Yes this is a min/max munchinist thing but there is a reason which is based on the campaign that is too long a story. Suffice to say that I'm looking to build the best dragon disciple that I can for a high level campaign (16+). And yes it needs to be a dragon disciple. I'm tending toward a beast caster approach with just using spells to enhance the damage but with some ranged spells as backup.
Starting as a crossblooded sorcerer with Draconic/Pit-Touched, taking 3 levels. Followed by 2 levels of Enlightened Paladin, then 10 levels of dragon disciple, and finishing with the remaining levels in Eldritch Knight. Using some of the feats to take Eldritch Heritage to pick up Strength of the Beast. And pick up Tough as Hell instead of breath weapon from the bloodline since you get it from dragon disciple.
This gets you your charisma bonus on your saves as well as your AC. Claws or unarmed strike when the claws run out. Dovetails with the Nat armor for the AC. A decent set of pluses to str, and con. And leaves you at a CL 9 for spells after the DD levels are done, with the bloodline powers of a 13th level sorcerer. But you picked up the wings from DD already.
I was thinking to focus spellwise on using shocking grasp (intensified, empowered, quicken) with spell perfection, and possibly elemental metamagic to allow changing energy damage without changing it's base type. While using the natural attacks to maximize the chance of the grasp going off.
Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?
Draconic bloodrager instead of sorc. The dragon disciple is a melee heavy prestige class, losing casterlevel off a (primarily buff based) half caster class is less of a loss than off sorc progression anyway.
Enlightened Paladin is nice, but will only grant you +2 AC. I'd prefer Smite Evil over Personal Trial so you can get a larger attack bonus and ignore DR once per day. Also get a Silver Smite Braclet for an additional daily use and +4 damage.
Don't forget your Robe of Arcane Heritage.
Do you want 10 level DD no matter what? Pal 2/Sorc 3/DD 4/EK 10 is better (imo) than the DD10 variant. I'd personally go Weapon + Shield in heavy armor with still spell for casting. You'll have very high AC and saves and your one-handed attacks will hit almost as hard as some two-handed builds. AND you have up to 7th level spellcasting for buffs and stuff.
Yes, I missed that Enlightened Paladin limits the bonus to your paladin levels and giving up smite for target seems less of a good trade given that. If it was a straight one for one, I think it worth it. With regards to DD, it's more for flavor than need. I want the wings at 9th, and form of dragon 2 at 10th from DD.
If I'm reading correctly you want to fight melee style, as a dragon when possible. Spells are going to be used to buff. I'm going to second the suggestion of Bloodrager over sorcerer. This way your claw attacks last as long a you can rage. If you go 16 straight bloodrager you get form of the dragon 2 while raging.