Suggestions for the following Pretender, please?

[Ravagemk2]

In the Demo version for Kailasa, I did fairly well with a monkey horde led by an Earth Mother.

As for which nation, I don't know yet, as I try to play the game one nation at a time, but from time to time things get me curious.

Like the Nataraja, which are a 0 point cost pretender race choice, which struck me as odd.

Usual game experiences often involve multiple weapon capable characters to have to pay for it in some spots.(Thri Kreen in D&D have you paying 3 to 5 class levels depending on version for example)

I was hoping to make a non spellcaster leader for a change, as I often end up turning my starting general into a prophet.

One thing I'd probably end up experimenting alot with, is what kind of gear to give the guy(I think?).

I have a habit of trying to go "national only" in regard to magic item forging.(= forge things with your national mages only)

The monkeys might have a + here, since I recall them getting Nature, which eventually leads to HP regenerative items.

If any of those nations have Earth, then the Blacksteel stuff should make decent early game protection boosters right?

I know some of the better stuff is multi path, but that'll be a bridge I'll burn when I have to cross it

One thing I've been wondering though...

HOW would one of the 4 armed, not just the Nataraja, behave if you gave them BOTH a Melee and a Ranged weapon?

I noticed a nasty little crossbow, but those only get to fire once per 2 turns. I'd guess it'd be shoot, melee on the reload turn, shoot, etc in this case?

Sorry bout all the questions, but I love letting rip as many attacks as possible at once, and these Nataraja are the lowest point chassis for that kind of thing here.