Warmages: Play them the right way or not at all

[Ivory Knight]

So can Human Paragon(1 gets you a single martial weapon, but you will want to take all 3), Arcane Archer(1 gives all martial weapons, you'll want 2 for the ability to use damageing spells with the better range from your bow), or Dragon Slayer 1(all martial weapons, armor up to heavy and shields except tower shield).

There might be more, but aside from needing to take Dodge(I'd recommend any other feat, that can count as Dodge) and paying for Iron Will(Otyugh Hole) Dragon Slayer is the simplest way to martial weapons, I know off for arcane casters.
The fluff-requirement(Kill a Dragon) is easier, than finding the hidden jungle temple of the couatls. If you meet him while you are Lvl 1, even a Kobold might suffice(It does count as a Dragon, as per the dragonblooded subtype). If not: Lesser Planar Binding, call Half Dragon Demon or Devil of appropriate CR, (de)buff at leisure, dismiss protective circle and slay it.

[The_Mad_Linguist]

The fluff-requirement(Kill a Dragon) is easier, than finding the hidden jungle temple of the couatls. If you meet him while you are Lvl 1, even a Kobold might suffice(It does count as a Dragon, as per the dragonblooded subtype). If not: Lesser Planar Binding, call Half Dragon Demon or Devil of appropriate CR, (de)buff at leisure, dismiss protective circle and slay it.

You'd need to kill a dragonwrought kobold, I believe, not just a normal one.

[something random]

If you take versatile spellcaster and heighten spell, you could qualify for Rainbow Servant at level 5.  Having an extra two levels to PrC with is nice.

That suggests without early entry tricks that a Warmage cannot qualify for Rainbow Servant until level 7. which is not true You qualify normally as a level 6 warmage. The spell casting requirment is 3 level spells which a warmage gets at level 6

[Halinn]

If you take versatile spellcaster and heighten spell, you could qualify for Rainbow Servant at level 5.  Having an extra two levels to PrC with is nice.

That suggests without early entry tricks that a Warmage cannot qualify for Rainbow Servant until level 7. which is not true You qualify normally as a level 6 warmage. The spell casting requirment is 3 level spells which a warmage gets at level 6

Level 5 means that that is when you're taking the first level of RS

[Bigtuna]

How about Ultimate Magus? If it's good for the beguiler wouldn't it be good for the Warmage?

Augmented Casting = more use of metamagic fetas
Expanded Spell Knowledge = more spells known
Seems to have some potiential.

Now we just need to find a Cha based caster that prepare spells from a spellbook...

Im not a big fan of Warmages personally - but the "know any spell on their spelllist" is just awesome, and well handbooks like this one make me wanna try one...

[awaken DM golem]

Kobold 1 + PsyRef = Dragonwrought Kobold


Kinda expensive if you're just level 1, and hello magic mart.

[snakeman830]

How worthwhile is finishing up a Rainbow Warsnake with Geomancer?  All that you need is a few ranks in Knowledge (Nature) at that point and its usual drawback (only advances one class) means nothing in this case.  In the meantime, it lets you DMM your lower-level spells.

[Lycanthromancer]

Why aren't prestige paladin, prestige ranger, and sublime chord in there?

Also, Sword of the Arcane Order and prestige ranger + mystic ranger variant?