Eldritch Knight for Warlocks?

[Riksdag Panda]

Ello, ello ello...
I was pondering one day whilst browsing the DMG, would the Eldritch Knight be a possible as a prestige class for warlocks. I know that warlocks can only enter prestige classes with a caster level prequesite, but the DMG came out waayyyyy before complete arcane so is there any chance of a warlock/eldritch knight. Is there an official answer to this?? If not would YOU allow it??

(note. Eldritch Knight, Eldritch blast does sound similar eh? *nudge, nudge)

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

Is there an official answer to this??

No. At least, not that I know of.

If not would YOU allow it??

Were I a DM, I'd allow it for my players. In fact, nay, I'd encourage it. Anything's better than crappy DR and crappy fast healing. Warlock needs all the help it can get.

Brad

 

[FireLance]

I mostly agree with cignus_pfaccari. Balance-wise, I don't think it will be an issue. Compared to a sorcerer, a warlock gives up more (better DR and fast healing) and gains less (a maximum BAB improvement of +3) by going Eldritch Knight. I'd change the spellcasting pre-requisite to the ability to cast 3rd-level spells or use lesser invocations, i.e. minimum 6 levels of warlock.

I don't agree that the warlock is a weak class, but this is not the thread to elaborate on that.

 

[Silveras]

Ello, ello ello...
I was pondering one day whilst browsing the DMG, would the Eldritch Knight be a possible as a prestige class for warlocks. I know that warlocks can only enter prestige classes with a caster level prequesite, but the DMG came out waayyyyy before complete arcane so is there any chance of a warlock/eldritch knight. Is there an official answer to this?? If not would YOU allow it??

(note. Eldritch Knight, Eldritch blast does sound similar eh? *nudge, nudge)

As written, No, the Warlock does not qualify. The EK's requirements are specifically "Ability to cast 3rd level spells", not "Caster level 3rd".

It does not matter that the DMG came out well before Complete Arcane. Complete Arcane specifically tells you how to handle such Feat and Prestige Class eligibility for the Warlock.

 

[Nifft]

The Warlock really is giving up a lot by leaving... and he's gaining so much less. He already has d6 hit dice and BAB +15 at level 20. It's very sub-optimal to take EK for a Warlock... so sure, I'd let him do it. But I'd make sure he knew in advance how much it would hurt.

-- N

 

[Goolpsy]

"ability to cast 3rd level spells" isn't that in most cases exactly like "Caster level 5th"?

if its not, its like saying something similar to "A car radio ain't a radio in any way.. doesn't even work the same way"...

 

[Jack Simth]

"ability to cast 3rd level spells" isn't that in most cases exactly like "Caster level 5th"?

For Wizard, Cleric, and Druid, yes; Ranger or Paladin, maybe (earliest 3rd level spell at 11th level, which is caster level 5.5 - but that only with a Wis of 16 or better to have a slot to put that spell in; class 12th, caster 6th with a Wis of 13, 14, or 15); for Bard (earliest 3rd level spell at 7th caster level), or Sorceror (earliest 3rd level spell at caster level 6th), no.

 

[Riksdag Panda]

Thanks guys, the folks in this forum never ceases to amaze me, such mastery of knowledge
So according to RAW the warlock would be limited to 2 pretige classes, is that so?
Once agin thanks chaps

Cheerio

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Legally no. Balance wise the warlock is proably loosing out. He has the same HD as an eldritch knight and the measily 2 or 3 points of BAB gained isn't worth all the special abilities the warlock would be giving up (and the 1 feat for 1 caster level trade off at level 1 of EK just doesn't balance out either).
I'd allow it but you'd have to be a fool to take me up on the offer.

 

[Silveras]

"ability to cast 3rd level spells" isn't that in most cases exactly like "Caster level 5th"?

if its not, its like saying something similar to "A car radio ain't a radio in any way.. doesn't even work the same way"...

Actually, no. As Complete Arcane points out, the phrasing is different for a reason.

"Able to cast 3rd level spells" means a Wizard is eligible after 5th level, a Sorcerer after 6th, and a Bard after 7th or 8th (depending on Cha), a Cleric after 5th, a Druid after 5th, a Paladin after 11th or 12th (depending on Wis), and a Ranger after 11th or 12th (depending on Wis)

"Caster Level 5th" means a Cleric, Druid, Wizard, Sorcerer, or Bard is eligble after 5th level, and a Paladin or Ranger is eligible after 10th level.

Warlocks do not cast spells, so are unable to take up Prestige Classes that require "Able to cast Xth level spells", but they DO have a Caster Level (equal to Class level), so they CAN take up Prestige Classes that require "Caster Level Xth".