Need help optimizing Rivendell elf

[Samsonov]

Hi all!

Going to need some help for optimizing my noldor elf. I'm trying to make him as an diplomat and he has to be able to do some combat as well. Could you guys give me some help, please It would be much appreciated. If you need more info, just ask and I'll try to answer.

[poosticks7]

Erm... put points in courtesy, persuade, battle and weapon skills.

Am I missing something?

[Samsonov]

Ups, left something out. Mainly need advice for choosing background and virtue/valor.

[Otaku-sempai]

Well, if you see your High Elf as primarily a diplomat, the most logical Background to start with would be Counsellor of Elrond. You might also want to start off with the Cultural Virtue Might of the First Born to give yourself a slight edge against the Enemy. You will probably want to raise a Weapon skill to 3 and ensure that at least one other is at 2; though I'm not sure which Weapon skill set would be more advantageous or if you want to be stronger in melee or ranged combat.

If you want to incorporate the Character Archetypes from the Adventurer's Companion then you might want to look at The Mentor or The Honour-bound.

[Stormcrow]

And don't forget that the given backgrounds are only starting points; you can change them however you see fit. Only the Basic Attributes, Favoured Skill, and Distinctive Features list are invariant.

[Samsonov]

Well, if you see your High Elf as primarily a diplomat, the most logical Background to start with would be Counsellor of Elrond. You might also want to start off with the Cultural Virtue Might of the First Born to give yourself a slight edge against the Enemy. You will probably want to raise a Weapon skill to 3 and ensure that at least one other is at 2; though I'm not sure which Weapon skill set would be more advantageous or if you want to be stronger in melee or ranged combat.

If you want to incorporate the Character Archetypes from the Adventurer's Companion then you might want to look at The Mentor or The Honour-bound.

Thanks for the suggestion. It sounds quite good, tho raising two weapons might be too expensive. Hmm... have to think that battling-diplomat over again. One thing come to my mind, if I take Cultural Reward Books and Maps of Forbidden Lore to make a good use of elves high Lore skill and perhaps take a Scholar Calling and leave the battle to the others in my group.

[Otaku-sempai]

If you are seeing your Hero as more of a scholar then you might emphasize defensive capabilities over offensive, especially if you can usually keep Rearward and use ranged attacks. If you need to fight up close, at least you can take a Defensive stance. Determine what weapon you'll be using most of the time and give yourself a Weapon skill rank of 3 to start.

A Spear is a great defensive weapon. If you take the first Weapon skill set, you can easily raise your rank in Spear or Great Spear to 3. If you take the second Weapon skill set then you can instead do the same thing with Great Bow; or leave Great Bow at 2 and raise one Sword skill (or Spear) to 3.

I agree that as a Scholar, Books and Maps of Forbidden Lore could be very useful.