Hi all,

I have an idea of playing a melee focused Gish. Now I'm torn personally with which class to pick for my first 5 or 6 levels (if I go paladin) to pair up with the eloquence bard.

I want to portray this as a class that started of as either paladin or Hexblade and then progress the rest into eloquence bard. With a theme of being a heavy smoker of fine weed. His "eloquence"will be things alot of people who are high say or ask.

I am aiming for him to be a mounted combatant, I just am not sure which pairing would go best to both thematically and mechanically fit with the bard. I want to go at least level 5 for the extra attack. I will be smiting alot with either set up so will be taking the extra attack, Eldritch Smite and improved pact weapon invocations if I went Hexblade.

Currently I am thinking either:

Glory Paladin (6) / eloquence bard (14)

Or

Hexblade (5) / eloquence bard (15)

Please give me your advice and what you recommend would be more fitting.

I'm going to be playing a small race character. The stats and race I don't mind so much as this overall level build and theme I would like to focus on.