D&D (2024) Barbarian-Warlock in D&D '24

I remember a semi-common character concept with D&D '14 combining barbarian and warlock. I'm interested in whether it plays out differently now (and if any rules changes make it unviable or unsatisfying). Generally the build is Barbarian 1/ Warlock (bladelock) 1-19 or Barbarian 5 / Warlock (any) 1-15. For combat, the idea is to pre-buff with non-concentration spells -- notably Armor of Agathys (whose temp hp last twice as long when coupled with rage) and then fight using str-based combat (necessary for the rage bonus to damage to occur). Other spell usage might happen outside of combat, and most non-spell warlock abilities work fine while raging.

The notable things I can see that have changed that might impact this include:
  • Pact of Blade can be combined with Pacts of Chain and Tome, meaning you can have an Imp familiar helping in the fight and/or supplement your OOC abilities with cantrips and ritual spells.
  • Nick-property two-weapon fighting synergizes with bonus-action abilities, although the obvious choice of Hex doesn't work alongside raging (but maintaining rage does). It looks like 2wf works fine with Pact of Blade, Thirsting Blade, and Devouring Blade, so long as you aren't expecting your off-hand weapon to be cha-based (which you don't, since you want to use str).
Anything else? Things that work? Don't work? Work better?

No idea where this is going, I just was clicking through a list of character concepts getting 2024 facelifts, and wondered about this one. Thanks in advance.
 

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I think it's a viable concept if played as you point out, but I think the 2024 changes have made it a little less so, since now the barbarian has incentive to use rage outside of combat, as well. You could still make a decent character, but the problem will always be that the paladin/warlock combination is right there and synergizes sooooo much better.
 

TWF doesn’t work quite as well as you think.
Pact of the blade only lets you attack using Cha for 1 weapon.

Unless your ignoring Cha, then you can go reckless attack just fine. Defensive Duelist is also a nice reaction, as even with Armor or Agathys you don't want to be hit.

Hmmm...
Aasimar, Bear Totem 4(defensive Duelist), Fiend warlock X = lots of resistance, and some extra THP generation that might keep Armor or Agathys up.
 

TWF doesn’t work quite as well as you think.
Pact of the blade only lets you attack using Cha for 1 weapon.

Unless your ignoring Cha, then you can go reckless attack just fine. Defensive Duelist is also a nice reaction, as even with Armor or Agathys you don't want to be hit.
No, I mentioned that: --
  • Nick-property two-weapon fighting synergizes with bonus-action abilities, although the obvious choice of Hex doesn't work alongside raging (but maintaining rage does). It looks like 2wf works fine with Pact of Blade, Thirsting Blade, and Devouring Blade, so long as you aren't expecting your off-hand weapon to be cha-based (which you don't, since you want to use str).
It's baked into the build concept -- this is a str-focused multiclass. Since you are not casting much during combat, you don't need a high charisma as much as other warlocks.
Nothing in Pact of Blade requires you to use charisma. Likewise, Thirsting Blade and Devouring Blade require you to use your pact weapon for the attacks they provide, but do not stop you from using another weapon for off-hand attacks. These were the main concerns to which I was alluding.
Hmmm...
Aasimar, Bear Totem 4(defensive Duelist), Fiend warlock X = lots of resistance, and some extra THP generation that might keep Armor or Agathys up.
Those are great ideas.
the problem will always be that the paladin/warlock combination is right there and synergizes sooooo much better.
Excepting maybe dips-for-armor on wizards/sorcerers, there just aren't going to be MCs that synergize better than the Charisma Crowd. I'm not looking for optimization, so much as playability.
 

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