Commoner Squad Alpha Force Dread Team!

[ekarney]

The aim of this thread is to optimize a group of 4 Commoners, to be viable choices at levels 1, 5, 11, and 20.

Now, I'm not talking about putting them on par with Wizards, or even High Op fighters and rogues, but to be viable as a group in their own right. in a low power campaign.

The rules I'll be running by is if I were to DM this as a campaign. (I won't be)
-You must have at least 11 commoner levels by level 20.
-You get 1 free feat at level 1 in addition to any other feats.
-Before level 20 the majority of your HD must be commoner levels. (At least 1/1 at level 1, 3/5 at level 5, 6/11 at level 11 so on so forth.) However in between check points you do not need to be majority commoner. Example: an 8th level character could be Commoner 3/*Class* 5
-Survivor levels count as commoner levels.
-Taking leadership must be justified.
-Treat money as 1.5x standard WBL.
-Elite array for ability scores.

I'd like to call it a contest but really it's more of a challenge, the idea is to emulate the standard party.

3.X or Pathfinder, just make sure to specify.

I'll edit an attempt into the OP once I have a bit more time

[Twilightwyrm]

Are you allowing the Tome of Battle? Because under this paradigm, the warrior, expert and healer/tank can be filled by Warblade 9/Commoner/Survivor 6, Swordsage 9/Commoner 11, and Crusader 9/Commoner/Survivor 11 respectively, leaving only the arcanist as something of a difficulty. They aren't going to compete with standard class builds by any stretch of the imagination, but this set up gives 7th level maneuvers, enough BAB to work with, and enough class features and skills to make for a decently competent group. Hell, we could even make Wizard 9/Commoner 11 the other party member because, while not nearly as good as a full class counterpart, 5th level spells are still nothing to sneeze at.

The thing is though, this could all work, but it kind of seems to go against the spirit of the challenge you have here. Hence why I ask.

[Darrin]

Are Commoner Flaws (Dragon #330) allowed?

If so, then I'd probably start with:

The Cube (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=8187767&postcount=7) (by Sofawall) as the Leader.
Bubs (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=7097263&postcount=38) (by sonofzeal) as the Muscle.
Flaming Chicken Chucker (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=9641245&postcount=3) (by gorfnab) as the Best Friend/Rival.
Black Hole Pig Guy (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17509663&postcount=14) (by Immabozo) as the Comic Relief.

Missing "The Girl" on the Five-Man Band (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FiveManBand) (Warning: TVTropes link).

[rockdeworld]

Are Commoner Flaws (Dragon #330) allowed?

If so, then I'd probably start with:

The Cube (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=8187767&postcount=7) (by Sofawall) as the Leader.
Bubs (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=7097263&postcount=38) (by sonofzeal) as the Muscle.
Flaming Chicken Chucker (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=9641245&postcount=3) (by gorfnab) as the Best Friend/Rival.
Black Hole Pig Guy (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17509663&postcount=14) (by Immabozo) as the Comic Relief.

Missing "The Girl" on the Five-Man Band (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FiveManBand).
+1

Unfortunately they don't fit all the OP's requirements, but they are all solidly Commoner builds. And I think they can do everything a regular party can:
-Need something tanked? A Prismatic Wall and 3 giant dinosaurs got it.
-Need something killed? If giant dinosaurs can't kill it, and flaming chickens can't kill it, and a Prismatic Wall can't kill it, a black hole's got it (and I'd like to use the Black Hole for all of these, but that's kindof a trick you can only do once).
-Need a trap disarmed? Plow into it with a Prismatic Wall.
-Need something rescued? They can ride back on the giant dinosaurs.
-Need healing? Get a wand. Also The Cube and Black Hole don't.