An errata for Warlocks?

[Kurotowa]

Another question about Warlocks, since we have a thread and I ran across this just now. (Sorry if this has been asked already, but Search is down both here and at the D&D forums.)

The Maximize Spell-Like Ability feat and eldrich blast. I thought they were designed to go together, especially since an eldrich blast is one of the two examples given with the feat. However, when looking more closely at the numbers, I spotted a problem. The feat can only be chosen for a spell like ability equal to half your caster level, minus two. An eldrich blast has a spell level of equal to half your caster level.

Now, either I'm misunderstanding this entirely, or there is no way a Warlock can every take that feat for eldrich blast. Can anyone help me out here?

 

[Staffan]

The Maximize Spell-Like Ability feat and eldrich blast. I thought they were designed to go together, especially since an eldrich blast is one of the two examples given with the feat. However, when looking more closely at the numbers, I spotted a problem. The feat can only be chosen for a spell like ability equal to half your caster level, minus two. An eldrich blast has a spell level of equal to half your caster level.

The EB has received unofficial errata. It now has an effective spell level equal to one, or the highest of the blast shape and whatever the other modifying invocation type is called. So you can use Maximize with it, but only when not adding too cool other stuff.

 

[Shin Okada]

Imbue Item is by far the best feature of the class. Get Craft staff and make a staff of "insert combination of spell nastiness here" with any spell in existance.

Whether if a character can "design" a staff by choosing a combination of spells or not is all up to each DM. And I don't allow it in my campaign. I just found that most spell-casters don't actually try to make a staff with multiple spells. By calculation, a staff of Magic Missile (only) is 750 gp and it still shoots 5 missiles per cast in the hand of 9th-level wizard. :\

Edit : By the way, a Warlock can't do it. In 3.5e, UMD skill check does not give you caster level. The DC is just for activating a spell trigger item. So, a 9th-level wizard can use either his CL or the staff's CL whichever is higher. But a warlock must always use the staff's CL.

 

[Hypersmurf]

By calculation, a staff of Magic Missile (only) is 750 gp and it still shoots 5 missiles per cast in the hand of 9th-level wizard. :\

No, a staff of Magic Missile (only) is at least 6000gp.

-Hyp.

 

[Shin Okada]

No, a staff of Magic Missile (only) is at least 6000gp.

-Hyp.

Oh, I see. The minimum caster level is written in Staff section of Magic Items list, not in Creating Magic Items section. Damn.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Oh, I see. The minimum caster level is written in Staff section of Magic Items list, not in Creating Magic Items section. Damn.

It's in both.

CREATING STAFFS
To create a magic staff, a character needs a supply of materials, the most obvious being a staff or the pieces of the staff to be assembled.

The cost for the materials is subsumed in the cost for creating the staff—375 gp x the level of the highest-level spell x the level of the caster, plus 75% of the value of the next most costly ability (281.25 gp x the level of the spell x the level of the caster), plus one-half of the value of any other abilities (187.5 gp x the level of the spell x the level of the caster). Staffs are always fully charged (50 charges) when created.

If desired, a spell can be placed into the staff at only half the normal cost, but then activating that particular spell costs 2 charges from the staff. The caster level of all spells in a staff must be the same, and no staff can have a caster level of less than 8th, even if all the spells in the staff are low-level spells.

...

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Staff Descriptions
Staffs use the wielder’s ability score and relevant feats to set the DC for saves against their spells. Unlike with other sorts of magic items, the wielder can use his caster level when activating the power of a staff if it’s higher than the caster level of the staff.

...

Furthermore, a staff can hold a spell of any level, unlike a wand, which is limited to spells of 4th level or lower. The minimum caster level of a staff is 8th. Standard staffs are described below.

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-Hyp.

 

[Shin Okada]

I wonder why all the members in my playgroup have missed that part...........

 

[Diirk]

Because they want cheap staffs?

 

[Anthelios]

Seriously. 5d6 is an average of 17.5 damage. If a 9th level fighter can't do that much in a single hit, there's something wrong. Just with an 18 strength and a greatsword, he's at 13.5, and he should be getting two or more swings per round....

Lots of talk about melee classes and other casters in the thread, but I don't know how much experience you guys have had with warlocks.

The biggest breaker has to be the fact that their blasts are touch attacks. Fireball is great, but it gives a save. A second level rogue has a fair chance of being unharmed by a fireball, but not a warlocks blast. Now, the warlock in my game has extended range on his blast, the ability to channel it through a weapon, and flight ( as well as the sight powers ). Now, his typical means of combat are:

Fly up into the air if outside, or to the ceilling if inside. Blast, blast again.. With a +5 dex modifer and his BAB, he pretty much cant miss against heavy armored opponents. Now its a a low magic world, and I know that has a effect on it.. but still.

Also, hes using a touch attack, so has a chance to crit. Normally critical hits about twice a night ( unless hes up close and personal, using his rapier to really dish out some damage. )

Even a fighter isn't going to hit as often as he is, despite being able to do more damage.

 

[apesamongus]

Also, hes using a touch attack, so has a chance to crit. Normally critical hits about twice a night ( unless hes up close and personal, using his rapier to really dish out some damage. )

A crit from a rapier like that wouldn't multiply the EB damage, because at that point it is just bonus dice of damage and not a weapon-like spell.