Well the characters is actually my 13 year olds. She is playing an former thief background. As far as her offense she started with a 3 at 1.1. However now she wants to switch from Undir to Dark-kin witch is going to drop her starting attack down by one. The problem is she duel wields a side sword dagger. At 1.5 (level up cert) I think she was at 4 with the side sword and 5 with the dagger (Weapon Mastery). It might have been 5/6. I don't have access to her character sheet. Good thing she is currently 8s for Prowess and Quickness. She took assassin path as for some reason realy important when 13 to get that as early possible for the coolness factor she also took plus 1 to all skills. For 1.3 she took attribute raise (Pr & Qu giving her the 8s) Then she took either another skill bonus or the defense bump. The problem I have with it there is no current way for to get a 6 in her Melee balanced before 2.1. In my mind that is a terrible set back for a non caster. How ever I want it to be her character and not something that Dad made and she just plays.

A few suggestions:

Go Expert and use Adaptability Talent to learn Melee as one of those skills. Maybe encourage her to take a more martial background for the right skills?

John

Yep she did go with adaptable which is why she does have two points at 1.1. The problem is that neither Dark-Kin nor Former Thief give you the chance to to up combat skills.
As far as a more Martial Background I will give her options but my girl is a stubborn chip off the ol'block so she probably say no.
So she will be suboptimal. Everyone says that's okay in Arcanis. Besides it is a good safe way to teach her choices have consequences which every parent wishes there was an easy way to do that.

As a Thief, she should (fluffwise) probably stay away from front line fighting unless she has someone else with her. I'd give her Wolfpack Tactics to give her a boost to her combat when flanking, as it fits the theme of the character.

Several backgrounds give combat skills and many can be worked into a roguish background.

John

Here's a Eureka moment. Instead of Former Theif (ba), she could take Apprentice of the Masters (ba) ie "Apprentice of the Master Assassin".

That should be an easy sell and gives her both a Mentor for RP purposes, a "cover story" for travelling due to Artisan skill and the sixth Melee rank she needs.

She'll need to 'buy' Shady from her talent pool which may require a slight re-jig depending on her existing choices.

Not a bad idea. This morning we discussed Templer of Cadic and then just holding off on the Assassin for awhile till she can meet the talent requiements but I will present her with this option.

You might be able to sell "Former Scout" from the CoH too, since scouting is a great lead into thieving. It gives wary and stealthy a talents and perception, melee, stealth, and tracking as skills. All but tracking are useful for a theif, and even tracking isn't terrible. as a plus, you start with a spyglass!

Also consider Exile / Expatriate with the Flaw : Branded. Ostensibly she could be a conscript of the Legion of the Watchful Hunter since she fit right in with the rest of us. Play the now she is a "Thief for greater glory of Coryan" angle.

The scout would be awesome for the purpose of joining the Legion as well. Cause she can automatically join as it meets all the requirements.