I'm wondering if you guys think it's viable to create a Duskblade-esque character by creating an "arcane warrior" style archetype for the fighter? (perhaps by replacing fighter class features with arcane spellcasting [perhaps drawn from the magus list]?)I get the feeling that this would be the most tenable alternative to the Magus or multiclassing and would allow said character to retain a full BAB.
Thoughts/suggestions?
I think that's more than an archetype can really do. Just houserule the Magus to be full BAB and be done with it :)
I think a magus with full BAB might be too powerful.
Anyway, while a fighter with magus spellcasting instead of any of his class abilities would give you a full-time warrior with spells, you'd have no abilities to let you combine your two talents.
That's the biggest advantage the magus has: He might not have full BAB (though his ability to increase the magical ability of his weapon does help a bit in this regard), but unless all the other options we have so far, the magus allows you to really be a warrior and an arcanist at the same time, literally. That's quite nice, really.
I would look at giving them the magus spell list and trimming it even further down, nothing too controlling, like fog cloud. Then slow the progression of their armor and weapon training so that its gained at later levels and by 20 you lose one of each over normal fighter. Then give them the magus' spell strike at level 3 or 5, I'm leaning to 5 a little. I'd wager its too much to give them spell combat before spellstrike, but maybe around level 10 give them the ability to full attack and spellstrike with the first attack kinda like a magus' spell combat. That's a starting point I'd say. Essentially it's sacrificing some warrior oomph for a tad bit of arcane oomph with a few attacks. But, ithey'd qualifies them for arcane strike which could make up for losing weapon training, possibly too well...
I think a magus with full BAB might be too powerful.
I can assure you it wouldn't be.