Help me Level-up my Warlock!

[HeapThaumaturgist]

I dunno about taking Weapon Focus (Eldritch Blast). He's already split his feats by taking an EWP he really can make no further use of as a mainline fighter. Focusing on his EB is, again, focusing on a ranged weapon.

If he's going to be fighting melee, he needs to make the most of that Hideous Blow.

--fje

 

[Daermon]

I dunno about taking Weapon Focus (Eldritch Blast). He's already split his feats by taking an EWP he really can make no further use of as a mainline fighter. Focusing on his EB is, again, focusing on a ranged weapon.

If he's going to be fighting melee, he needs to make the most of that Hideous Blow.

--fje

Err.... But Weapon Focus (Eldritch Blast) would aid the use of Hideous Blow, as it is nothing more than a Blast Shape.

He's still using the EB.

 

[AuraSeer]

The problem, however, is that if he's going to wear medium armor, then he needs to have Armor Proficiency (medium).

You're right, I forgot about that part.

My warlock PC got armor proficiency by taking a level in cleric. In retrospect I think it was a poor choice; the first-level cleric spells are becoming useless as we advance. A level in fighter might have been a better idea, because a bonus feat can remain significant even in the higher levels.

 

[AuraSeer]

Err.... But Weapon Focus (Eldritch Blast) would aid the use of Hideous Blow, as it is nothing more than a Blast Shape.

He's still using the EB.

I don't think that's correct. He's rolling to hit with the melee weapon. If the weapon connects, Hideous Blow triggers the EB and makes it autohit. Since he doesn't need to make a roll for the EB itself, I think Weapon Focus(EB) would not apply.

 

[Daermon]

I don't think that's correct. He's rolling to hit with the melee weapon. If the weapon connects, Hideous Blow triggers the EB and makes it autohit. Since he doesn't need to make a roll for the EB itself, I think Weapon Focus(EB) would not apply.

Hmm... I'm not sure on it, as there's nothing in Complete Arcane to confirm or deny either viewpoint.

Unless there is some official eratta on the matter which one would rather listen to, it looks like a DM's call to me.

 

[nittanytbone]

I think turning a 2nd level warlock with EWP: Whip and Weapon Finesse into a "front line fighter" is kind of a lost cause.

But, this is how I'd try to make the best of it.

"Front line fighters" have at least two of the following:
1) Resistance to taking physical damage (AC and HP, damage reduction)
2) Resistance to other attacks (good saves/resistances)
3) Ability to disable and/or injure enemies in melee (either through HP damage or tricks like tripping or disarming)

This fellow can't go the power attack route, as his str is too low. He also can't be a tripper (int isn't high enough for combat expertise). Archery/throwing things is viable, but that's not good for a front line fighter. So, #3, dealing damage/disabling opponents, isn't really possible without magic or sneak attack damage.

Thus, you could focus on getting your saves, AC, and HP as good as possible. Improved Toughness is a must. Save-boosting fights like Iron Will would help. Getting into the best possible armor is a must. I would try to get 5 ranks in tumble so I could fight defensively (maybe through a rogue level or bard level?) to boost my AC on the front line while still providing a flanking buddy for my rogues. I'd invest in potions of Mage Armor to get a nice +4 bonus to AC and I'd have a tower shield for those times when I didn't plan on casting.

OR....

The better option, IMHO, would be to just focus on being a good warlock. Take leadership at 6th level and attract a useful martial cohort. Until that time, hire some men-at-arms (a few SP/day can get you a 2nd or 3rd level warrior) or get a big mean riding dog as a guard dog. Tell one of the rogues to suck it up and take some fighter levels. They have a lot less to lose, as they aren't maintaining a spell casting progression. Alternatively, tell them to invest in Use Magic Device and have them buy some monster summoning scrolls.

Yes, you can't do any of those things until you are done with your current adventure, but that time will eventually come.

 

[Sarellion]

I agree. A spellcaster as main frontline seems to be an invitation for disaster. One of the rogues seems to be a more natural choice for this position. how many combats do you have anyways. Your group composition doesn´t look like heavy combat anyways.

 

[glass]

And unless I'm mistaken, even though mithral full plate is treated as medium armor, it is still heavy armor in terms of requiring Armor Proficiency (heavy) to be able to wear it effectively in the first place (admittedly, I could be wrong, but that's what I've kept hearing over and over again).

Opinion is divided on the matter. IMG you would require the heavy armour proficiency, but I'm not DMing here (I'm actually playing one of the rogues ).


glass.

 

[Mr_Phil]

What about Cleric?

I think you should take a level of Cleric, and continue down the cleric path until you are able to cast Rasie Dead on the the poor battered, dismembered body of Maurice.
Then, and only then, will you be forgiven!

I wouldn't worry too much about being the tank for three and a bit reasons.
1) Jenna isn't all that bad at H2H - she's got reasonable HP, dex bonus to AC, Weapon finesse, sneak attack. She won't choose to mix it up, but she's better on paper than I've been rolling so far.
2) The game is all about having fun and being cool. If the fightery options don't do it for you, then take something else.
3) We've already demonstrated in just about every combat so far that we can take a beating and still patch ourselves up for the next one. Why change a plan thats working so well!?
3.5) Don't you think its a little late to try to optimise the party at this point? We're in Ravenloft and if we add our will saves together, it still comes out negative.

I favour the bumble blindly onward and hope for the best approach, but that could go some way to explaining why Jenna is currently mourning Maurice, so perhaps you'd best ignore my advice.

Phil.

 

[Azaar]

Auraseer said:

You're right, I forgot about that part.

My warlock PC got armor proficiency by taking a level in cleric. In retrospect I think it was a poor choice; the first-level cleric spells are becoming useless as we advance. A level in fighter might have been a better idea, because a bonus feat can remain significant even in the higher levels.

Yeah. I'm playing a PbP here right now as a 1st level warlock, and I'm already seriously beginning to consider taking Fighter 1 as my second character level for the armor proficiencies and martial weapon proficiencies, but I haven't decided yet. One level of fighter (or perhaps ranger, given my background and character concept -- ranger, come to think of it, would be a better fit; I'll have to look into that more in-depth) would be all I needed, though, to increase my own survivability in terms of HP, if nothing else.

glass wrote:

Opinion is divided on the matter. IMG you would require the heavy armour proficiency, but I'm not DMing here (I'm actually playing one of the rogues ).

I'm inclined to agree. Just because mithral lightens the full plate so that it can be considered medium armor shouldn't mean that you can get away without having the proficiency to wear the normal type of full plate, which would be considered heavy armor. That's just me, though.