Level Up (A5E) Additional Eldritch Invocations for Pact of the Chain Warlocks
- Thread starter Tessarael
- Start date
lichmaster
Hero
Well, now that Pets and Sidekicks is coming out there will be plenty of ways to improve the familiar.
The imp makes an incredible scout, and it's expendable, and heck your familiar can even serve as a concentration-bot with a ring of spell storing for haste and bless. I don't personally think it's a "combat pet," but I suppose some folk might see the familiar at early levels' efficacy and wonder why it doesn't scale up.
lichmaster
Hero
The concentration-bot idea is very interesting!
Tessarael
Adventurer
With the Frog Fangs eldritch invocation and Pact of the Chain, such a Warlock build aims at having the familiar in combat to boost damage per round. It works well at lower levels. At higher levels, the familiar goes down within a round or two of suffering damage in combat.
For my 9th level Warlock with Wisdom 20 and a Wand of the War Mage +1, the Imp attacks at +10, with advantage if invisible, and does d4+3 piercing + d6 poison + 4 force damage from Frog Fangs, an average of 13 damage per round if it hits. They can also deliver Eldritch Scythe through the familiar, with that +4 force damage from Frog Fangs on each eldritch blast, so similar damage benefit of +12 per round if it hits the target and another within 5' with Eldritch Scythe. Casting Resplendent Refraction on the Imp is another way to make good use of it. Either way, the additional damage per round is good, but at the risk of the familiar dying.
My plan was to research a rare version of Armor of Agathys with 8 hour duration that could be cast on the familiar, rather than only cast on self. Additionally, Elven Chain would boost my Imp's AC from 14 to 16 (AC 13 + 1 + 2 from Dexterity modifier as max. Dex. bonus is +2 for chain shirt). The campaign, with my Warlock character, is taking a break at the moment, so I haven't done this as yet.
For my 9th level Warlock with Wisdom 20 and a Wand of the War Mage +1, the Imp attacks at +10, with advantage if invisible, and does d4+3 piercing + d6 poison + 4 force damage from Frog Fangs, an average of 13 damage per round if it hits. They can also deliver Eldritch Scythe through the familiar, with that +4 force damage from Frog Fangs on each eldritch blast, so similar damage benefit of +12 per round if it hits the target and another within 5' with Eldritch Scythe. Casting Resplendent Refraction on the Imp is another way to make good use of it. Either way, the additional damage per round is good, but at the risk of the familiar dying.
My plan was to research a rare version of Armor of Agathys with 8 hour duration that could be cast on the familiar, rather than only cast on self. Additionally, Elven Chain would boost my Imp's AC from 14 to 16 (AC 13 + 1 + 2 from Dexterity modifier as max. Dex. bonus is +2 for chain shirt). The campaign, with my Warlock character, is taking a break at the moment, so I haven't done this as yet.
Tessarael
Adventurer
Using a familiar, which avoids getting killed in combat, to cast spells from a Ring of Spell Storing is a nice idea. I've been doing something similar sometimes in combat, with my Imp having the Fire Bolt cantrip to do d10 fire + 4 force damage from Frog Fangs at up to 120' range. Not the same level of benefit as Bless or Haste, but still every little bit helps.
It's a frightfully boring and efficient use of a ring of spell storing, especially since the familiar has its own attunement slots and the caster can just dismiss the familiar safely to a demiplane so there's no way to try to threaten the concentration of the haste spell
It makes me want to not give out spell-storing items like that 'cuz they're only ever used for the same few spells (at my tables, at least)
On a familiar, haste and bless.
On a PC, shield shield shield shield absorb elements
Verall
Explorer
There’s a new invocation which is coincidently 9th level called Dire form. It Increases health, damage, ac and size. Should satisfy your need for a battle familiar somewhat.
lichmaster
Hero
I wouldn't allow the spell to persist if the familiar is not on the same planeIt's a frightfully boring and efficient use of a ring of spell storing, especially since the familiar has its own attunement slots and the caster can just dismiss the familiar safely to a demiplane so there's no way to try to threaten the concentration of the haste spell
Yeah. RAW it works, but even if they're not sending them to another plane "they cast haste, then hop in my backpack for full cover" is the other option. Ofc one could then say "ok sounds like your equipment's all going to start taking damage from fireballs etc" but that's an antagonistic direction I'd rather avoid.
Like I said, spell-storing items became so dreadfully utilitarian and boring in 5e that, if I remember next time, I don't plan on handing them out anymore. Not sure if that says more about those low-level evergreen spells, or what.
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