by using stacking Intuitive Attack and the Shiba Protector's "No Thought" Ability. This is boosted by the VoP's special "Exalted Bonuses" Applied to their unarmed strike.

Your Damage Rolls are boosted by +14 due to the Shiba Protector's "No Thought" Ability combined with your +2 Exalted Bonus to unarmed Strikes and the Swordsage's Insightful Strike ability.

Your AC is controlled by Wisdom due to your Monk/Swordsage Levels, in addition to the tasty boosts from VoP.

All of your Paladin Abilities are Controlled by Wisdom. So your Divine Grace increases your Saves by +6, Your smite evil is now controlled by Wisdom, granting you +6 to your attack rolls, and +3-6 to your damage rolls (courtesy of Sanctify Natural Attack) In addition, your fists are now Good Aligned. Pretty sweet, AND, with every attack against an evil creature, they're afflicted with Golden Ice.

All of those other tasty boosts will be coming from VoP. This just goes to show you that you do not need "moar swordz."

Munchkin-Size Me

Really, there's not much you can do to make this character too much more badass. Sure, you could forget the VoP And get some kooky magical items. But what if your DM doesn't want to give you those shiny things? VoP is the only sure thing in DnD. It might not be as powerful as Level 20 gear (by about 30,000 GP), but you're versatile and able to hold your own.

Side Notes

This character works well in most situations. It works REALLY well against Evil Creatures

Limitations

There are some things that you simply can't do with a VoP. That's where you need a party to back you up (even if they're total nuub lawlz hax.)

DM Counters

You could always seperate the Paladin from his party, then throw something at him the VoP doesn't cover?

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