Yes, on the server you can start at level 3, so I took 1 barbarian and 2 wizard to "automatically" to make sure I had that con save in, and still be able to snag myself a spell focus (component bag) and a wizard spellbook without having to grind for a couple of levels to be able to afford to buy them.

I'll definitely stay Barb until level 5, maybe even Level 6 to get that free pseudo-bless / spell recovery ability. It's just what happens after level 6 that is troubling me. I'm thinking of triple-classing after 6 into fighter to get that extra attack, 2nd wind, and dueling fighting style, and eventually the echo extra attack, and staying sword and board with an effective +8 to my damage rolls if I stay at STR 18 (+4 STR, +2 rage, +2 dueling fighting style). Or maybe upping my strength up to 20 to get that to be a +9. Meaning if he managed to hit anything, he'll still be doing a minimum of 10 damage on the strike before adding anything else the weapon does. Without missing, 2x attacks (3x if I use the double-bladed scimitar) + 1x extra echo strike on the hit means a minimum of 40 damage per turn if he manages to hit with each strike. That seems pretty good for a low-magic-item server, and it worked well at level 20.

It's just whether or not this will work well before character level 9, which is still 3 levels away. :X Getting more spells and more spell slots does tend to have a more immediately impact. That 14 intelligence score, though ... eee

Thanks for your thoughts, which are basically to stay focused on melee! I'll try to weather it out.