Low-level party against a warlock - help!

[Zander]

This isn't actually a problem in my game because the only warlock is a party member. But trying to see things from our opponents' point of view, how does a lowish-level party, i.e. up to 5th level, beat a warlock.

It seems that there's no low-level magic to counter the very powerful eldritch blast and while the warlock remains spider-climbing on the ceiling it isn't easy to get him except with missile weapons.

Suggestions?

 

[JonnyFive]

targeted dispell. warlock falls into the waiting arms of the casters melee friends.

 

[TheGogmagog]

How would that be different from a spiderwalking (boots or potion) archer? At 5th level the warlock's blast is 2d6 ranged touch attack. If it's a BBEG with 2 more levels that's 3d6. An Archer could have 3 shots a round with rapid shot and dealing 1d8+3 each hit, hitting two out of three (assuming the warlock can hit touch AC every attack) they are about the same.

The way to defeat it would be to not stand there and take a beating in an environment where the opponent has the upper hand.

 

[Zander]

targeted dispell. warlock falls into the waiting arms of the casters melee friends.

A good suggestion. The only problem is that for low-level characters/monsters, that may blow the only dispell magic they have for that day. And if the dispell fails, they're toast as the warlock will blast every opponent in sight.

 

[Zander]

How would that be different from a spiderwalking (boots or potion) archer? At 5th level the warlock's blast is 2d6 ranged touch attack. If it's a BBEG with 2 more levels that's 3d6. An Archer could have 3 shots a round with rapid shot and dealing 1d8+3 each hit, hitting two out of three (assuming the warlock can hit touch AC every attack) they are about the same.

Not really. The archer has to get through armour; the warlock doesn't. Also, you can't shoot a bow while spider-walking with a spell, scroll or potion. The boots would work but please assume that relatively powerful magic items such as this aren't available to these low-level opponents.

 

[Thanee]

Just walk into the next room and wait around the corner to grapple the warlock, when he pursuits.

If he does not, get cover there and shoot him with ranged weapons.

Bye
Thanee

 

[JoelF]

The same way they'd deal with a flying wizard. Archery, magic missiles, produce flame, scortching ray, spiritual weapon, summoned flying monsters - there's lots of ways.

 

[frankthedm]

targeted dispell. warlock falls into the waiting arms of the casters melee friends.

Don't warlocks have the option of resuming the effect the next round?

Also barring house rules, a dispelled Fly means the warlock floats down slowly at 60 feet a round. Ive always been a fan of house ruling the freebie feather fall off of flight.

 

[MarkB]

Don't warlocks have the option of resuming the effect the next round?

Yes, if they use up their standard action for that round. And the trick is to not give them another round - once you bring them down, hit them with a grapple or tanglefoot bag.

Also barring house rules, a dispelled Fly means the warlock floats down slowly at 60 feet a round. Ive always been a fan of house ruling the freebie feather fall off of flight.

Leaving aside the fact that the scenario involved Spiderwalk rather than Fell Flight, the Fell Flight invocation is not based upon the Fly spell or any other form of arcane flight. As such, it lacks that safety net.

Of course, the smart Fell Flying warlock will have invested in a Ring of Feather Falling, but that only saves him from the falling damage, not from falling into range of the melee attackers.


Addressing the more general point, a 5th-level party needs to have at least one ranged combat specialist themselves, and if they do, the warlock is toast. Warlocks don't have the hitpoints, or - generally speaking - the AC to be able to hang around being pincushioned round after round.

 

[Kurotowa]

It's for situations like this that every party member should have some ranged weapons. At the very least anyone can throw a dagger, and it's easy to carry a couple on your belt. The warrior types ought to consider having a shortbow or throwing axes as backup. And at low levels crossbows are popular. Spend a couple rounds flinging weapons, suppliment it with a Scortching Ray or Spiritual Weapon, and the Warlock will be down or running.