D&D 5E (2014) Have Scorching Ray and eldritch blast been nerfed somehow with charisma?

[TheCosmicKid]

and a lvl of warlock which means he would be 21st lvl. Math its for dinner.

But he's only a 1st-level warlock, and 5E can handle 1st level just fine.

 

[Valetudo]

But he's only a 1st-level warlock, and 5E can handle 1st level just fine.

um ok?

 

[Helldritch]

If you feel Eldritch Blast is too powerful, that's okay.

If you change it in your campaign, that's okay too.

But please don't pretend the RAW and the RAW agrees with that houserule of yours.

P205 of the PHB. Combining magical effects. The effects of the same spell cast multiple times don't combine. Instead only the most powerful effect... yadi yada... etc...

Maybe my interpretation is wrong, and by the reaction on others on this post I think it might be and I should not apply this to eldritch blast. But I was not making it up from nowhere as you seemed to imply.

The elemental adept is specific as it adds cha only once per spell.
Eldritch blast is so strong that it applies dmg to all hit.
Are the bolt simultaneous? I think so. That is why I would apply all effects only once.

If they are successive,however, then I must agree with you all.

At the same time, it looks weird to me. It is only one casting of the spell. Not four castings.

 

[TheCosmicKid]

P205 of the PHB. Combining magical effects. The effects of the same spell cast multiple times don't combine. Instead only the most powerful effect... yadi yada... etc...

You're not casting the same spell multiple times. And this rule doesn't apply to damage anyway. When you cast the same damage spell multiple times, you get the damage multiple times. But this is irrelevant, because, again, you're not doing that. There's nothing in this rule that brings it to bear on eldritch blast or scorching ray.

At the same time, it looks weird to me. It is only one casting of the spell. Not four castings.

Spiritual weapon is only one casting of a spell, but it can hit a bunch of times, and very definitely adds your Wisdom modifier to damage each time. One casting of a spell doesn't always have to imply simultaneity.

Heck, since it's a cantrip, you can even say that high-level warlocks are actually casting it two to four times a round. Like I said above, when casting the same damage spell multiple times, the damage does stack.

Or, y'know, you can just say that they are simultaneous, but that you add your Charisma modifier to each blast anyway because that's what the rules say and there's no particular reason why it's implausible that they work that way.

 

[abirdcall]

At this point I think it is clear that you add Charisma to each hit of Eldritch Blast with Agonizing Blast.

I would love to know if that was the original intent though. I think it is plausible that Eldritch Blast was originally only 1 attack like Firebolt. The wording of Agonizing and Repelling blast would be consistent with it only being one hit. Using the terms "a hit" and "when you hit" instead of "each hit" makes it ambiguous.

That said, whether it was the intent earlier in the design process or not, it is now the intent to have it apply to each hit.

 

[the_redbeard]

But he's only a 1st-level warlock, and 5E can handle 1st level just fine.

You have to go to at least Warlock 2, because you don't get invocations (Agonizing Blast) until level 2.

I think Warlock is the easiest class to screw up with poor choices.

Eldritch Blast, Hex and Agonizing Blast should be defaults unless you're going for a Pact Blade Warlock (where Hex is less useful since you'll inevitably fail some concentration checks).

 

[TheCosmicKid]

You have to go to at least Warlock 2, because you don't get invocations (Agonizing Blast) until level 2.

This warlock isn't using eldritch blast, he's attacking with a weapon, remember?

 

[abirdcall]

Eldritch Blast, Hex and Agonizing Blast should be defaults unless you're going for a Pact Blade Warlock (where Hex is less useful since you'll inevitably fail some concentration checks).

I think Hex is overrated. It uses one of your 2 spell slots on a concentration spell that just adds some damage. I don't think it is a mistake to take it, but it isn't mandatory. You're still going to fail concentration checks whether or not you take the Blade Pact.

Agonizing Blast is also only good after 5th level. Before then you have better things to spend your limited invocations on. +3 damage just isn't as good as at will silent image, extra hit points, rituals, etc.

After 5th level when it is basically +8 damage and you have more invocations, then it is much better.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

I initially thought Agonizing Blast made eldritch blast too strong. After a lot of research and discussion, I decided that it doesn't. In fact, the way the warlock is designed it is important that they have such a high damage output. With it, warlock is a fairly balanced class. If you nerf it, the class can fall to a subpar status.

Also, it is worth noting that each blast does not hit at the same time. I think that was clarified in a tweet.

 

[User_Undefined]

I think Hex is overrated. It uses one of your 2 spell slots on a concentration spell that just adds some damage. I don't think it is a mistake to take it, but it isn't mandatory. You're still going to fail concentration checks whether or not you take the Blade Pact.

Something that seems to be overlooked a lot with hex is it also forces disadvantage on all checks and saves for one stat of your choice. So if you have other casters or characters who like status effects in the party, you can make their abilities more likely to hit.