Optimizing a Con-based Warlock


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Doesn't that one have a Dex prereq?

Sure does.


Dual Implement Spellcaster
Heroic Tier
Prerequisite: Dex 13, any arcane class
Benefit: When you use an arcane attack power and you are wielding a magic implement in each hand, you can add the off-hand implement’s enhancement bonus to damage rolls.
Both of your implements must be usable with this power, and you must be capable of wielding both implements, to gain this benefit.
 


Just as a note, check your sheet. I think your ability scores are a bit off for level 2. Maybe get someone to run this through CB and check the math.

Yeah if you let the CB pick for you, it will set you up with 10 20 10 16 8 11. You aren't allowed to have more than 1 stat below 10. Raising a 14 to an 18 is another 11 points, so this is a low 30s point character, not a standard 22. If you are supposed to be building off of 22 points, you can go w/what I put up or if you want to be able to qualify for DIS down the line, use a spread of 10 20 13 15 8 10. Switching where the 11 is over to Dex and dropping Int from 16 to 15 allows you the free points to have a 13 Dex. That will also allow you to qualify for various Monk, Rogue and Assassin feats if desired.

I also question why you have both Dark Sun and Forgotten Realms checkboxes checked. Dark Sun, Spellscarred, Harper all show up in your character writeup.
 
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My DM is pretty flexible so Dark Sun or any other official source material is available.

Hehe I gathered that when I noticed you have a spellscarred, harper, Athasian elemental priest. Now you just need to take the Vistrani racial feat and strive to be a Knight of Solamania who hails from Al´Qadim. That should pretty much cover the settings.

On a more serious note, do you think it was your GMs intent to allow the "Dark Sun Inherent Bonuses"? I would check on that. There is a difference between allowing disparate source material and allowing players a set bonus to everything. It is designed to make up for a near complete lack of magic items and is not generally used outside of Dark Sun, not for themeatic reasons, but for balance ones.
 
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People actually use inherent bonuses in plenty of non-darksun games (and if you use inherent bonuses, you should really use the fixed ones from Darksun) but they're not a character option! They're a campaign option. If your GM isn't having everyone select Darksun Inherent Bonuses (which is a fine choice, mind, it avoids having to make sure everyone gets a weapon, armor, and necklace every 5 levels!), then nobody should be selecting it.
 

Well, besides the fact you don't have the Dex prereq, it looks like a bad bargain. At best, you'd get is 2d6 damage, probably less. You'd be much better off with a Wizard or Psion attack power. Magic missile, for instance, has great range, decent damage, and autohits.

I wouldn't compare an assassin multiclass to a wizard or psion multiclass -- for damage, the Assassin multiclass is -far- better. Remember, you're using minor actions to place shrouds, not your standard action -- so you're going to be placing two shrouds (probably both on the same target) per combat, getting an average of 6 extra damage per combat (and it does go up with level). Whereas on a turn you use a wizard or psion attack power, your typical damage output goes -down-, particularly if you don't have the stats for it (certainly this is true for magic missile, which has utility uses, but still).

I could totally see, for a Con/Int warlock, taking a wizard or psion -multi-hit- power. That way, your damage isn't affected much and you can use it when it makes your damage go up (a lot; if you can target two targets; more if you can target 3, particularly if several of them are cursed). It would be situtational whether a borrowed multi-hit power would get you more damage on average than the assassin multiclass (ignoring stat prereqs for the moment), but it wouldn't be -costing- you an action for your "extra" damage in that case.
 

I wouldn't compare an assassin multiclass to a wizard or psion multiclass -- for damage, the Assassin multiclass is -far- better. Remember, you're using minor actions to place shrouds, not your standard action -- so you're going to be placing two shrouds (probably both on the same target) per combat, getting an average of 6 extra damage per combat (and it does go up with level). Whereas on a turn you use a wizard or psion attack power, your typical damage output goes -down-, particularly if you don't have the stats for it (certainly this is true for magic missile, which has utility uses, but still).

I don't know the math particularly well, but I'm tempted to think on a per combat basis, a +1 to attack (or +2 for Hidden Sniper) gives you more of a DPR increase than 6.

Not only that, but Warlocks are pretty strapped for actions. They'll often have to move to get Shadow Walk, minor action to curse something, and then attack. By the time you aren't cursing enemies any more (about 3 or 4 rounds into combat, usually) there's a good chance that the enemy you put the shrouds on dies before you get to activate them, since you won't use the shrouds until round 5 or 6.

This can be mitigated slightly with teamwork and optimum target selection, but, IME, that happens very rarely. There's also the option of not putting your curse on creatures on rounds 2 and 3 and instead using your shroud. This gets you the extra damage, but you might lose out on the boon (might not be so bad), or you could lose out on curse damage if you're forced into attacking a different enemy (essentially canceling the DPR gained for using a shroud).
 

I wouldn't compare an assassin multiclass to a wizard or psion multiclass -- for damage, the Assassin multiclass is -far- better.

You missed my points entirely:
  1. as written, his PC doesn't meet the prereqs for THAT power, and won't until he raises his DEX 3 times.
  2. assuming he raises his DEX 3 times, his accuracy compared to his current INT would be much less- he's giving up a +4 from stat bonuses- and that ignores whatever damage bonuses would apply as well.
  3. raising DEX makes little mechanical sense for a Warlock: he's already going to want a high casting stat- here, CON- possibly a second high casting stat (CHA) and a high-ish INT for rider effects. And a high INT gets him a better AC.
  4. because of his desire to maximize Warlock power rider effects, he already has a high score in INT, a stat that would make a Wiz or Psion power as powerful and accurate as his Warlock powers.

I'm not saying that you can't make a good Warlock|Assassin. What I'm saying is that based on these stats, this is not the character to do that with.
 
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