D&D 5E Blade Pact Warlocks and Conventional Wisdom

[Corwin]

Well he's trying to avoid MAD. I think even Medium Armor with a 12 Dex is probably worth it too. 2 AC is not meaningless of course, but the feat probably will come up more (like ever single attack he makes) than that 2 AC.

True. But, you can effectively S&B with Dex primary, rather than Strength. Some would argue the pros exceed the cons even.

 

[mellored]

I'm playing a lvl 14 Fiend Patron Pact blade tome warlock and it is one of the most enjoyable characters I've ever played in D&D, any edition. He can hold his own in melee, but against a truly tough foe he's got to think it out. Close quarters? Darkness, which i can see through and most other melee classes can't, I win. Not close quarter? Charm the fighter into getting somehwhere I can use that combo. Or just make him my monkey for the duration. Invisibility, check. Ranged attack if needed, check. Disguise self to sneak into somewhere, check. He's got a lot more options out of combat, like rituas and guidance. and plenty in combat to help him get advantages when needed. All else fails, dimension door to get out of a bad situation and strike again when terms are more to my liking or that of my group.

Improved that for you.

Really.. it's basicly.

Tome: 3 extra cantrips.
Chain: Invisible familiar.
Blade: Lose 2 invocations, and gain 1 melee cantrip (i.e. you don't need booming blade).

True. But, you can effectively S&B with Dex primary, rather than Strength.

Or Cha primary.

Fiend Tome with Shillelagh. 14 Dex, medium armored, and 20 Cha for spells, to-hit, more THP each time you kill something, and better deception when you disguise yourself. Plus all the rituals and 1 more cantrip.

 

[Caliban]

Fixed that for you.

Really.. it's basicly.

Wait, are you saying he was lying about playing a bladelock?

 

[mellored]

Wait, are you saying he was lying about playing a bladelock?

No.

 

[Mistwell]

Fiend Tome with Shillelagh. 14 Dex, medium armored, and 20 Cha for spells, to-hit, more THP each time you kill something, and better deception when you disguise yourself. Plus all the rituals and 1 more cantrip.

And now he'd need Wisdom too? Because I don't think you're going to get Shillelagh to key off Charisma...unless you add 6 levels of bard.

 

[Warpiglet]

He is talking pact of the tome.

 

[Aldarc]

One other thing I noted. Everyone talks about an invocation tax for bladelock. As I look at it, time and chain also require additional invocation to be full featured. Again not sure why this is rately noted for fairer comparison.

Honestly, the pact boon features should have been baked into the class separate from the invocations. So as a warlock rises in power, the pact boons increase (e.g. blade=extra attack; chain=more powerful minion abilities; tome=more spells and esoteric knowledge). But as it stands, the pact boon invocations are, for the most part, invocation taxes.

 

[Irda Ranger]

Honestly, the pact boon features should have been baked into the class separate from the invocations. So as a warlock rises in power, the pact boons increase (e.g. blade=extra attack; chain=more powerful minion abilities; tome=more spells and esoteric knowledge). But as it stands, the pact boon invocations are, for the most part, invocation taxes.

I considered that too, but a non-blade Warlock needs Eldritch Blast, and for Eldritch Blast to really shine you have to take Agonizing Blast. Also if you're a Tome-lock and don't take Book of Ancient Secrets, you're missing a key reason to take the class.

Invocations are tools for supporting your combat style. It's appropriate that the Blade Invocations be where they are, IMO. My only complaint is that they just aren't as effective as the EB choices.

 

[Warpiglet]

I considered that too, but a non-blade Warlock needs Eldritch Blast, and for Eldritch Blast to really shine you have to take Agonizing Blast. Also if you're a Tome-lock and don't take Book of Ancient Secrets, you're missing a key reason to take the class.

Invocations are tools for supporting your combat style. It's appropriate that the Blade Invocations be where they are, IMO. My only complaint is that they just aren't as effective as the EB choices.

My biggest gripe about all warlocks is that they are an invocation short. One extra would make a world of difference for me and encourage some more flavorful choices.

 

[Corwin]

Or Cha primary.

Fiend Tome with Shillelagh. 14 Dex, medium armored, and 20 Cha for spells, to-hit, more THP each time you kill something, and better deception when you disguise yourself. Plus all the rituals and 1 more cantrip.

I was responding primarily as extension of my point that Medium Armor Master, with a 16 Dex, would be a viable route. Dex primary with S&B. Solid combo.