Assembling the fighter/magic-user/thief
Now that I've decided my FMUT is going to be an eladrin warlord with the Arcane Initiate feat and training in Thievery, I need to start putting the numbers together. The first step will be assigning ability scores. For simplicity, I'll use the standard array of 16, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10. Keeping in mind that I get a +2 racial bonus to Dexterity and Intelligence, I'll try:
- Strength 16: I'm going to do a lot of sword swinging, so this is key.
- Dexterity 13 (modified from 11): Kind of low, but I'll be using Intelligence to boost my AC, and I can work on the skills later.
- Constitution 13: A warlord's hit points aren't as great as a fighter's, so I can't skimp here.
- Intelligence 16 (modified from 14): This will be my main stat for magic, and boost my AC as long as I'm in light armor.
- Wisdom 10: A more dedicated wizard could use this for spellcasting, but I can afford to skimp.
- Charisma 12: I had wanted to put the 12 in Dexterity, but skimping on Wis and Cha makes for a lousy Will defense. Besides, the warlord has a couple Cha skills.
Next, I'll note down that I've taken the Arcane Initiate feat, which gives me training in Arcana (for which I also get a racial bonus) and my choice of a wizardly at-will attack as an encounter power. I think I'll try Scorching Burst for that old fashioned fireball feel.
In addition to training in Arcana, I've also acquired Thievery through my eladrin bonus skill. I get to choose four more from the warlord list. Athletics gets me some of the thief's old climbing and jumping and benefits from my Strength score. I'll also choose Intimidate, History (another skill with a racial bonus for me), and Endurance.
In terms of power selection, I'll go with the tactical warlord options to make better use of my Intelligence score. Although it may sound like my triple-threat is trying to do everything solo, this FMUT will actually work quite well with others, even to the point of providing healing (something the original couldn't do).
Lastly, I'll want to spend my starting gold on appropriate gear. Hide armor only imposes a -1 to my skill checks and allows me to add my Int bonus to AC. I'll round out my defenses with a light shield, pick up a longsword for decent damage and accuracy, and buy the thieves' tools I'll need for getting up to mischief. Later on I'll probably want to pick up a wand and the components for rituals, but at the moment, I'm ready to start adventuring.
Next up: how it all looks on paper.
