Making a Commander

[Cathedralsquares]

My DM has given me the go-ahead to play a minor army captain, giving me control of six of scaling Hobgoblin warriors with the ability to call in more as we come across them. They'll always be half my level and I can equip them as I please. How can I make my band of goblin brothers the most feared martial sight in the land? It's a crazy 40 point buy and he's open to any class/feat combos provided I stick with my theme.

[clawoftiamat]

You need to play a cavalier or bard. As a cav you can give them your teamwork feats, and as a bard, you can inspire courage etc.

[magikot]

Inspiring Commander Archetype from THIS BOOK is a great starting point. You can buff your minions and still be a powerful front-line character.

Couple that with the Order of the Citadel from THIS BOOK. Hand out even more buffs and tactical bonuses to yourself and minions.

Take ten levels in the Battle Herald prestige class if you like to grant them healing and DR. Also, a 1 level dip into Warlord from THIS BOOK is a good passive buff.

18/16/14/14/14/8 would be a 40 point spread I would use for this type of character. Get great combat stats and a good int and cha for your cavalier abilities.

If you take Master Performer and Grand Master Performer (normally they require TPA in Kith Academy, but I don't think your DM will mind you taking them from the sounds of it) from Factions guide and find a Badge of Valor (3.5 Magic Item Compendium), by level 20 your Inspire Courage will be granting a total of +7 to attack and damage (+8 if you dip Warlord due to their passive benefits.)

[David knott 242]

Hmmm.... Since Bard and Cavalier were recommended classes, maybe you should consider working towards the Battle Herald prestige class?

[bfobar]

Cavalier (Strategist, Order of the Dragon) or same Cavalier 3 / Bard 1 / Battle herald.
Get leadership for more peons.
Have all of your peons take glave-guisarmes, flails, tower shields, and heavy crossbows.

If in ranged combat, have the high dex peons shoot the crossbows and the low dex peons load them. When you get charged, everybody polearms the enemy. Then the front row pulls out flails and goes to town tripping. All while hiding behind a wall of tower shields.

Have your peons be tactician fighters, phalanx fighters, or crossbowman fighters, or a mix of all three.

[Cathedralsquares]

One thing I considered for my soldiers was running a double rank with Tower Shield Shield Walled hobgoblins in front with polearms striking from behind their total cover. Unable to push past the shield wall and taking damage no matter how they move from one side or the other I'd be capable of beating anything that wasn't capable of flying. The party wizard could ensure that even flying creatures can be brought down to size.

[Cathedralsquares]

Has anyone tried the Warmaster class?

[Cheapy]

It's my favorite base class that fills the niche. Makes everyone else more awesome, while still being able to fight decently.

[magikot]

The Warmaster looks great on paper, but I have yet to play it.

[Cathedralsquares]

What are some good ways to maximize the damage of my minions without straying into magic land. Hobgoblins hate magic and refuse to use it.