Run up and beat em up caster

[Grizzled Gryphon]

So, are the XXform spells a viable way to go for a caster to be a melee combatant? Beastform, Form of the Dragon, etc. etc. look pretty good. Or is there more to it?

[Cassidius]

Well you'll still need good base stats to melee, but yeah those spells can make you a decent melee character. The real problem is your base attack bonus is so far behind what a real fighters is. Probably the best option for this would be a wildshaped druid with good melee stats.

[Master of the Dark Triad]

Eldritch knight+transmutations would be the way to go. You just don't have the BAB as a straight arcane caster.

[Reynard_the_fox]

I don't suppose you'd be OK with simply going Druid? Alternately, Dragon Disciple gets Form of the Dragon at higher levels. Failing that, Wizard (transmutation specialist) -> Eldritch Knight is your best best. I would suggest a reach weapon and Enlarge Person for good times.

If you're ok with not transforming, Magus or Battle Oracle might suit your tastes.

[Rory]

A Transformation Wizard with an amulet Arcane Bond (for Mighty Fists enchantment) can do decent even with a low BAB. The trick is that natural attacks don't suffer the -5 iterative attack penalty, nor do they have the Two Weapon Fighting penalty, and the wizard typically gets a size bonus to strength.

The hard part is to also get your defenses up to par to be able to stand in melee combat with relative safety.

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S: 17 D: 14 C: 14 I: 14 W: 8 Ch: 10 (20 pt human - 8 WIS because wizard in melee?!?)

Transmutation specialist gives you bonus to a physical stat. Choose STR at level 1 for an 18 STR. Choose a Quarterstaff for your Arcane Bond for MW qualities and +1 to hit at level 1. Swap it to an amulet around levels 3 to 5.

For the two feats: Toughness and Arcane Strike

At level 1: 18 STR = 17 natural + 1 enhancement

- Pre-Combat Spells: Mage Armor
- Combat Spell: Shield

+5 quarterstaff (1d6+7)

At level 3: 18 STR = 17 natural + 1 enhancement

- Pre-Combat Spells: Mage Armor, False Life
- Combat Spell: Alter Self (trogolodyte) +2 size bonus STR

+6/+6/+6 claw/claw/bite (1d4+6/1d4+6/1d4+6)

At level 5: 20 STR = 18 natural + 2 enhancement

- Pre-Combat Spells: Mage Armor, False Life, Ablative Armor
- Combat Spell: Beast Shape I (leopard) and +2 size bonus STR
- +1 Amulet of Might Fists (arcane bond)

+9/+9/+9 claw/claw/bite (1d6+9/1d3+9/1d3+9)

At level 7: 20 STR = 18 natural + 2 enhancement

- Pre-Combat Spells: Mage Armor, False Life, Ablative Armor
- Combat Spell: Beast Shape II (lion) and +4 size bonus STR
- +2 Amulet of Might Fists (arcane bond)

+12/+12/+12 claw/claw/bite (1d8+11/1d4+11/1d4+11) + pounce

etc.

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If something is too hard to hit, then you have the option to ditch melee, dismiss your beastform, and just cast spells instead.