Hybrid Warlock/Swordmage

[kylowinter]

So I'm introducing a new character to a campaign starting at level 5 (my old character died). I'm thinking of going for Human Hybrid Warlock(Infernal)/Swordmage(Assault). I have already read through this thread but figured instead of reviving it, I'd just make a new one.

So far I have:

str 10
con 20 (+2 racial, +1 at lvl 4)
dex 12 (+1 at lvl 4)
int 16
wis 10
cha 8

Skills: Arcana, Athletics or Endurance, History, Insight

At Wills:
Eldritch Strike
Hellish Rebuke
Sword Burst

Lvl1 Encounter
Chains of Levistus

Lvl1 Daily
Frost Backlash

Lvl2 Utility
Charm of Hearts

Lvl3 Encounter
Dimensional Vortex

Lvl5 Daily
Tyrannical Threat

Feats:
Versatile Expertise (Heavy Blades, Heavy Blades)
Skill Power: Arcane Mutterings
Hybrid Talent (Infernal Pact Boon)
White Lotus Riposte

Starting Magic Items:
Armor of Dark Majesty (Leather) +1
Fey Strike Broadsword +1
Iron Armbands of Power +1

I built this character around using mostly warlock powers during my active turn and all the swordmage powers are either minor actions, immediate reactions/interrupts, or passives so that I wouldn't have to rely too much on my intelligence stat. I also plan on taking the Academy Master Paragon Path.

I am building my dexterity up to 13 so that I can take Dual Implement Spellcaster at lvl8. And since my dex will be at 13, would it be wise to mutliclass into assassin then get the cursed feat shadow giving me the warlock's shadow walk feature? My only problem with this would be moving 3 squares every round to activate the feature. My AC is pretty low due to not having shadow walk or swordmage warding which makes me fear OAs.

Any other suggestions that you might have regarding feats, powers, and items?

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

First of all, I'm not an optimizer, but I do pay attention to mechanical issues.

1) I'm not sure what benefit Dex 13 gets you beyond DIS and certain multiclass options. How much does DIS matter to you? I ask because if you put the points you're planning on putting into Dex into another stat, you may find your PC is more effective. For example, boosting your Str will make your MBAs more effective (if that's an issue for you).

Int is basically a primary stat for Swordmages, but its also a pretty common rider stat for Warlocks. Its even a primary stat for some Warlock powers.

2) Just as an idea, you might also consider checking out if there are any Hexblade (Warlock) powers you can use (long run or short run). Good news: there are some nifty Utility powers. Bad news: the 5th level powers all seem to be Charisma based.

3) If/when you make it to Paragon level, Twofold Pact (DMA p50) is a pretty nifty feat. If you do go for Assassin, getting some advantages from another Pact would not suck- even if you didn't have the stats to really get the most out of the power you gain. If you go Fey, your power would be Eyebite- useful, but Cha based...but your boon would be Misty Step. Handy for an assassin... If you go Darkpact, the power would be again Cha based, but the boon would be a building retributive attack power. Starpact could be Con based, and you get a bonus to d20 rolls.

4) Shadow Walking is pretty fun- I'm playing a Dwarven Starlock Psion MC- and have found no issues moving that 3sq each round...but I'm not engaging in melee all the time. The thing is, if you have it, there's this nice feat called Hidden Sniper that gets you CA with ranged attacks against targets from whom you have partial concealment....which you'd have all the time as long as you kept moving.

 

[kylowinter]

1) Eldritch Strike counts as an MBA, which is [W]+con damage. So Str seems to be useless to me. The only reason not to get DIS it seems is if I change my Hybrid Talent to Swordmage Warding (because I need the offhand free for the extra AC). It seems like getting 13 Dex would be nice for DIS and MC: assassin then Cursed Shadow Feat.

I am definitely building this character to be more striker than defender. I just like the idea of an arcane swordsman slashing and quickly moving his way through multiple enemies.

2) I haven't really looked through Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms (that's where the Hexblade is right?). I'll have to flip through it and check out the Utility powers.

3) I would definitely take Twofold Pact. I'm just not sure which pact I would take. Any suggestions??? I am also thinking about Double Aegis and Twofold Curse at paragon as well.

4) Thanks for the tip. I'm not sure how much I'd be engaged in melee either. It really depends on how accurate I am with Eldritch Strike (as it slides my enemy 1 square) as it allows me to disengage without provoking OAs.

Thanks for the reply. I am not really great at optimizing either, but I figure it's best to ask around as hybrid characters seem to become very underpowered if their build isn't carefully paid attention to.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

As a striker more than defender? Well, as an Infernal Pact Warlock, you should probably concentrate more on powers that get you temp HP...because they'll do double duty for you- boosting your HP while doing decent damage based on your highest stat.

Also, though its a nifty flavor power, Arcane Mutterings isn't going to do much for your build. One of the various Warlock movement powers- Fey Step, Spider Climb, etc.- might serve you better, not to mention the Swordmage ones. That would also free up a feat.

See, the Skill powers are not so clear: In the Skill Power Feat description on PHB3 p183, it says "you gain a skill power", but in the Skill Powers section on p164, it says, "you can choose a skill power in place of a class power." So personally, I can't tell if the feat operates like a multiclassing power-swap feat or if it actually adds a power to your list. If its the latter, that's cool. If its the former, its probably not worth it mechanically, but could still be fine as a RP feat.

I would definitely take Twofold Pact. I'm just not sure which pact I would take. Any suggestions???

I edited in a couple of ideas in my post.

 

[kylowinter]

Ok, I just read what Dark Pact does and I would definitely take it. Darkspiral Aura is just too good in combination with my mark and the fact that I will be in the frontlines (probably behind enemy lines taking out the mages and artillery characters) taking hits. Thanks for the idea. I don't really mind taking the wasted At Will power as I am a Human and already have three great At Wills.

And from the way I'm reading the Skill Power feat it says I gain a skill power. It doesn't mention anything about power swapping. I think you can choose a skill power instead of a class power OR use the feat slot to add a skill power without losing out on a class power slot. From other character threads that I've read, other players have interpreted it this way as well. I know that the feat doesn't add to my overall combat power, but I think it's a nice flavorful out of combat ability. As I am thinking about future feats I am going to take, I am becoming increasingly feat starved so I may retrain the feat at a later time if I don't like how it works out.

I really like Fey Step, teleportation is excellent. I think I would normally take it over Charm of Hearts, but because I have the Armor of Dark Majesty, Charm of Hearts takes the cake. It gives me +2 to all defenses and makes me immune to OAs although it eats up a minor action each round to sustain. This is where the Armor of Dark Majesty comes in. For a daily, I can use the armor's power to curse every enemy in sight freeing up my minor action that I would normally use to curse enemies for the Charm of Hearts sustain. This is all theorycraft right now since I haven't actually played my character yet, but I believe it will be invaluable to the adding to the running past enemies and cutting up the squishy ones. Hopefully in a couple of weeks (we play once a week) I can report back on how the combination actually works.

 

[I'm A Banana]

I can't tell if the feat operates like a multiclassing power-swap feat or if it actually adds a power to your list.

FYI, you can take a skill power in place of your normal utility powers.

AND

You can take the Skill Power feat to give you an extra utility power.

The feat just gives you a bonus power.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

FYI, you can take a skill power in place of your normal utility powers.

AND

You can take the Skill Power feat to give you an extra utility power.

The feat just gives you a bonus power.

Thank you! That may actually change my build down the road.

 

[Ferghis]

If you're going melee I'd use your hybrid talent to get swordmage warding. That's all I have to say at a glance.

 

[Nemesis Destiny]

It's too bad that the Pact Weapon Manifestation feat didn't make it past the playtest... or you'd be rockin'.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

It gives me +2 to all defenses and makes me immune to OAs although it eats up a minor action each round to sustain.

Word of warning: you'll really need to keep a close eye on your actions. Sustaining that power takes a minor; Cursing takes a minor; movement and attacking... If you get Shadow Walking and so forth...

You might want to look at your various powers- chosen and prospective- and figure out what combos might leave you short an action or two.