I know, another Dragon Disciple build request....

[Fake Healer]

I would like to know if anyone has a good build for a Barbarian/Sorc/Dragon Disciple that is focused on melee and strength. I was looking at Crossblooded Orc/Draconic, but could be somewhat flexy. Lets assume 20 pt buy, open to different races (would like half-orc or even orc), not concerned with casting other than some self-buffs and such. Would like to figure out what levels to take different classes. Also would like to go to DD10.
So if anyone has any good builds that meet this idea, I would love to see it.

[VRMH]

If you want to focus on melee, you could use the new Spell-Like Abilities rule and take 5 levels of Barbarian, then one of Dragon Disciple, and only then pick up a level of Sorcerer.

[Quandary]

nice attempt to exploit the SLA thing :-), but the PrC specifically says it progresses spellcasting: "as if he had also gained a level in an arcane spellcasting class he belonged to before adding the prestige class". so you could do that (i.e. qualify for DD), but you would be missing out on spellcasting progression. anyhow, it's not much difference to take the 1 sorc level before entering DD, it probably has equal or more 'bang for the buck' anyways.

check out my alt profile "Hyundai Headsmasher", you can also check out it's post history for an arena PVP game he played in. That's only with APG stuff, so you can do more if you use more books. built for good STR and big single hits/AoOs, but also with serious attention to good saving throws (which is a strength of DD, but i built to maximize that strength). You could drop the Fighter part for more Barbarian, or drop the Barbarian part for Fighter and less hassle about Rage/Casting. Arcane Armor Training is kind of a drag to take, so other approaches without it could be considered (getting AC from another source like Barb Rage Powers). If your GM is open, I would say to highly consider using the 3.5 Battle Sorceror variant to get full Sorc casting without ASF% in appropriate armor (Mith Breastplate should be fine). Crossblooded can work, although I wouldn't count on DD adding new bloodline abilities or scaling existing ones from the non-Draconic side.

also, consider Rage Prophet, it's scaling Spirit Guide thing is something DD doesn't compete with, and as a package can work well, and if you're OK gaining claws/bite from some other source (if that's your aim). you might miss out a bit on some arcane spells (depending on mystery spells), but you make up for it on other areas like AC/armor, healing, etc.

[soupturtle]

If you know this is the umpteenth Dragon Disciple build thread recently, then you probably also know of Oterisk's guide to the Dragon Disciple. Lots of good advice in there.

If you want to be completely melee focused, I'd probably take 3 levels of barbarian and 2 of sorcerer before going into dragon disciple. Or 2 of each and one of fighter for the bonus feat or ranger for the guide ability, the bonus to ref saves and the ability to use CLW wands, as barb 3 doesn't give you much. Crossblooded seems like a decent plan if you don't care too much about casting anyway. Orc is definitely the one you want to mix with Draconic, unless you somehow do not want to take the lesser beast totem rage power, in which case Abyssal might be better for the extra claws. I think you can assume you can get the higher level bloodline powers: the blood of dragons abilities does say it increases the level of "your bloodline", rather than specifically saying "draconic bloodline" (which several other DD abilities, such as the bonus feats, do) so crossblooded works by RAW.

Half-orc is a very good option. Get the racial bite attack, and you'll have three natural attacks at pretty much all times. I'd start with 17 str (after the racial bonus), 14 dex, con and cha and a 10 and 8 in wis and int whichever way around you prefer. Take the 3 levels of barbarian first, then 2 sorcerer levels, then dragon disciple up to at least 8. Get the lesser beast totem rage power at barbarian 2, so you can use those claws when raging and your draconic claws when not raging.

As for feats: power attack is a must. Extra rage is probably something you'll want as well. Arcane armor training is unspectacular at first, as mithral chain is no better than mage armor, but armor is the cheapest thing to enchant with more AC bonuses, and you'll really want any cheap addition to AC you can get. The fact that it takes a swift action is a shame, but you're probably not going to cast quickened spells before level 16/17 at the earliest, and until then it's not really an issue.

Beyond that, arcane strike is solid, as is cornugon smash (possibly coupled with intimidating prowess, but that might be overkill). The dragon style feat chain combined with feral combat training could also be worthwhile, but it is hard to get as a barbarian. A single level of unarmed fighter (instead of barbarian 3) would be a strong dip to get you started on this, but it's still pretty feat intensive, so maybe it's not worth it. At some point you might also want to take the extra rage power feat for moment of clarity, to let you cast while raging (although that doesn't play nice with arcane armor training, so you'd have to suck up the spell failure chance).

Also, don't think you can get your strength even higher with eldritch heritage for abyssal. Both the Orc and Abyssal bloodlines give an inherent bonus, and bonuses of the same type don't stack.

For spells, look at things you can cast out of combat that are always useful, and things you can cast in combat that are regularly useful. Things like heroism, resist energy, mirror image, magic circle against evil. Also have a look at the monstrous physique line of spells, although you probably won't get them much sooner than form of the dragon.

[Fake Healer]

Nice advice Soupturtle. I wonder if I need more than 1 level in Sorcerer though...
@Quandry: Hyundai looks pretty decent and has a good strength going for him.

[soupturtle]

You don't need more than one level in sorcerer. But level 2 gives you a point of bab, so there's not much reason not to take it. You're still going to be a decent spellcaster in the end, so picking up a caster level without losing attack bonus is probably better than most of the things you could get from another class for that level.