A hiding fighter

[GhengisConrad]

Okay, so I have traditionally always used 'ShadowLord' in my builds, and I love him greatly... however, sadly, my current tastes lead me in different directions. It's alot of work to get 2d6 sneak attack and meet the spellcasting RAW.

I still have a pension for the hide and move silently skills, but want to be a high-damage causer.

Can anyone think of classes/builds that optimize being a melee type with hiding?

[Eldariel]

Mix Ranger into any non-caster or gish build and it works. Ranger 1/Wizard 6/Abjurant Champion 5 for instance. Most classes can do it TBH; Able Learner [Races of Destiny] makes it doubly easier. Clerics are notable for being melee monsters and able to get stealth skills in class without any multiclassing. Cloistered Cleric (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#clericVariantCloistere dCleric) gets the skill points, and with Trickery-domain and some source of Move Silently (this compendium (http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=9071.0) is useful for such) you've got the whole setup. Then you just persist Divine Power (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/divinePower.htm) with e.g. Divine Metamagic so you have full BAB all day and call it a day.

[Emperor Tippy]

Rogue 1/ Factotum 8/ Invisible Fist Decisive Strike Martial Monk 2/ Swashbuckler 3/ Swordsage 1/ Mindbender 1/ Fighter 4.

For race I would go Necropolitan Gray Elf. Throw on Dark (the Tearing of the Weave version preferably) if LA buy off is allowed.

Take Darkstalker, Craven, Mindsight, Shadow Blade, Kung Fu Genius, Faerie Mysteries Initiate, and make all the rest Font of Inspiration. Wield a +5 Collision Shortsword. If you want ranged, go Targetteer Fighter and take the Dex to damage ACF instead of one of your feats.

There you go, a hiding fighter.

[Greenish]

Slapping a Shadowdancer dip (or the better version of Dark template) and Darkstalker on most any pouncer build should work. I'm partial to Revenant Blade sneaks, but that eats a lot of feats and takes a long time to get to Shadowdancer.

[EugeneVoid]

Sneak Attack Fighter (Unearthed Arcana) is exactly what you are looking for.
But it's not very strong. :O

Trades feats for +1d6 sneak attack.