D&D 5E Warlocks seem pointless

[PnPgamer]

Examples?

Hp example can be said from fiendish heritage path. You get so much temp hp when you kill someone.

 

[Zaruthustran]

Warlocks are amazing, but they're not for everyone. What do you want to do with your character? Post some details and you might get suggestions. Or is this just venting?

 

[The Myopic Sniper]

I hadn't caught the part that the spell slots come back after a short rest.

Probably time to reboot the thread right at that point. If you get the expected two short rests per session, the Warlock does its thing better than trying to build a similar concept from a Wizard or Sorcerer.

You can also just play the class as a straight ranged combat character with Eldritch Blast and the Invocations offered for it and you should be fine even though you are just playing a reflavored archer character.

 

[TrippyHippy]

Examples?

Well, for example, if you want to play a combatant you can take a diabolic patron and a pact of the blade. This blade could be anything (as you automatically get the proficiency) so a Great Sword seems obvious (2d6 magical attack). You’re main attack could still be Eldritch Blast (at will) which is D10 damage also. Amour of Shadows gives you Mage Armour at will, while Fiendish Vigour gives bonus HP. You can also get more temp HP from kills you make. As you get more powerful you can augment your attacks with more Invocations and spells, and actually cause a heck of damage with an almost vampiric impact.

If you wanted to be more of a sneak, then there are various abilities that other have alluded to on tis thread already - but in short you get a lot of shadow manipulation on offer. This makes them similar to Rogues in a sense, but more magical firepower. The Path of Chains grants you familiars that are a lot more powerful than the ones on offer to other spell casters - more intelligent, combat worthy and dextrous and can in some cases go invisible.

The social manipulator style is my favourite, and it’s worth noting that those with an Arch-Fey patron can charm/intimidate everyone in the room at level 1 for an obvious example. But there are lots of mind-influencing/telepathy powers along with disguise magic that is frequently at will too.

There are a lot of options to build on as you progress in levels - more than I can highlight here. The point I was trying to make is that you get more traction in the powers you take if they compliment a certain theme. Don’t take one combatant power here, and another social one there. Rather than go jack of all trades, try to build your options thematically to compliment each other. This will create a really potent character that is fun to play.

 

[PnPgamer]

Whatis so great about the pact of the blade? To me it seems sort of crappy.

 

[JamesonCourage]

Examples?

Okay, I am not well-versed in this system, but since the OP has mentioned that his Warlock is level 4, here's a social Warlock I threw together.

Half-Elf Warlock 4


Strength 8 (-1)
Dexterity 10 (+0)
Constitution 12 (+1)
Intelligence 15 (+2)
Wisdom 14 (+2)
Charisma 18 (+4)


HP: 24 (rolled)


Feats: Actor +1 charisma added; advantage on deception and performance to pretend to be someone else; mimic the speech of others


Arcana +4
Deception +6 (advantage when pretending to be someone else)
History +4
Intimidation +4
Performance +6
Persuasion +6 (advantage when pretending to be someone else)
Religion +4


Archfey Pact: DC 14 Wisdom save or be charmed or frightened (1/short or long rest)


Invocations: Beguiling Influence (Proficiency in Deception and Persuasion), Mask of Many Faces (Disguise Self at will!)


Spells per short rest: 2
Spell save DC: 14
Level 1s known: Charm Person, Sleep (Archfey Pact), Unseen Servant
Level 2s known: Calm Emotions, Suggestion
Warlock Cantrips known: Eldritch Blast, Minor Illusion, Prestidigitation
Tome Cantrips known: Druidcraft, Guidance, Thaumaturgy


Languages: Common, Dwarven, Elven, Goblin, Orc

So, he's pretty social.

• He can take the form of any humanoid from 4'6" to 6'6" at will.
• He rolls Deception and Persuasion at 1d20+6 (with advantage) to pretend to be someone he's not. He can also mimic the voice of anyone he's heard before.
• He's knowledgeable (+4 plus 1d4 with Guidance to Arcana, History, Religion), and he can find knowledge if he doesn't know the answer off-hand (Sage feature).
• He can try non-lethal attempts to avoid combat (Archfey Pact to charm or frighten enemies, Charm Person, Sleep, Calm Emotions, Suggestion), including talking things out (Intimidate +4, Deception +6, Persuasion +6, and he knows Common, Dwarven, Elven, Goblin, Orc).
• He can put on one hell of a show (Performance +6, Unseen Servant, Minor Illusion, Prestidigitation, Druidcraft, Thaumaturgy).
• He can do some neat combo tricks, if allowed (Minor Illusion to make a voice of someone he's heard of without rolling with Actor, and advantage on the Deception check to trick people; etc.).

Overall, he's not bad. And, if he needs to, he can Eldritch Blast. Not his best trick, but he's not trying to make it be his best trick, either.

Anyway, what do you think?

 

[TrippyHippy]

Whatis so great about the pact of the blade? To me it seems sort of crappy.

Well, it means that you can walk unarmed into a place and them just summon it (along with taking Armour of the Shadows, it means you can make yourself fully ready for combat in an instant). You are automatically proficient in whatever it is, and can choose its form each time so it can be anything you want. It’s magical, so it hits those creatures with immunities to normal weapons and you can transform other magical weapons into it with a ritual. After then, there are various Invocations you can choose, allowing you to do more damage and make more attacks. Along with the features you get from the Fiend patron, you can make yourself a pretty formidable warrior in an assassin mold.

 

[PnPgamer]

Well, it means that you can walk unarmed into a place and them just summon it (along with taking Armour of the Shadows, it means you can make yourself fully ready for combat in an instant). You are automatically proficient in whatever it is, and can choose its form each time so it can be anything you want. It’s magical, so it hits those creatures with immunities to normal weapons and you can transform other magical weapons into it with a ritual. After then, there are various Invocations you can choose, allowing you to do more damage and make more attacks. Along with the features you get from the Fiend patron, you can make yourself a pretty formidable warrior in an assassin mold.

It takes an action to summon the weapon, and action to cast mage armor. Besides it makes him require 3-4 stats, strength for hit and damage, dexterity for ac and charisma for spells, and maybe con for survival. Also eldritch blast itself seems to override weapons in damage aspect easily.
To me it sounds suicidal to charge enemies with low ac and insignificant hp.

 

[TrippyHippy]

It takes an action to summon the weapon, and action to cast mage armor. Besides it makes him require 3-4 stats, strength for hit and damage, dexterity for ac and charisma for spells, and maybe con for survival. Also eldritch blast itself seems to override weapons in damage aspect easily.
To me it sounds suicidal to charge enemies with low ac and insignificant hp.

It would take an unarmed fighter a lot longer to find his weapons and armour after dinner, say, or in any situation where those things would be left at the gate, so to speak. The point is that a Warlock can always be armed when they need to - which can be used effectively for assassination attacks.

If you have a weak Strength then choose a weapon that operates on Finesse instead - the question is whether a 1d8+/-Dex weapon (Rapier) would be better than a 2d6+/-Strength weapon (Great Sword), but you’d have to look at your own stats. You don’t need to have Strength to be effective though. You will at least be proficient in the weapon, and get some bonuses in attack regardless and you may get other bonuses from spells you cast in combination.

Eldritch Blast is useful, but flashy. It may be indiscreet to use if you are trying to keep a low profile.

 

[PnPgamer]

It would take an unarmed fighter a lot longer to find his weapons and armour after dinner, say, or in any situation where those things would be left at the gate, so to speak. The point is that a Warlock can always be armed when they need to - which can be used effectively for assassination attacks.

If you have a weak Strength then choose a weapon that operates on Finesse instead - the question is whether a 1d8+/-Dex weapon (Rapier) would be better than a 2d6+/-Strength weapon (Great Sword), but you’d have to look at your own stats. You don’t need to have Strength to be effective though. You will at least be proficient in the weapon, and get some bonuses in attack regardless and you may get other bonuses from spells you cast in combination.

Eldritch Blast is useful, but flashy. It may be indiscreet to use if you are trying to keep a low profile.

This is something that might depend on dm. In our games we are assumed to wear armor when out in the adventures. We had only once a situation in which our cleric/warlock was having trouble with donning medium armor, which takes 5 minutes. He continued onwards without it, using only his shield for defense.