[4E] Hypothetical Build: Spy Check!

[Xallace]

Just for fun, I've been trying to see if I can build a character based on the Pyro class from Team Fortress 2. I felt like it shouldn't have been particularly difficult, but here I am, stuck.

For those not "in the know," the Pyro is a class that specializes in ambush and sewing chaos among enemy ranks, almost exclusively by setting them on fire. The goals of this build would be as follows:
To be incredibly effective when striking unexpectedly
To be able to strike multiple enemies often, preferably (but not necessarily) with close blasts
To "control" the battle by inflicting statuses, causing ongoing damage, and generally making life difficult for my enemies- but not necessarily being the "damage dealer"
To use fire, and lots of it

So far, I've looked into wizard, wizard/rogue hybrid, and sorcerer (Wild Magic), and nothing I build seems satisfactory.

One of the problems I've been having is that using Sneak Attack (from either Hybrid Rogue or Multiclass Rogue) requires a light blade, crossbow, or sling. It doesn't count when I use my spells- is there a way to make it do so? Or another way I could increase my arcane damage when I have combat advantage?

Races and other options can be pretty much anything 4E has put out so far.

Thank you anyone who gives suggestions!

[Mando Knight]

Arcane Power is your friend here. For a fire-focused build, I'd use a Dragonborn Dragon Sorcerer. At level 1 you can take powers that deal fire damage exclusively. And with the True Dragon's Soul feat, your Dragon Breath can ignore the enemy's fire resistance if you picked fire as the resistance type of your Dragon Soul class feature. Of course, for this build, you'll want Irresistible Flame ASAP...

[NPCMook]

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&DI Character Builder ======
level 11
Eladrin, Rogue|Swordmage, Shadow Assassin
Swordmage Aegis (Hybrid): Aegis of Ensnarement
Hybrid Talent: Swordmage Warding

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 9, Con 11, Dex 21, Int 21, Wis 13, Cha 13.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 8, Con 10, Dex 16, Int 16, Wis 12, Cha 12.


AC: 20 Fort: 15 Reflex: 21 Will: 18
HP: 74 Surges: 7 Surge Value: 18

TRAINED SKILLS
Insight +11, Perception +11, Bluff +11, Arcana +17, Stealth +15

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +10, Diplomacy +6, Dungeoneering +6, Endurance +5, Heal +6, History +12, Intimidate +6, Nature +6, Religion +10, Streetwise +6, Thievery +10, Athletics +4

FEATS
Level 1: Hybrid Talent
Level 2: Improved Swordmage Warding
Level 4: Longsword Finesse
Level 6: Focused Expertise (Longsword)
Level 8: Weapon Focus (Heavy Blade)
Level 10: Cutthroat
Level 11: Cutthroat Specialist

POWERS
Hybrid Rogue at-will 1: Sly Flourish
Hybrid Swordmage at-will 1: Greenflame Blade
Hybrid daily 1: Precise Incision
Hybrid daily 5: Swordmage Shielding Fire
Hybrid daily 9: Into Harm's Way
Hybrid encounter 1: Flame Cyclone
Hybrid encounter 3: Low Slash
Hybrid encounter 7: Flamewall Strike
Hybrid utility 10: Impenetrable Warding
Hybrid utility 2: Dimensional Warp
Hybrid utility 6: Vexing Flanker

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&DI Character Builder ======
Eladrin Rogue|Swordmage, taking Longsword Finesse allows you to use a Longsword as if it were a light blade. However, doing so you drop your Sneak Attack Damage by 1 die, so instead of 2d6/8, you deal 1d6/8 respectively. You can forgo this route and just wield a Short Sword instead.

I took Cutthroat because I like the bonus it gives you, it also trains you in stealth, and lets you make a Bluff check as a minor action to create a distraction for stealthing.

Cutthroat Specialist lets you swap a level 9 or higher Daily power for Quick Kill, which gives you bonus Damage Dice to an At-Will attack once a day.

Power wise I took mostly Swordmage Fire powers, and Movement inducing Rogue Powers.

[Mando Knight]

Eladrin Rogue|Swordmage, taking Longsword Finesse allows you to use a Longsword as if it were a light blade. However, doing so you drop your Sneak Attack Damage by 1 die, so instead of 2d6/8, you deal 1d6/8 respectively. You can forgo this route and just wield a Short Sword instead.

Or you can spend the feat for Longsword Finesse in Weapon Proficiency: Rapier. Unless you're going for Heavy Blade Opportunity, it gives you the same damage dice and proficiency bonus as well as full Sneak Attack damage.

Again I say Dragonborn Dragon Sorcerer with a dash of Arcane Power. It will give you a full array of fire-based damage attacks, as well as open up synergy feats from Arcane Power that will allow you to increase the accuracy/damage of the attacks by a ridiculous amount.

For example...
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&DI Character Builder ======
Pryo, level 11
Dragonborn, Sorcerer, Dragonsoul Heir
Spell Source: Dragon Magic
Dragon Soul: Dragon Soul Fire

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 19, Con 14, Dex 14, Int 11, Wis 11, Cha 21.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 14, Con 13, Dex 13, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 16.


AC: 24 Fort: 21 Reflex: 20 Will: 24
HP: 83 Surges: 10 Surge Value: 22

TRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +10, Endurance +12, Athletics +14, Intimidate +17

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +7, Bluff +10, Diplomacy +10, Dungeoneering +5, Heal +5, History +7, Insight +5, Nature +5, Perception +5, Religion +5, Stealth +7, Streetwise +10, Thievery +7

FEATS
Level 1: Draconic Spellcaster
Level 2: True Dragon's Soul
Level 4: Arcane Spellfury
Level 6: Armor Proficiency (Leather)
Level 8: Implement Expertise (Light Blade)
Level 10: Enlarged Dragon Breath
Level 11: War Wizardry

POWERS
Sorcerer at-will 1: Blazing Starfall
Sorcerer at-will 1: Burning Spray
Sorcerer daily 1: Dazzling Ray
Sorcerer daily 5: Palest Flames
Sorcerer daily 9: Prime the Fire
Sorcerer encounter 1: Explosive Pyre
Sorcerer encounter 3: Flame Spiral
Sorcerer encounter 7: Blazing Bolts
Sorcerer utility 10: Invert Resistance
Sorcerer utility 2: Dragonflame Mantle
Sorcerer utility 6: Sudden Scales

ITEMS
Wyrmtooth Dagger Dagger +3, Summoned Drowmesh +3, Cape of the Mountebank +2
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&DI Character Builder ======

Of these powers, Blazing Bolts and Blazing Starfall both come from Arcane Power. All of the attacks deal Fire or Radiant damage, so the Wyrmtooth Dagger (Dagger +3) and Invert Resistance were included to tide the character over until Epic Tier. War Wizardry lets you make a spy check by burninating everything but your allies. Doesn't do much for ambush, but has BURNiNATION down pat.

[Gralamin]

Aberrant Mark of Contagion (Heroic) is probably a good investment, as it makes it so any ongoing damage from your dailies are harder to save against. You can find it to Eberron Player's Guide.

[Haven]

You need to take Incomprehensible Grunting as a language.

[NPCMook]

Or you can spend the feat for Longsword Finesse in Weapon Proficiency: Rapier. Unless you're going for Heavy Blade Opportunity, it gives you the same damage dice and proficiency bonus as well as full Sneak Attack damage.

That works also.

[Magentawolf]

You need to take Incomprehensible Grunting as a language.

Hudda hudda hudda!