D&D 5E I want to be a tough full caster

[Krachek]

The warlock is fine. The half elf is perfect.
armor of shadow giving AC 16 is enough, use another feat.
fiend warlock is giving temporary hit point. You do want to get hit.
fiend warlock don't have imp or quasit as familiar.
your main weapon is eldritch blast. Shillelaghs is a plan b.

 

[TwoSix]

The only real downside to the warlock build is having to spend a feat on Moderately Armored (ugh). Especially when that's something that's so easily corrected with a one level dip into another class.

 

[Dausuul]

I'll probably end up going with that Warlock build though. I'm kind of excited about it.

Then that's what you should play.

Looking at that build, it seems pretty solid to me. Though... if you go variant human, what's War Caster doing for you? You don't actually need it to cast with a shield; you can just leave your other hand empty. If you're worried about concentration, you could take Resilient (Con), which gives you proficiency in all Constitution saves; otherwise, you could take Toughness, or max out your Cha.

Also, just so you know, your DM is a damn fool if s/he lets you get an imp or quasit familiar without Pact of the Chain. I've got a warlock in my party with an imp familiar. Permanently invisible, Tiny-sized, flying scout with a telepathic link to its master... they don't explore anything any more, just send their magic stealth drone. But at least the warlock had to use one of his class features to get it.

(Though I do enjoy the sudden panic when the imp meets something that can see through invisibility.)

 

[jgsugden]

I think bard would be a good fit, here. I built a pompous %$#@ bard (that sang his own praises) that was pretty dominant in combat with his polearm. He was a one shot character (8th level?), but he was durable, effective and had spells to spare.

 

[CTurbo]

Also, just so you know, your DM is a damn fool if s/he lets you get an imp or quasit familiar without Pact of the Chain. I've got a warlock in my party with an imp familiar. Permanently invisible, Tiny-sized, flying scout with a telepathic link to its master... they don't explore anything any more, just send their magic stealth drone. But at least the warlock had to use one of his class features to get it.

I'm almost positive that the DM will let me have an Imp or Quasit familiar. If nothing else, he would at least let me roll a % die for it. He's a crafty DM so if he feels like it's too OP, he'll come up with a way to even it back out. Doesn't it say in the MM that an Imp or Quasit can choose at any time to end it's service as familiar? They are evil too so I could see him having it betray me somehow.

I think bard would be a good fit, here. I built a pompous %$#@ bard (that sang his own praises) that was pretty dominant in combat with his polearm. He was a one shot character (8th level?), but he was durable, effective and had spells to spare.

I know the Valor Bard would be almost perfect for what I want, but that's because I got the idea from a 20 Dex, 20 Cha, 20 AC Valor Bard. I would feel like I'm ripping off that character if I chose one now.

Looking at that build, it seems pretty solid to me. Though... if you go variant human, what's War Caster doing for you? You don't actually need it to cast with a shield; you can just leave your other hand empty.

If I'm out in the thick of things, don't I need my weapon in hand? I couldn't take an AOO if I'm not holding my weapon right? Plus, I don't really WANT to just spam Eldritch Blast over and over and over and over...

The warlock is fine. The half elf is perfect.
armor of shadow giving AC 16 is enough, use another feat.

The only real downside to the warlock build is having to spend a feat on Moderately Armored (ugh). Especially when that's something that's so easily corrected with a one level dip into another class.

I'm surprised at this. One feat that gives +3 to AC seems like a no brainer to me. Sounds very very strong actually.

 

[Leatherhead]

Imo, warlocks aren't full casters.

 

[TwoSix]

I'm surprised at this. One feat that gives +3 to AC seems like a no brainer to me. Sounds very very strong actually.

+3 AC for a feat is fine, it's just the fact that you could also get the same benefit for a 1-level dip that gives other benefits as well, AND you still have the feat for something else. I tend to build my characters to specifically avoid taking feats that simply ameliorate weaknesses, rather than giving me new strengths. It's your character, of course.

 

[Dausuul]

I'm almost positive that the DM will let me have an Imp or Quasit familiar. If nothing else, he would at least let me roll a % die for it. He's a crafty DM so if he feels like it's too OP, he'll come up with a way to even it back out. Doesn't it say in the MM that an Imp or Quasit can choose at any time to end it's service as familiar? They are evil too so I could see him having it betray me somehow.

Ah, that's different. If the familiar is not fully bound to you and may betray you or backstab you, it's not nearly as big a problem.

But anyway, whatever problems it may cause are the DM's cross to bear, not yours.

If I'm out in the thick of things, don't I need my weapon in hand? I couldn't take an AOO if I'm not holding my weapon right? Plus, I don't really WANT to just spam Eldritch Blast over and over and over and over...

Opportunity attacks are not a thing that casters do. I mean, they can; if you have a weapon in hand and a monster runs past you, and you don't expect to need your reaction for something else, you might as well take a swipe.

But you aren't going to take them often, and when you do take them, you'll often miss, and when you hit, you won't do much damage. It isn't worth a feat just to take the occasional OA. If you want to engage monsters in melee, I suggest putting the 18 in Dex or Str and making a bladelock.

Imo, warlocks aren't full casters.

Yeah, they're kind of like evil monks with long-range fists. However, that's beside the point. If it's what CTurbo wants to play, then it's what CTurbo should play.

 

[CTurbo]

But you aren't going to take them often, and when you do take them, you'll often miss, and when you hit, you won't do much damage. It isn't worth a feat just to take the occasional OA. If you want to engage monsters in melee, I suggest putting the 18 in Dex or Str and making a bladelock.

I was going to take Shillelagh as one of my free cantrips so having a 20 in Cha would give me a +7 to hit, 1d8+5 damage on melee attacks of any kind. Of course, this is not the centerpiece of the build, but more of an emergency backup. I still like that it's there. Of course War Caster would let me Eldritch Blast as an AOO anyway which would do 1d10+5 damage.

 

[Lidgar]

Half elf or hill dwarf with draconic bloodline can be pretty "tough". Better hp than standard, and pretty tough to hit with the right spells (shield, mirror-image, stoneskin). A little more versatile than a warlock.

Can take Magic Initiate feat to get EB if wanted.