D&D 5E Making my player's warlock more fun!
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lowkey13
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I have two different friends playing paladins. You have me laughing out loud for real. Nuff Said.
WarpedAcorn
First Post
In my experience if the Warlock is feeling "left behind" then something is majorly wrong. Currently, at 3rd level, his standard attack should be Hex + Eldritch Blast and he should be doing at least 1d10+3 + 1d6. In two more levels that will be 2d10+6 + 2d6 with the same standard combo. And that carries the natural safety measure of being at range.
The problem, I am assuming, is that the Warlock doesn't have an option to "Nova" while those other characters do and maybe that is why he feels left behind? If that is the case then the easy fix is to tighten up on providing riskless short rests, and extend the combat day.
Also, as previously mentioned, there are other spells to occupy the Bonus Action. But as a Warlock he should primarily be casting or moving Hex to not only boost his own damage, but to hinder Ability Saves that other characters are testing. Alternatively, if he just wants to, there's nothing stopping him from running into the middle of combat and dual-wielding. It would hurt his damage, but maybe he would want to retool as a Bladelock with Polearm master or something.
pdegan2814
First Post
Warlocks are going to start off pretty simple, but their power definitely grows. When it comes to straight damage-dealing, Eldritch Blast combined with the Agonizing Blast invocation and possibly Hex is tough to get away from, it's just so freaking effective. Warlocks will eventually gain access to Hold & Dominate spells that let them take on something of a controller role. Warlocks also gain plenty of utility for exploration and social interaction, especially through their choice of Invocations(Levitate/Detect Magic/Speak With Dead/Disguise Self/etc at-will, seeing through illusion magic, and so on). Plus, the Tomelock gets to borrow fun cantrips from other classes, broadening their capabilities. Borrow Shillelagh and have a viable melee attack that works with Booming & Green-Flame Blade. Grab Thorn Whip for a counterpart to Repelling Blast, and be able to both push AND pull targets across the battlefield. Thaumaturgy to spook people with. Spare The Dying if the Cleric goes down and you just need them to hold on until the battle is over.
And of course, there's the Warlock's Patron. Talk to the player about why they chose the Patron they did, what drove their character to make a bargain, etc. Help the player flesh out their backstory and have it shape their motivations, as well as possible goals for the character that you as the DM can incorporate into your adventure somehow. Warlocks can be really fun characters to play, but in my opinion a lot of what makes them interesting comes from beyond the pure mechanics of the class.
famousringo
First Post
Sure the warlock has novas. Two per short rest, cast at max spell level. Eldritch Blast is the steady DPR and those spell slots are the warlock's Action Surge.
Hex isn't a nova spell, but a well-placed and timely Shatter can really tidy up the battlefield at third level. Hits every target about as hard as an Agonizing Blast + Hex would (better actually, since it's half damage on a miss), and a ten foot radius can hit four enemies abreast.
JackOfAllTirades
Explorer
Dausuul said everything I was going to say, so I just XP'd his posts and called it a day!
Seriously, tho. After gaining a few levels, my old Warlock character had almost too many choices for Bonus Actions and Reactions. I hope your Warlock player keeps his character long enough to find this out; it shouldn't take long.
The other thing to remember is that in addition to getting new spells and invocations at almost every level early on, the Warlock class can replace an old spell and invocation at every level. So they've got the potential to "retool" two spells and two invocations each time they level up, which makes it possible to radically alter the character build in one or two levels. (My old character went from "Trickster" to "Blaster" and back again multiple times. Confused my group to no end.) If your player wants to change his Warlock's role in the party, he's got lots of options.
Seriously, tho. After gaining a few levels, my old Warlock character had almost too many choices for Bonus Actions and Reactions. I hope your Warlock player keeps his character long enough to find this out; it shouldn't take long.
The other thing to remember is that in addition to getting new spells and invocations at almost every level early on, the Warlock class can replace an old spell and invocation at every level. So they've got the potential to "retool" two spells and two invocations each time they level up, which makes it possible to radically alter the character build in one or two levels. (My old character went from "Trickster" to "Blaster" and back again multiple times. Confused my group to no end.) If your player wants to change his Warlock's role in the party, he's got lots of options.
BookBarbarian
Expert Long Rester
My Resident Paladin is a Real Drama Queen. In his heart I think he's a Bard masquarading in Plate.
MechaTarrasque
Hero
It is kind of like a paladin. There isn't a lot of bonus action stuff, because a lot of their spells are bonus action, and they are freeing up the action so you can cast the spells. Warlock is built with the notion that there are a couple of spells that use bonus actions, so they don't have anything that competes with the bonus action so as to best use those spells.
Also, at 3rd level his options are just beginning. Warlock is largely doomed to spam cantrips for the 1st 2 levels, as he/she hasn't even gotten a pact implement yet and there aren't a lot of offense based invocations available at that point. Most casters are boring at that point (and I will concede warlock may be the most boring), but that will change in a level or 2.
Also, at 3rd level his options are just beginning. Warlock is largely doomed to spam cantrips for the 1st 2 levels, as he/she hasn't even gotten a pact implement yet and there aren't a lot of offense based invocations available at that point. Most casters are boring at that point (and I will concede warlock may be the most boring), but that will change in a level or 2.
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lowkey13
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