Lair Assault has a glory award for having all characters use the same race. I was thinking about going even further -- can you make a single character that would perform well in Lair Assault if you play with five copies of that character?
After working at it a bit, I believe the answer is a resounding yes. What I came up with is a Tiefling Warlock|Artificer. Some highlights of the character (with self-buffs):
[sblock=Some more character details]Defenses are moderate -- 20 AC, 18 Fort, 18 Ref, 17 Will (buffed by Emerald Shield).
The main attack is Hand of Blight, which is either Melee or Ranged 10. In the +12 attack bonus above, I included CA because it will almost always be available (Hand of Blight causes targets to grant CA, and everyone can create instant flanking buddies via Phantasmal Henchman). Sometimes the bonus will go even higher due to a +2 attack bonus vs. bloodied creatures and another possible +1 from Magic Weapon or Cruel Bounty.
I don't know if anything in the current Lair Assault has vulnerabilities, but the damage includes cold (via Icebound Sigil), and there's extra damage vs. radiant-vulnerable creatures via Pelor's Sun Blessing. In addition to the 27.5 average damage, Emerald Shield gives you an at-will reaction for 7 autodamage whenever you're attacked by an adjacent enemy. Damage can go even higher with strategic use of Magic Weapon, and there are a couple powers that add more damage without using up standard actions.
The fire resistance of 14 comes from the Tiefling racial (7) + Diabolic Transformation (5) + Akanul background (2).
For healing, there's the artificer heal, another heal from Pelor's Sun Blessing, and a third surge from the Amulet of Life. Restorative Infusion lets everyone start with 20 THP and then move it around to other characters based on who needs it. Diabolic Transformation starts you out with regeneration 2, and that can be increased via Armor of Sudden Recovery as soon as you start taking ongoing damage.
I hear there's some mud and lava in this Lair Assault, and Body Equilibrium should be great for getting across that.[/sblock][sblock=Character Builder output]====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Lair Demon, level 5
Tiefling, Warlock/Artificer
Eldritch Pact (Hybrid) Option: Sorcerer-King Pact (Hybrid)
Hybrid Warlock Option: Hybrid Warlock Will
Hybrid Artificer Option: Hybrid Artificer Will
Dark Sun
Akanûl (Akanûl Benefit)
Theme: Noble
FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 8, CON 20, DEX 10, INT 16, WIS 10, CHA 15
STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 8, CON 17, DEX 10, INT 15, WIS 10, CHA 13
AC: 18 Fort: 18 Ref: 16 Will: 17
HP: 52 Surges: 11 Surge Value: 13
TRAINED SKILLS
Heal +7, Perception +7, Thievery +7
UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +2, Arcana +5, Athletics +1, Bluff +6, Diplomacy +4, Dungeoneering +2, Endurance +7, History +5, Insight +2, Intimidate +4, Nature +2, Religion +5, Stealth +4, Streetwise +4
POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Noble Utility: Noble Presence
Warlock's Curse Power: Warlock's Curse
Artificer Feature: Healing Infusion: Curative Admixture
Artificer Feature: Healing Infusion: Resistive Formula
Feat Utility: Diabolic Transformation
Wild Talent Cantrip: Body Equilibrium
: Arcane Defiling
Artificer Attack 1: Magic Weapon
Warlock Attack 1: Hand of Blight
Warlock Attack 1: Cruel Bounty
Artificer Attack 1: Icebound Sigil
Artificer Utility 2: Restorative Infusion
Artificer Attack 3: Phantasmal Henchman
Warlock Attack 5: Emerald Shield
FEATS
Level 1: Diabolic Soul
Level 2: Mindbite Scorn
Level 4: Staff Expertise
ITEMS
Leather Armor of Sudden Recovery +1 x1
Amulet of Life +1 x1
Iron Armbands of Power (heroic tier) x1
Magic Quarterstaff +2 x1
Pelor's Sun Blessing (level 3)
Adventurer's Kit
Thieves' Tools
Potion of Healing (heroic tier)
====== End ======[/sblock]
After working at it a bit, I believe the answer is a resounding yes. What I came up with is a Tiefling Warlock|Artificer. Some highlights of the character (with self-buffs):
- At-will +12 vs. Fort for 27.5 damage
- At-will reaction of 7 autodamage to anyone who attacks you
- Resist 14 fire
- Lots of healing (3 heals, 20 THP, regeneration)
[sblock=Some more character details]Defenses are moderate -- 20 AC, 18 Fort, 18 Ref, 17 Will (buffed by Emerald Shield).
The main attack is Hand of Blight, which is either Melee or Ranged 10. In the +12 attack bonus above, I included CA because it will almost always be available (Hand of Blight causes targets to grant CA, and everyone can create instant flanking buddies via Phantasmal Henchman). Sometimes the bonus will go even higher due to a +2 attack bonus vs. bloodied creatures and another possible +1 from Magic Weapon or Cruel Bounty.
I don't know if anything in the current Lair Assault has vulnerabilities, but the damage includes cold (via Icebound Sigil), and there's extra damage vs. radiant-vulnerable creatures via Pelor's Sun Blessing. In addition to the 27.5 average damage, Emerald Shield gives you an at-will reaction for 7 autodamage whenever you're attacked by an adjacent enemy. Damage can go even higher with strategic use of Magic Weapon, and there are a couple powers that add more damage without using up standard actions.
The fire resistance of 14 comes from the Tiefling racial (7) + Diabolic Transformation (5) + Akanul background (2).
For healing, there's the artificer heal, another heal from Pelor's Sun Blessing, and a third surge from the Amulet of Life. Restorative Infusion lets everyone start with 20 THP and then move it around to other characters based on who needs it. Diabolic Transformation starts you out with regeneration 2, and that can be increased via Armor of Sudden Recovery as soon as you start taking ongoing damage.
I hear there's some mud and lava in this Lair Assault, and Body Equilibrium should be great for getting across that.[/sblock][sblock=Character Builder output]====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Lair Demon, level 5
Tiefling, Warlock/Artificer
Eldritch Pact (Hybrid) Option: Sorcerer-King Pact (Hybrid)
Hybrid Warlock Option: Hybrid Warlock Will
Hybrid Artificer Option: Hybrid Artificer Will
Dark Sun
Akanûl (Akanûl Benefit)
Theme: Noble
FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 8, CON 20, DEX 10, INT 16, WIS 10, CHA 15
STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 8, CON 17, DEX 10, INT 15, WIS 10, CHA 13
AC: 18 Fort: 18 Ref: 16 Will: 17
HP: 52 Surges: 11 Surge Value: 13
TRAINED SKILLS
Heal +7, Perception +7, Thievery +7
UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +2, Arcana +5, Athletics +1, Bluff +6, Diplomacy +4, Dungeoneering +2, Endurance +7, History +5, Insight +2, Intimidate +4, Nature +2, Religion +5, Stealth +4, Streetwise +4
POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Noble Utility: Noble Presence
Warlock's Curse Power: Warlock's Curse
Artificer Feature: Healing Infusion: Curative Admixture
Artificer Feature: Healing Infusion: Resistive Formula
Feat Utility: Diabolic Transformation
Wild Talent Cantrip: Body Equilibrium
: Arcane Defiling
Artificer Attack 1: Magic Weapon
Warlock Attack 1: Hand of Blight
Warlock Attack 1: Cruel Bounty
Artificer Attack 1: Icebound Sigil
Artificer Utility 2: Restorative Infusion
Artificer Attack 3: Phantasmal Henchman
Warlock Attack 5: Emerald Shield
FEATS
Level 1: Diabolic Soul
Level 2: Mindbite Scorn
Level 4: Staff Expertise
ITEMS
Leather Armor of Sudden Recovery +1 x1
Amulet of Life +1 x1
Iron Armbands of Power (heroic tier) x1
Magic Quarterstaff +2 x1
Pelor's Sun Blessing (level 3)
Adventurer's Kit
Thieves' Tools
Potion of Healing (heroic tier)
====== End ======[/sblock]