Warlock flavor and build tweak help.

Herschel · Jun 27, 2011

I'm at a bit of a wall with my new character. What I have so far is a Cindersoul Genasi Infernal Pact Warlock using the old retribution/redemption/Spawn schtick. Instead of his traditional pact flavor, I'm going with he's siphoning power from an imprisoned primordial. Robin Hood's got nothing on this guy.

I'm a bit stuck on where to go next. I'm not liking the idea of being tied to certain enchantments on weapons, nor do I want to be at paragon before my schtick works.

I'd kind of picture him able to step in to melee(when necessary) and having fun with Hellish Rebuke so he can smite evil up close and personal when he needs to. Sometimes he'll end up in a group that doesn't have a strong front line.

But, I picture that as needing to be a staff wielder with White Lotus Riposte and expertise to have it work decently. That puts me at level 4 before I have basic functionality. I took Dark One's Blessing at level 1, but will train that out sooner or later, depending. Probably sooner if I go Multiclass Wizard and Staff Epertise at level 2.

I could go fire specialist, but I'm not sure I want to be that specific in my damage type. It's an LFR character, but in this group we do a lot of flavorful things, making it as much like a home campaign as possible.

Is this whole thing a convoluted mess?

Ryujin · Jun 27, 2011

I went a similar route, with my Feylock, but did it with Heavy Blades. Being an Eladrin and, therefore, having Longsword proficiency made it a no brainer. Versatile Expertise with Rod/Heavy Blade. Melee Training: INT (it was better than CH, for my upside-down character build). Implement Proficiency: Heavy Blade. Before the errata to Weapon of Summer and Melee Training I was doing something like 2d8+2d6+15 damage, to a cursed enemy, with a melee basic at 20th.

At that point I chose weapons that would fit my character concept, especially if they would allow the addition or change of damage type. I also threw in Gloves of Eldritch Admixture, so that curse damage could be a variable type. There were times when my 'pitiful' Warlock attacks were the most effective because a good chunk of the party were dealing with big resist numbers, that I largely ignored.

Mentat55 · Jun 27, 2011

You could take Melee Training (Constitution) or Eldritch Strike (instead of Eldritch Blast) to give yourself a solid melee attack. Then you could pick up proficiency in a military or superior light or heavy blade and multiclass into swordmage (to get swordmage implements and, if you so choose, the option to take a couple of weapon powers).

Nemesis Destiny · Jun 27, 2011

If you can wait until it hits the builder/compendium, there is always the new Pact Weapon Manifestation feat released this month. That way, you gain a nice at-will so that you can still whack things in melee with your pact weapon, concentrate on using rods (which offer that nice +1 AC/Ref), and not have to worry about multiclassing, leaving more feats for Warlock stuff. Of course, that only works if your Charisma doesn't suck, and being genasi and infernal, it might.

Herschel · Jun 27, 2011

It does.

If I go Dual-Imp Spellcaster, it will suck even more. One of the reasons to get up close is that I have a very good FORT and by having a good at-will up close but a sucky basic attack I'm not a prime candidate for dominate.

Dannyalcatraz · Jun 27, 2011

Questions on flavor/mechanics:

1) Have you looked at any of the feats in Heroes of Shadow? Some of them may help you define your PC a bit more...darkly...without concentrating solely on fire.

2) Have you considered Hybridizing with the Battlemind- a Con based Defender- to boost your melee prowess? You'd have more HP, some nastier weapons at your disposal, plus access to an array of Con based melee attack powers to augment your Con based Warlock powers. (Going this route, I'd probably take Hybrid Talent: Shadow Walk, followed soon by Hidden Sniper.)

bganon · Jun 28, 2011

Is Dark Sun content allowed in LFR? (The character creation rules I found were out of date.) The Sorcerer-King pact warlock is full of powers that are usable both as melee and ranged attacks, and they're all usable with either Con or Cha, so you're good to go there. The fluff even kinda fits. You could still use the powers even if you stick with Infernal pact, though you won't get the melee+ranged at-will.

Herschel · Jun 28, 2011

Dannyalcatraz said:
Questions on flavor/mechanics:

1) Have you looked at any of the feats in Heroes of Shadow? Some of them may help you define your PC a bit more...darkly...without concentrating solely on fire.

2) Have you considered Hybridizing with the Battlemind- a Con based Defender- to boost your melee prowess? You'd have more HP, some nastier weapons at your disposal, plus access to an array of Con based melee attack powers to augment your Con based Warlock powers. (Going this route, I'd probably take Hybrid Talent: Shadow Walk, followed soon by Hidden Sniper.)

I thought hard about hybridizing, especially with a Shielding Swordmage actually. My favorite character is a 17th-level swordmage already though and I usually play defenders or leaders so I wanted to branch out a bit. I've DMd for a Battlemind in my home game and it's pretty cool, but I'm not sure it's my flavor to play.

One of the things I like about Hellish Rebuke, etc. of the straight Warlock is actually working side-by-side with the defender to set him or her up. I have a Retribution Avenger in a monthly home game and I work around the Warden rather than solo separate and it's pretty fun setting up baddies, then watching the defender take him down while helping ensure my double roles. I'm thinking the Warlock can play similarly and set up some really tough choices for baddies. Plus, it keeps bursts and blasts away from teh squishy back lines.

bganon said:
Is Dark Sun content allowed in LFR? (The character creation rules I found were out of date.) The Sorcerer-King pact warlock is full of powers that are usable both as melee and ranged attacks, and they're all usable with either Con or Cha, so you're good to go there. The fluff even kinda fits. You could still use the powers even if you stick with Infernal pact, though you won't get the melee+ranged at-will.

Interesting thought. I think I could go that way. I'll have to check in to that again.

Raunalyn · Jun 28, 2011

Someone mentioned hybridizing, and I agree with that idea. The description of your character tells me that he is doing good things using a bad source, but that he wishes to smite evil and help others. That sounds an awful lot like a paladine, yes?

Why not hybrid pally? Their attributes match up, you can take some of the feats that allow you to utilize Pally armor, and you have a great way to smite your enemies up close, all while having some good survivability.

Dannyalcatraz · Jun 28, 2011

Well, the paladin is Str/Cha, right? Well the Infernal Pact Warlock is a Con based build- it's the Starlock & Feylock that have Cha in their mix.

AFAIK, the only Con-based melee classes are the Battlemind- which the OP says is a defender (which role he plays frequently)feels doesn't have the right flavor- and maybe the striker Infernal Hexblade, but the're still just doing playtest on the MC & Hybrid rules for the eClasses.

Warlock flavor and build tweak help.

Herschel

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Ryujin

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Mentat55

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Herschel

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