D&D 5E (2014) HE Warlock
- Thread starter Baldguy33
- Start date
Jaelommiss
First Post
For some reason I expected a discussion on high explosive warlocks...
Relating to the actual topic, stats and background for a warlock will depend heavily on the character concept you have in mind. Artillery and bladelock are the two I see most frequently, but the warlock provides a flexible enough base to create all sorts of fun characters. For instance, with the charlatan background, disguise self at-will invocation, one with shadows invocation, the actor feat, and proper spell choices you can create a virtually unstoppable infiltrator that relies on diplomacy rather that combat prowess. Looking through invocations is a great way to find a bizarre, and usually viable, character.
Since you didn't explicitly mention what you are going for (and because I assume HE means half elf, and half elves are a munchkin's wet dream) I will assume maximized powergamey murderbot. For that your stats are fine and background rarely matters. Something granting acrobatics to resist grapples might come in handy. Stealth and perception are also useful. It would also be helpful to know what level you are playing at.
Relating to the actual topic, stats and background for a warlock will depend heavily on the character concept you have in mind. Artillery and bladelock are the two I see most frequently, but the warlock provides a flexible enough base to create all sorts of fun characters. For instance, with the charlatan background, disguise self at-will invocation, one with shadows invocation, the actor feat, and proper spell choices you can create a virtually unstoppable infiltrator that relies on diplomacy rather that combat prowess. Looking through invocations is a great way to find a bizarre, and usually viable, character.
Since you didn't explicitly mention what you are going for (and because I assume HE means half elf, and half elves are a munchkin's wet dream) I will assume maximized powergamey murderbot. For that your stats are fine and background rarely matters. Something granting acrobatics to resist grapples might come in handy. Stealth and perception are also useful. It would also be helpful to know what level you are playing at.
Thanks so much for the reply.
I am joining a group that is already been playing this campaign and I am starting at level 4
I will be taking the Charlatan Background and yes she will be Half elf
With my 2 choices of skills with Half elf I plan to take Stealth and Perception as they seem most benifical.
My question now is what Pact I am having a hard time deciding as I would love to have a Quasit or Imp BUT on the other hand 3 Cantrips seems pretty good as well and casting Rituals
Invocations I plan to take Agonizing Blast (obvious) and Repelling Blast.
Although speaking through my Familiar seems really cool as well.
thanks in advance for any sugestions
I am joining a group that is already been playing this campaign and I am starting at level 4
I will be taking the Charlatan Background and yes she will be Half elf
With my 2 choices of skills with Half elf I plan to take Stealth and Perception as they seem most benifical.
My question now is what Pact I am having a hard time deciding as I would love to have a Quasit or Imp BUT on the other hand 3 Cantrips seems pretty good as well and casting Rituals
Invocations I plan to take Agonizing Blast (obvious) and Repelling Blast.
Although speaking through my Familiar seems really cool as well.
thanks in advance for any sugestions
On the subject of murderbots....
If you are looking for a Eldritch Blast "murderbot", let me suggest dipping at least 3 levels into sorcerer. This will give you access to quicken spell and 14 spell points to power it with (allowing you to cast double eldritch blast 7 times/day). This will also give you an AC of 13+dex with the draconic bloodline.
At that point, you can either go back to warlock, or (my preference) continue down the sorcerer path, using it primarily to power all-day double eldritch blasts (getting access to most of the sorcerer spells on top doesn't hurt). Eventually you'll have enough spell points to use the empower metamagic on every eldritch blast as well.
Another slightly nuts sub build is the sniper. Typically, you don't need more than 120 ft of range on a spell, as that will cover almost all of the battlefield in most encounters. *However*, using Eldritch Spear + Distant Spell + Spell Sniper gives your Eldritch blast a range of 1200 ft.!!! This can lead to some interesting situations
Have fun!
If you are looking for a Eldritch Blast "murderbot", let me suggest dipping at least 3 levels into sorcerer. This will give you access to quicken spell and 14 spell points to power it with (allowing you to cast double eldritch blast 7 times/day). This will also give you an AC of 13+dex with the draconic bloodline.
At that point, you can either go back to warlock, or (my preference) continue down the sorcerer path, using it primarily to power all-day double eldritch blasts (getting access to most of the sorcerer spells on top doesn't hurt). Eventually you'll have enough spell points to use the empower metamagic on every eldritch blast as well.
Another slightly nuts sub build is the sniper. Typically, you don't need more than 120 ft of range on a spell, as that will cover almost all of the battlefield in most encounters. *However*, using Eldritch Spear + Distant Spell + Spell Sniper gives your Eldritch blast a range of 1200 ft.!!! This can lead to some interesting situations
Have fun!
Tony Vargas
Legend
You make a perilous pact with a famed Swedish chemist...
AtomicPope
Hero
It takes 10gp and 1 hour. Basically, you get your Familiar back after a short rest which matches the rest of a Warlock's power cooldowns.
Tanaka Chris
First Post
I would swap your CON stat for DEX, helps your AC and boosts quite a few proficiencies.
As a fiendlock, you can get more temp HP from killing enemies and Armor of Agathys works well in the interim as well.
As for the background, why not follow the PHB's suggestion to create one that you like? On page 125-126 on the PHB, there's an entry for customizing your own background.
"To customize a background, you can replace one feature with any other one, choose any two skills, and choose a total of two tool proficiencies or languages from the sample backgrounds."
Just pick the two skills you want, 2 tool proficiencies/or languages or mix them up, and pick one feature. Once you look thru it, a background with those skills will naturally appear.
Stealth and Deception with Thieves Tools and Forgery Kit, that's a combination of the Charlatan and Urchin and can be reskinned as a Spy or something.
Feature, Criminal Contact reskinned as Information Network.
Before you go Book of Shadows, is there another wizard in the Party? And check with your DM how likely you are going to be able to find scrolls and teachers to learn rituals.
No point making a ritual caster without the necessary teachers, keeping in mind Druids and Cleric only spells may not readily have scrolls lying around being Divine and all.
Pact of Chain will give you a lot of Creative uses. Also your familiar may be able to share it's magical resistances with you (if your DM is kind).
If you're taking Eldritch Blast upgrades in the Invocations, you may want to avoid the Pact of the Blade as well, too many invocations required.
You can compensate using Armor of Agathys to keep you safe in melee range and blast from afar, healing up THP everytime you down a Hero via Fiend Pact.
Lastly, you mentioned you start at level 4, that's an Ability Score Increase or Feat.
CHA or DEX are good options to upgrade, one being more offensive, the other being more defensive.
Lucky can also be considered and will essentially negate any 'Disadvantage' on your part or cancel a Critical Hit on an enemies part.
As a fiendlock, you can get more temp HP from killing enemies and Armor of Agathys works well in the interim as well.
As for the background, why not follow the PHB's suggestion to create one that you like? On page 125-126 on the PHB, there's an entry for customizing your own background.
"To customize a background, you can replace one feature with any other one, choose any two skills, and choose a total of two tool proficiencies or languages from the sample backgrounds."
Just pick the two skills you want, 2 tool proficiencies/or languages or mix them up, and pick one feature. Once you look thru it, a background with those skills will naturally appear.
Stealth and Deception with Thieves Tools and Forgery Kit, that's a combination of the Charlatan and Urchin and can be reskinned as a Spy or something.
Feature, Criminal Contact reskinned as Information Network.
Before you go Book of Shadows, is there another wizard in the Party? And check with your DM how likely you are going to be able to find scrolls and teachers to learn rituals.
No point making a ritual caster without the necessary teachers, keeping in mind Druids and Cleric only spells may not readily have scrolls lying around being Divine and all.
Pact of Chain will give you a lot of Creative uses. Also your familiar may be able to share it's magical resistances with you (if your DM is kind).
If you're taking Eldritch Blast upgrades in the Invocations, you may want to avoid the Pact of the Blade as well, too many invocations required.
You can compensate using Armor of Agathys to keep you safe in melee range and blast from afar, healing up THP everytime you down a Hero via Fiend Pact.
Lastly, you mentioned you start at level 4, that's an Ability Score Increase or Feat.
CHA or DEX are good options to upgrade, one being more offensive, the other being more defensive.
Lucky can also be considered and will essentially negate any 'Disadvantage' on your part or cancel a Critical Hit on an enemies part.
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