Personnally I like RBs but give'em 2 levels in each path, with 3 in Fire and Astral if possible (Fire for the Fire Helmet, Astral cause high Astral is good
).
If you want super-duper scales try an Oracle or Blood Foutain, there're quite good dirt cheap Pretenders
But I don't like Pangea that much, I prefer solid nations like Pythium, Arco or Abysia (oh yes, not that original, these are the strongest nations around
)