Feat pickin' time!

[Dannyalcatraz]

I almost never visit WoTCs site.

Anywho, that mystery is solved...back to the feats! It sounds like Melee training is in the lead at the mo, but that could be just because of getting me straight on the current state of the rules. Anything else to say?

 

[monboesen]

As per current rules you can choose the Eldritch strike at-will power instead of the Eldritch blast at-will power. If your a multiclassed warlock you likely have Eldritch blast and Dire radiance. So swap Eldritch blast for Eldritch strike.

Eldritch strike is a melee weapon power and also a melee basic attack. As such it works of your con or cha, does full damage and curse damage and throws in a handy slide 1. That would seem to a much better solution to your melee woes.

That leaves you with two solid at-will powers, one ranged and one melee.

As for the feats I would take Caiphons sacrifice. At level 6 the cost is marginal (1 or 3 HP) and I hate to lose an encounter attack by missing with it.



Warlock Attack 1 Eldritch Strike

The dire power of your attack drives your enemy before you.

At-Will Arcane, Weapon
Standard Action Melee weapon

Target: One creature

Attack: Charisma or Constitution vs. AC

Hit: 1[W] + Charisma or Constitution modifier damage, and you slide the target 1 square.
Increase damage to 2[W] + Charisma or Constitution modifier at 21st level.

Special: When you take this power, you determine whether you use Charisma or Constitution for the power’s attack roll and damage roll. This choice remains throughout the character’s life.
This power counts as a melee basic attack. You can choose this power instead of eldritch blast as the power associated with your Eldritch Blast class feature.

Addition (10/13/2009)
Add the following sentence to the bottom of the Special section: “You can choose this power instead of eldritch blast as the power associated with your Eldritch Blast class feature.”

Published in PH Heroes: Series 1.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Interesting. I'll have to think about it for the future- I've already retrained for this level. Thanks!

As a MBA, I wouldn't need the Melee Training feat...but would I still get the benefit of the proficiency bonus with the weapon when I attack?

 

[Ryujin]

Interesting. I'll have to think about it for the future- I've already retrained for this level. Thanks!

As a MBA, I wouldn't need the Melee Training feat...but would I still get the benefit of the proficiency bonus with the weapon when I attack?

As a Weapon power if you have proficiency with that weapon, then you would be able to apply its bonus. Works particularly well for Eladrins, who get long sword proficiency for free.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Free Warhammer proficiency don't suck, believe me!

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

So, as I see it, if/once I retrain for Eldritch Strike, I won't need Melee Training. Let's shelf that one for now, then.

That leaves the HP centric feats, StC, and the RP choice.

Expanding the conversation a bit for now to some other options:

1) I could also advance the feat progression I need for the Dreamwalker thing- he'll need to take Awakened Potential at some point before 11th level, for instance.

Awakened Potential (PSP p141): gain PsiAug class feature & +1PP for augmenting powers, feats or items. Once expended, it is regained after an extended rest. Gain another +1PP at 21st LVL.

It's useless until he gets augmentable powers, but after that, it will really help.

2) Dwarven Weapon Training now would get him proficiency with Craghammer, which could be very nice if/when he retrains Eldritch Blast to Eldritch Strike.

3) Disciple of Stone also adds quite a bit of resilience:

Disciple of Stone HotFL p313: spend healing surge and also gain 5 THP (7 at 11th, 10 at 21st);

 

[Ferghis]

Unless you find yourself on the dying end of fights with some frequency, I would neglect feats that boost your durability. Also, when you go for Eldritch Strike, consider picking up a Staggering Weapon.

I'm going to suggest the Arcane Familiar feat, taking Disembodied Hand. Soon, you'll be able to pick up all kinds of heroic items for cheap, and Disembodied Hand will let you use a lot of them. Check out this possibility: http://www.enworld.org/forum/d-d-4t...n-item-draw-stow-overpowered.html#post5819807

Plus, if you decide to go for Sage of Ages ED, the paragon level version of Disembodied Hand (Rakshasha's Claw) gives you a nice Arcana boost.

 

[Ryujin]

Unless you find yourself on the dying end of fights with some frequency, I would neglect feats that boost your durability. Also, when you go for Eldritch Strike, consider picking up a Staggering Weapon.

I'm going to suggest the Arcane Familiar feat, taking Disembodied Hand. Soon, you'll be able to pick up all kinds of heroic items for cheap, and Disembodied Hand will let you use a lot of them. Check out this possibility: http://www.enworld.org/forum/d-d-4t...n-item-draw-stow-overpowered.html#post5819807

Plus, if you decide to go for Sage of Ages ED, the paragon level version of Disembodied Hand (Rakshasha's Claw) gives you a nice Arcana boost.

Disembodied Hand is definitely a good thing to have, if you're a Warlock using two implements. I made good use of it by having a rod of corruption to spread the curse around, then wading into minions after switching to a Pact Blade Dagger. It became particularly good once I got Dark Pact as a second, at Paragon, which did a really good job of charging up my Darkspiral Aura.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Unless you find yourself on the dying end of fights with some frequency, I would neglect feats that boost your durability. Also, when you go for Eldritch Strike, consider picking up a Staggering Weapon.

How do you mean "dying end of fights"?

I'm in melee often enough that I take some decent hits. My AC isn't all that great- Shadow Walk helps a bit- what keeps me alive is the fact that I have more HP than any other PC in the party except the Dwarf Fighter.*







* the core party- IOW, the PCs that are there every session- Dwarf Fighter, Dwarf Starlock, Elf Ranger, Human BattleCleric, Human Wizard.

 

[Ferghis]

How do you mean "dying end of fights"?

I mean afflicted with the dying condition. If you don't drop with some regularity, no need to waste feets on boosting your HP, temp HP, or surges, of which I assume you already have plenty. Feats are the scarcest resource in the game, and there are plenty of good ones.

I'm in melee often enough that I take some decent hits. My AC isn't all that great- Shadow Walk helps a bit- ...

In that case, go with some Armor of Dark Majesty. Along with Improved Defenses.