I've been trying to make a scary Gnome that is also combat effective. It requires the Taunt feat of course, but everything else is up in the air. (Martial character as a matter of course.)
I've been looking at the Order of the Cockatrice since they get Dazzling Display for free. Beast Rider for dinosaur mounts (Allosaurus to start and Dinonychus to follow up.) Maybe even Eldrich Heritage: Serpentine to get a toxic bite and the ability to talk to my mount. There's also the Haunted Gnome chain which I've tried to use before. Hit on a charge and they're shaken! (For only one round???)
These aren't exactly combat feats, of course. Other than the standard Power Attack, anything else I should consider? Other classes (preferably martial/full BAB) that are good at being scary? I want a crazy gnome that will make people quake in their boots at the mention of his name, and the force to back it up.
Perhaps a fighter with Dazzling Display and a hooked hammer?
Maybe a scary barbarian Gnome? Would that even work?
I'm not fond of playing spellcasters (which is tricky as I love gnomes and spellcasting is what they do best), and I'm only allowed hardcovers.
Thanks for your help.