Im going to make melee guy and need help

[Drake2009]

So ive got a start on him already. We are playing pathfinder and I know i want him to be a paladin but he will stop being one and then go to fighter with level dips. Any idea on what dips i should have? I'm looking for easy to use things and not many prestige classes. Also hes gonna be using a b-sword and a shield. Also he will be grappling. I already have an LA picked out its a 1 and its Half-minotaur. Any suggestions on the guy are very welcome.

[Corinath]

Link! (http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19870162/The_Paladins_Handbook_--_2007)

Not a Paladin player myself, but this should help.

Cheers!

[Urpriest]

If you're playing Pathfinder you can't use Half-Minotaur. If you're grappling you don't gain benefit from a shield and can't attack with a Bastard Sword without lots of feats. In Pathfinder, Paladin is strong enough that dipping Fighter levels would weaken your character.

[Drake2009]

Why cant i use Half-Minotaur. Also i forgot to mention its more of a Pf.5 mix between pathfinder and 3.5

Edit: Also Im gonna be using trip and stuff

The trip and grapple advice is from here
http://diceofdoom.com/blog/2009/11/powergaming-making-a-powerful-fighter-or-monk-in-core-3-5-dd/

[Urpriest]

Why cant i use Half-Minotaur. Also i forgot to mention its more of a Pf.5 mix between pathfinder and 3.5

Edit: Also Im gonna be using trip and stuff

The trip and grapple advice is from here
http://diceofdoom.com/blog/2009/11/powergaming-making-a-powerful-fighter-or-monk-in-core-3-5-dd/

You hadn't specified you were using 3.5 content, that's all I meant.

One thing you should take into account is that Pathfinder does level adjustment differently from how 3.5 does it, so you'll want to take that into account. I'm not sure of the details, but basically it's CR-based.

You can't trip with a bastard sword IIRC.