Optimization help for Warlock/Cleric

[SnowHeart]

I could use some assistance building a replacement/back-up PC for an epic-level campaign I'm playing in. We're running into a good mix of opponents of varying HD and CRs, but one issue that keeps coming up is high spell resistance. My current brain storm is a Warlock/Cleric build, using the warlock abilities for dealing damage and the cleric abilities to buff the warlock and allies, and debuff opponents. Other PCs include a Scout, Knight, Dread Necromancer (all single-class), Ranger/Order of the Bow Initiate, and a Mystic Theurge. The Dread Necromancer has a fair number of undead that are used as melee combatants. Pretty much all the books are fair game. Anyway...

Warlock 7 / Cleric of Orcus 4 / Eldritch Disciple 10
STR 9 (15 from Belt of Giant Strength)
DEX 10
CON 10
INT 12
WIS 16 (22 from Periapt of Wisdom)
CHA 22 (28 from Cloak of Charisma)

Feats
Precise Shot
Weapon Focus (Ranged Touch)
Noncombatant [Flaw]
Unreactive [Flaw]
Spell Penetration
Arcane Might
Improved Toughness
Ability Focus (Eldritch Blast)
Practiced Spellcaster (Warlock)
Quickened Spell-like Ability (Eldritch Spear)
Undead Leadership
Empower Spell-Like Ability (Vitriolic Blast)
Epic Eldritch Blast

Invocations
Dark Ones Own Luck
Eldritch Spear
See the Unseen
Eldritch Chain
Fell Flight
Voracious Dispelling
Chilling Tentacles
Repelling Blast
Vitriolic Blast
Utterdark Blast

Suggestions on gear would also be appreciated. We're using the Wealth by Level charts from the DMG, and gear from the Epic Level Handbook and Magic Item Compendium is allowed.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

If you drop the str item from +6 to +4, you can get a con +4 item and have spare change to boot. IMHO, con 10 is WAAAAY too low to survive with.

An amulet of retributive healing is only like 2000 gp (MIC), and allows you 3/day as a swift action to heal yourself an equal amount ot that you just healed an ally. Let me put it another way: it's 2k for a free heal spell (or something even more potet, maybe) 3/day. Get it! If you're using MIC, that means you can attach your wisdom +6 to it at no extra cost, per the new item rules.

Feats:
Unless it's a pre-req for something, drop the Weapon Focus, it'll almost never matter for ranged touch.
The spell-like feats: These can be chosen for Eldritch Blast in general, you don't need to specify the essence or blast shape invocation you're going to use them with. It'd have to be an invocation independant of EB to require that. For example, the Charm invocation.
Improved Toughness: With a higher con as above, may not need this.

You have a ton of charisma, and thus lots of turn undead. Consider investing more in Divine feats. A lot of people like Divine Metamagic + either Quicken Spell or Persistent Spell. I like Divine Spell Power, which with your huge turn check bonus (charisma) means you can easily add +3 or 4 to your CL many times a day. Divine Shield adds cha to your shield AC, also worth a look.

Spells: If you're not getting any +dex items at all, and assuming you're wearing light armor (warlock restrictions), note Divine Grace from Spell Compendium. Level 5 Cleric spell, either min. or round/level, either way, basically a single combat spell. It gives a +10 enhancement to dex. That's +5 to AC, your ranged touch attacks, and more!

Domains: Try to get something with Time Stop, both to use early combat to put up all your many buff spells, and possibly also mid-combat, after enough are taken down by dispels. Just a thought.

 

[SnowHeart]

Thanks dude. I was wondering about the Con/HP issue. Purchase prices for items is really not so much an issue at this point (nearly 1mil gold to spend), but I do start running into issues with slots for items.

I'll dump the Weapon Focus feat. You're right. And looking at the Divine Metamagic feats is a good idea. I browsed them but didn't look too closely.

As for armor, I was thinking of a mithril breastplate (acts as light armor, and he's got the proficiency from the cleric levels).

 

[milo]

To help with the SR issue you could get a wand of Assay Spell Resistance. +10 for 7 rounds with the base wand at 21000 gp. I would emphasize Dexterity more than strength with the warlock. You might want to look at the Hellfire Warlock PRC from Fiendish Codex II. It looks like you can get into Eldritch Disciple at clc4 and warlock 1. When you are done with Elritch Disciple you could do 3 levels of Hellfire Warlock and finish up with warlock. It would give you an extra 6D6 with your eldritch blast. Chausible of fell power is a must for any warlock, I think it is 36k for a greater and it adds 2D6 to your eldritch blast.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Another thing, if those stats were chosen: I'm tempted to say wis is more important than cha, so reverse those unless you're set on it the way they are. In any case, try to find as many uses for that huge cha as possible. Most involve feats or class features, but there are some items that benefit from a high charisma. For example, a stunning surge (or just stunning?) weapon from MIC can actually have a respectable save DC, because it uses 10 +1/2 character level +cha modifier to calculate.

The poster asking about required entry level reminded me, did your DM make up an epic progression for Eldritch Disciple? If not, you won't long be able to support both EB damage AND cleric CL.

Thanks dude. I was wondering about the Con/HP issue. Purchase prices for items is really not so much an issue at this point (nearly 1mil gold to spend), but I do start running into issues with slots for items.

I was working on the assumption items had all already been decided, and you had no spare money. As for slots, get str in the hands slot, con in the belt slot. Problem solved. Any extraneous stuff you might want, like amulet of retributive healing, you're allowed to attach stat booters to at no extra cost (in the DMG, it'd make you pay something like +50% to add extra things to the same slot). If you decide to get dex, you can use the boots slot. You can also get charisma and resistance bonus on saves on either vest or cloak slot, so no need to choose one over the other.

As for armor, I was thinking of a mithril breastplate (acts as light armor, and he's got the proficiency from the cleric levels).

That'd leave room for +5 dex to AC, perfect for aforementioned spell... It's also probably the best choice, yeah.

 

[Drowbane]

A class idea.

Warlock 9 / Hellfire Warlock 2 / Ur Priest 2 / Eldritch Disciple 8 (max caster progression for Ur Priest)

This would give you 9th level cleric spells (fewer, and not as high on CL) and Invocations as a 19th lvl Warlock... and the start of Hellfire, which is pretty much the only good Warlock-specific PrC.

Mortalbane (BoVD) is a nice feat for any warlock. 5/day you can add +2d6 dmg to your EB (and any other damaging SLAs you happen to have), and it can be taken multiple times. Just don't Mortalbane-Blast undead, constructs, or outsiders

 

[SnowHeart]

Drowbane and Milo, those are good class suggestions. I'm going to try playing around with that.

SotS, thanks for the suggestions. I'm anxious about dropping Strength but it's probably silly -- more of am emphasis on surviving to escape from melee makes more sense, and the Dex and Con match up with that idea whereas the Str really just helps him carry more (meh).

Thanks guys.

 

[milo]

If you are worried about carrying things then get a bag of holding type 4 and a Heward's handy haversack. Both of those combined are less than a +6 strength item and you can carry a lot more with them.

 

[rgard]

A class idea.

Warlock 9 / Hellfire Warlock 2 / Ur Priest 2 / Eldritch Disciple 8 (max caster progression for Ur Priest)

This would give you 9th level cleric spells (fewer, and not as high on CL) and Invocations as a 19th lvl Warlock... and the start of Hellfire, which is pretty much the only good Warlock-specific PrC.

Mortalbane (BoVD) is a nice feat for any warlock. 5/day you can add +2d6 dmg to your EB (and any other damaging SLAs you happen to have), and it can be taken multiple times. Just don't Mortalbane-Blast undead, constructs, or outsiders

Sweet. I like this build.

 

[irdeggman]

Some notes:

Practiced Spellcaster has no effect on a warlock. They are not a spellcaster, even though they have a caster level. They do not cast spells.


What is the feat Epic Eldrich Blast? If it is a general epic feat you qualify, if it depends on a certain class level you don’t – you are not an epic level warlock (not 20+ levels of warlock)


You do qualify for battlecaster so with each application you can increase the type of armor you can wear without suffering ASF. Could be useful if you want to increase you AC without buffing.