D&D 5E Effective caster level?

[Flamestrike]

It does make a high charisma character dipping 2-3 levels into Warlock to get Eldritch Blast, Agonising Blast and Hex to be an effective base for a blasty build.

2-3 levels for a decent ranged attack isnt the best investment of three levels for mine.

Might be nice on a Barbarian, Monk or Paladin who suck at ranged attacks (particularly the latter with its high Cha score) but I wouldnt bother personally, instead taking 3 levels in fighter for a much better return at what youre already good at.

All full casters, Rogues, Rangers, Fighters etc are already pretty darn good ranged out the box, and I would rather just progress through those classes without dipping for access to higher level abilities (spells, feats, extra attack, sneak attack etc).

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Hex is overvalued a lot. Yes, decent damage increase. Yes, disadvantage on an ability check. But it costs your concentration slot as well as a spell slot. And it only lasts for a single encounter if you do not cast it with a higher spell slot anyway.
As a paladin you indeed have a good ranged attack with eldritch blast... but is that worth your soul?

 

[Flamestrike]

Hex is overvalued a lot. Yes, decent damage increase. Yes, disadvantage on an ability check. But it costs your concentration slot as well as a spell slot. And it only lasts for a single encounter if you do not cast it with a higher spell slot anyway.
As a paladin you indeed have a good ranged attack with eldritch blast... but is that worth your soul?

For a Vengance paladin who is CE and worships Orcus, yeah why not

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Take devil sight and darkness too.

 

[Illithidbix]

Hex is overvalued a lot. Yes, decent damage increase. Yes, disadvantage on an ability check. But it costs your concentration slot as well as a spell slot. And it only lasts for a single encounter if you do not cast it with a higher spell slot anyway.
As a paladin you indeed have a good ranged attack with eldritch blast... but is that worth your soul?

And Spell slots that refresh on short rest for your smites. Overall though yes. Palablastalock might just be added to a long list of multiclass combinations that look awesome but aren't mechanically worth it.

And yes Oblationist Philosophies for the win!

Good is not strong enough to triumph over Evil.
The Righteous must use the tools of the damned to have the strength to conquer over Evil.
All those who use the tools of the damned are irrevocably damned
None can escape this corruption, all who claim otherwise are fools.
Thus it is the duty of the righteous to martyr their purity and damn themselves such that they will have the strength for Good to triumph.

Best theology.

 

[Flamestrike]

And Spell slots that refresh on short rest for your smites. Overall though yes. Palablastalock might just be added to a long list of multiclass combinations that look awesome but aren't mechanically worth it.

And yes Oblationist Philosophies for the win!

Good is not strong enough to triumph over Evil.
The Righteous must use the tools of the damned to have the strength to conquer over Evil.
All those who use the tools of the damned are irrevocably damned
None can escape this corruption, all who claim otherwise are fools.
Thus it is the duty of the righteous to martyr their purity and damn themselves such that they will have the strength for Good to triumph.

Best theology.

Its nice to add a ranged option onto your paladin, but personally I would rather increase mobility. Vengance Paladins are already spamming haste and misty step to get up close and personal as is.

If youre a paladin and youre sitting back pinging ranged attacks your enemy is winning already.

 

[Illithidbix]

Its nice to add a ranged option onto your paladin, but personally I would rather increase mobility. Vengance Paladins are already spamming haste and misty step to get up close and personal as is.

If youre a paladin and youre sitting back pinging ranged attacks your enemy is winning already.

That's very possibly true, I was mostly thinking in terms of it's usefulness with *countering* mobile skirmishers and flyers and similar enemies who become a pain in the ass for clanky types.

Also in a low magic item campaign the Force Damage of Eldritch Blast is a very handy tool. (Since the only thing I know Immune/Resistant to it in the MM is the
Although common or garden Paladins already seem to be the best equipped out of fighty types for countering resistance to non magical weapons.

In terms of a blasty, clanky gish, I think a PallyBlastlock looks to be in a reasonably strong position compared to the alternatives. Not better than either by themselves, but some useful tools with some numbers weight behind it (I think). If they were better than pure paladins that'd be a sign something is deeply borked.

Although how much a Warlock with so much investment would still *feel* look an actual spellcaster rather than just another form of mixed melee/ranged warrior.
Mage hand/Prestidigitation probably goes along way to feel like a POWERFUL WIZ...WARLOCK. Perhaps getting to Pact of the Tome and swapping your second Invocation to Book of Ancient secrets for rituals.