Long story short, our new GM has a hatred of Magus, and has banned them (along with Summoner and any Occult classes) leaving me with Eldritch Knight as my primary choice. The only problem I'm having is that we're limited to CRB only at 1st level, and that takes away some of my options. Should i just go wizard and then into Swashbuckler, or is Fighter into Arcanist a better option?
What is your goal for this EK?
Second what Chess Pwn asked.
Basically, I like having access to buff spells and crowd control but I don't care for direct damage spells. Mostly going to be in the thick of it, and use spells for utility/tactics.
Have you considered a cleric or druid? You could achieve what you arw after with the standard model, right out of the box.
Even CRB-only, there are several options:
1) [fighter or ranger] 1/wizard 6/eldritch knight 2/arcane archer 3/eldritch knight +8 for an archer/caster that ends up with +17 BAB and spell progression as a 17th-level wizard
2) [barbarian or paladin] 2/sorcerer 3/dragon disciple 4/eldritch knight 10/sorcerer +1 for a more melee focused approach (barbarian to hit harder, paladin for more staying power) that ends up with +17 BAB (but +4 Str and +3 natural armor) and spell progression as a 16th-level sorcerer
3) you can even go barbarian 2/bard 1/wizard 2/dragon disciple (advance wizard spellcasting) 4/eldritch knight 10/wizard +1 if you want a melee-focused wizard that ends up with +16 BAB (but +4 Str and +3 natural armor from dragon disciple, plus Rage from barbarian) and spell progression as a 15th-level wizard
They don't get Arcane Pool, Spell Combat, or Spellstrike (although the first eventually gets Enhance Arrows and Imbue Arrow), but all three will have a better attack bonus and more/higher-level spells.
I really like the wizard spell list for debuff and crowd control, and we already have a Cleric on the team.
And we are only restricted to CRB at 1st level. Once we hit 2nd level we can branch out to anything other than the banned items (Occult Adventures, Magus, Summoner).
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Of course, there's always fighter 1/arcanist (blade adept*) 6/eldritch knight with Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Whip), Weapon Finesse, the Eldritch Blade and Spellstrike exploits (one through the Extra Arcanist Exploit feat at fighter 1/arcanist 6), and possibly the Whip Mastery feat chain.
Human
Ftr 1 - Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Whip), Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (Whip)
Arc 2 - Whip Mastery
Arc 4 - Slashing Grace
Arc 5 - Exploit (Spellstrike)
Arc 6 - Extra Arcanist Exploit (Eldritch Blade)
For other races, move Weapon Focus (Whip) to Arc 2, Whip Mastery to Arc 4, and take Slashing Grace with the bonus combat feat for EK 1. Although, with your GM banning magi, blade adept may not be allowed either...
*- choosing whip as the "one-handed piercing or slashing melee weapon" for Sword Bond
Consider Favored Prestige Class and Prestigious Spellcaster if you can afford the feats in order to pick a level of spellcasting back up.
I really like the wizard spell list for debuff and crowd control, and we already have a Cleric on the team.
And we are only restricted to CRB at 1st level. Once we hit 2nd level we can branch out to anything other than the banned items (Occult Adventures, Magus, Summoner).
Occultists are banned?!? Your GM is EVIL! Run!!!
If you want a bit of a different option look at the witch.
Half orc with the toothy trait.
Start with ranger for 2 levels and pick up aspect of the beast (claws) from the natural weapon style.
Witch levels from there until you switch in to Eldritch knight
Feats
1 improved unarmed strike.
3 weapon focus (claws)
5 feral combat training
7 hex strike (evil eye)
Focusing on natural weapons lets you use your highest bab on every attack. Hex strike gives you a chance to debuff every turn that you hit. With evil eye you can debuff multiple ways. Start with saving throws on tougher enemies and then ac or attack rolls. Even on a successful save the hex lasts 1 round.
Witch spell list gives you debuffs and crowd control and your hexes can offset some of the reduced spellcasting. You won't get many and you DCs will be lower so look at the utility hexes like cauldron and flight. Prehensile hair gives you a fourth attack, secondary so at a -5 but still nice.
Improved familiar will get you a wand buddy to get some buffs up quickly.
Sohei Monk + Empyreal Sorcerer -> Eldritch Knight
Wis>Str=Dex=Con>Int>Cha
Take Prestigious Spell Caster to keep your caster level up
Buy/Make a guidance weapon
@Dragonchess nice one with the whip arcanist