Clearly luck is out of the question this era. Unless it's just a spam alt that buys and drops mercs as mini-nuke.Honestly, with some common sense any build leader with one luck will be able to do some decent damage.For example, you could make it a pistoleer. Fast shot and 14mm or smth, "decent" damage, and you don't risk possibility of shooting followers or other friendlies (LIKE NP-FUCKING C's with their suicidal asses!!).This era it is much easier to make decent slaver.But making a UBER Pownzer leader (with luck, for stronger mercs) is next-to-impossible without total gimptation of the actual character.
Your position seems correct,thought i really need some clue about how much speech-CH i need to carry maximum amount of people with mentats.