Help in Optimizing 3.P Shining Hammer of Moradin

[Tokuhara]

I have a week before I hop into a new d&d group.

This is the party:

Half-Elf (PF) Healer - Obvious what he does

Human (PF) Focused spontaneous Diviner/Master Specialist - Battlefield control wizard

Half-Orc (PF) Ninja (PF) - Damage machine, dual-wielding a Kama and a hand-axe

Noble Drow (PF) Summoner (PF) - Flanking buddy for the Ninja/Buff-caster. His golem (can't actually spell the class feature) is planned to be spider-like for fluff and use it's bladed feet and a bite attack as it's primary damage.

Me: Well, I want to use a variant of Shining Blade of Heironious, but use Moradin as my deity. I want to be able to "Tank" and keep pressure off the Diviner. I definitely am going to be a dwarf-y dwarf, but with Crusader (the go-to tank). How can I make Shining Blade Optimal?

Here are the rules:

PFSRD and all of 3.5 available at your disposal

Must use dwarf and "Shining Hammer of Moradin" variant Shining Blade for full (Or Nearly Full), unless someone has made a Moradin-themed Ruby Knight Vindicator, then sub out some levels of Shining Hammer, but I still want a few levels.

Paragon Classes are now "+1 to current class" for all 3 levels, and are not necessary, are encouraged.

No "free feat cheats."

Not a heavy caster (seeing as we have 3). Definitely will use my casting for self-survival. I am not the damage-monster, but the Damage-Sponge.

Any other questions, feel free to ask.

[Diarmuid]

I'm not familiar with the Shining Blade of Heironeous, but there is a Hammer of Moradin PrC in the PGtF.

[Tokuhara]

I'm not familiar with the Shining Blade of Heironeous, but there is a Hammer of Moradin PrC in the PGtF.

Maybe a dabbling of both? I'm not picky. I just want Shining Hammer of Moradin and be a tank.

[Diarmuid]

I dont see anything in Shining Blade that really does anything to enhance your "tanking" potential.

Crusader + Cleric (or however you want to get the ability to cast 2nd lvl divine spells) into Hammer of Moradin is probably a better bet.

What level are you going to be?

[Tokuhara]

I dont see anything in Shining Blade that really does anything to enhance your "tanking" potential.

Crusader + Cleric (or however you want to get the ability to cast 2nd lvl divine spells) into Hammer of Moradin is probably a better bet.

What level are you going to be?

Shining Blade (hammer in this case) gives me better WBL, since it gives "free" enchantments with a Hammer, meaning I can spend more of my WBL on my armor.

We're starting at level 5 (Party started at level 1).

Unless someone has a better "tank" build than a dwarf crusader/paragon/cleric/HoM/SHoM. If anyone does, I'm all ears.

[Diarmuid]

The biggest problem with "Tank" builds in D&D is the almost complete lack of a "taunt" mechanic.

The Knight's Test of Mettle and the Goad feat are only two that I'm aware of, and neither is really that special.

The HoM also gives weapon enhancements, but in comparing the two the HoM's are much more situational and less generically impactful.

What's your leveling plan look like the character? You're looking at earliest entry into SBoM at 9th to satisfy the casting and BAB requirements. 2 more SBoM levels gets you to the casting requirement for HoM, and that point your 12th level and you have 9 more HoM levels or 7 more SBoM levels to work in. Both classes are easily worth taking to 9.

I would say you should probably just choose 1 or the other and only you can really make that distinction. The HoM is decidely more "dwarfy" playing to dwarven traits and racial enmities and has some inherent defensive abilities, but it also doesnt have any spellcasting progression.

[Tokuhara]

The biggest problem with "Tank" builds in D&D is the almost complete lack of a "taunt" mechanic.

The Knight's Test of Mettle and the Goad feat are only two that I'm aware of, and neither is really that special.

The HoM also gives weapon enhancements, but in comparing the two the HoM's are much more situational and less generically impactful.

What's your leveling plan look like the character? You're looking at earliest entry into SBoM at 9th to satisfy the casting and BAB requirements. 2 more SBoM levels gets you to the casting requirement for HoM, and that point your 12th level and you have 9 more HoM levels or 7 more SBoM levels to work in. Both classes are easily worth taking to 9.

I would say you should probably just choose 1 or the other and only you can really make that distinction. The HoM is decidely more "dwarfy" playing to dwarven traits and racial enmities and has some inherent defensive abilities, but it also doesnt have any spellcasting progression.

Hammer of Moradin is probably closer to my intent of "tanking," but I just like the fluff of a Shining Hammer of Moradin. I'll probably HoM for 9 and dip a level or two into SHoM for the free enchantments (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnGqeVoUBnM).