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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ravenheart" data-source="post: 4999848" data-attributes="member: 72088">Hi guys, I'm the regular DM for my group, but I might actually get to play in our next adventure (!). Therefore I've been tinkering on a character, and actually introduced a potential future PC as an NPC in the current campaign (that I'm DMing). The group consists of 4 players (originally 6, a lot of fluctuation): Eladrin Illusionist WizardGenasi Trickster RogueElven Beastmaster RangerHalf-elf Bravura WarlordNow these characters are mostly built from flavor and story perspectives, not for optimization. Due to the lack of a dedicated defender and only one "real" ranged character the are very versatile when it comes to combat roles and can mix it up in melee and ranged combat versus all kinds of foes quite easily. And they have healing spread around. All good then. Now here's my problem - how do I make a fitting fifth character for this group of misfits (j/k)? Presumably, the player that is playing the wizard is going to try out DMing (and remove his character temporarily from the story - unless I do it for him...<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f60e.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":cool:" title="Cool    :cool:"  data-smilie="6"data-shortname=":cool:" />), meaning the group would suddenly find itself without a defender and a controller. We are currently looking for a fifth player to round out the team, and we have some candidates lined up (all new to Dnd). I'll try to encourage the newbies to pick a class of one of the missing roles (defender primarily, pitching for fighter). From what I've gathered, controllers are in some cases superfluos, but that still leaves an open spot for a character with some real ranged potential.Which leads me to something I statted up after reading a thread on RPG.net on the most improbable 4E character concepts. Voíla:[sblock]====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======Quinn, level 7Human, Warlock|SwordmageEldritch Pact (Hybrid): Infernal Pact (Hybrid)Hybrid Warlock: Hybrid Warlock WillSwordmage Aegis (Hybrid): Aegis of ShieldingHybrid Talent: Swordmage WardingBackground: Birth - On Another Plane, Occupation - Punisher, Human - Ancestral Holdings (+2 to Intimidate)FINAL ABILITY SCORESStr 8, Con 18, Dex 10, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 13.STARTING ABILITY SCORESStr 8, Con 17, Dex 10, Int 15, Wis 10, Cha 13.AC: 23 Fort: 21 Reflex: 21 Will: 20HP: 61 Surges: 11 Surge Value: 15TRAINED SKILLSArcana +16, Insight +10, Athletics +9, Religion +14, Intimidate +13UNTRAINED SKILLSAcrobatics +5, Bluff +6, Diplomacy +6, Dungeoneering +5, Endurance +9, Heal +5, History +11, Nature +5, Perception +5, Stealth +5, Streetwise +6, Thievery +5FEATSBardic Ritualist: Ritual CasterHuman: Bardic RitualistLevel 1: Hybrid TalentLevel 2: Deva HeritageLevel 4: Arcane FamiliarLevel 6: Intelligent BlademasterPOWERSBonus At-Will Power: Hellish RebukeHybrid Swordmage at-will 1: Lightning LureHybrid Warlock at-will 1: Eyes of the VestigeHybrid encounter 1: Diabolic GraspHybrid daily 1: Tyranny of FlameHybrid utility 2: Host of ShieldsHybrid encounter 3: Dimensional VortexHybrid daily 5: Lingering LightningHybrid utility 6: Life SiphonHybrid encounter 7: Dazing RebukeITEMSAdventurer's Kit, Shadowdance Leather Armor +1, Hedge Wizard's Gloves (heroic tier), Steadfast Amulet +2, Obsidian Steed (heroic tier), Ioun's Revelation (level 3), Woodwind, Residuum (Any) (150), Farbond Spellblade Broadsword +2, Spellshard, Potion of Clarity (level 5)RITUALSSimbul's Conversion, Battlefield Elocution, Object Reading, Last Sight Vision, Iron Vigil, Traveler's Chant, Hand of Fate, Seek Rumor====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======[/sblock]Concept: An exalted warrior of Ioun forced into a pact with a devil (I'll provide a full writeup of the concept when I'm not sleep-typing).I actually introduced this character, or at least something similar, to the campaign as an NPC in a climactic battle, and I have a good idea how I could convert him into a PC by the end of the adventure.I like to keep a good balance between flavor and optimization, but it can't hurt to run the numbers. My main concern is that he's to spread thin (strikery-defender with a hint of controller) that he won't be really good at anything. I'm also waiting until the supposed fifth player has confirmed what they're playing. Thoughts, suggestions?A note on house rules: +1 to FRW at 4th, 14th and 24th level+1 to Attack at 8th, 18th and 28th level+1 to AC at 11th and 21st levelI've given out more treasure to the party than is intended (intentionally as well as due to the confusion of a fluctuating party size), and therefore I added 1000 gp (+100 gp for mundane items) and turned the level-1 item into liquid funds.Just for fun, I prophesized a higher level version of the char:[sblock]====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======Quinn - 11, level 11Human, Warlock|Swordmage, Paragon HybridEldritch Pact (Hybrid): Infernal Pact (Hybrid)Hybrid Warlock: Hybrid Warlock WillSwordmage Aegis (Hybrid): Aegis of ShieldingHybrid Talent: Swordmage WardingTwofold Pact: Vestige PactParagon Hybrid Talent: Prime ShotBackground: Birth - On Another Plane, Occupation - Punisher, Human - Ancestral Holdings (+2 to Intimidate)FINAL ABILITY SCORESStr 9, Con 20, Dex 11, Int 20, Wis 11, Cha 14.STARTING ABILITY SCORESStr 8, Con 17, Dex 10, Int 15, Wis 10, Cha 13.AC: 28 Fort: 25 Reflex: 25 Will: 24HP: 83 Surges: 12 Surge Value: 20TRAINED SKILLSArcana +19, Insight +12, Athletics +11, Religion +17, Intimidate +16UNTRAINED SKILLSAcrobatics +7, Bluff +9, Diplomacy +9, Dungeoneering +7, Endurance +12, Heal +7, History +14, Nature +7, Perception +7, Stealth +7, Streetwise +9, Thievery +7FEATSBardic Ritualist: Ritual CasterHuman: Bardic RitualistLevel 1: Hybrid TalentLevel 2: Deva HeritageLevel 4: Arcane FamiliarLevel 6: Intelligent BlademasterLevel 8: Focused Expertise (Broadsword)Level 10: Bardic Knowledge (retrained to Called Shot at Level 11)Level 11: Twofold PactPOWERSBonus At-Will Power: Hellish RebukeHybrid Swordmage at-will 1: Booming BladeHybrid Warlock at-will 1: Dire RadianceParagon Hybrid: Mordant Rains of DisHybrid encounter 1: Diabolic GraspHybrid daily 1: Tyranny of FlameHybrid utility 2: Host of ShieldsHybrid encounter 3: Dimensional VortexHybrid daily 5: Lingering LightningHybrid utility 6: Life SiphonHybrid encounter 7: Dazing RebukeHybrid daily 9: Iron Spike of DisHybrid utility 10: ConvictionITEMSAdventurer's Kit, Hedge Wizard's Gloves (heroic tier), Obsidian Steed (heroic tier), Ioun's Revelation (level 3), Woodwind, Residuum (Any) (250), Spellshard, Shadowdance Leather Armor +2, Farbond Spellblade Broadsword +3, Amulet of Protection +3, Siberys Shard of the Mage (heroic tier), Phylactery of Action (heroic tier)RITUALSSimbul's Conversion, Battlefield Elocution, Object Reading, Last Sight Vision, Iron Vigil, Traveler's Chant, Hand of Fate, Seek Rumor====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======[/sblock]See what I did there? <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f60e.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":cool:" title="Cool    :cool:"  data-smilie="6"data-shortname=":cool:" />EDIT: Funny, Eyes of the Vestige doesn't show up although I took the Vestige Pact as my Twofold Pact - anyway, it's probably broken regardless, so I might as well take Prime Punisher instead.</blockquote>

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