Question about Warlocks

[Phaelan]

Would a multiclass monk/warlock taking levels of enlightened fist gain both new invocations, as well as gain improvements in the level of their invocation (least, lesser, greater, dark)? It seems that they wouldn't gain extra d6 for their eldritch blasts, but just in case I missed something, would they get that as well, since technically it's part of their 'arcane' spellcasting ability?

Furthermore, how would arcane rejuvenation work with warlock invocations?

 

[LokiDR]

I believe you are confused. Enlightend fist says the enlightened fist gains new spells per day, not new spell like abilities. Since the warlock doesn't get spells, the combination does nothing for warlock invocations. Likewise, arcane rejuvenations works with spells, not spell-like abilities.

 

[Phaelan]

Well, since the warlock has arcane spell like abilities, and not actual spells, I thought that there may have been some way for the +1 to arcane spellcasting class to apply that wasn't directly specified. Otherwise it kind of makes the warlock a standalone class. Generally it's not a good idea to multiclass a spellcasting class with a non unless you're going to prestige it to gain in both, but with a warlock I suppose you can't do that, or have to be more creative.

 

[sukael]

Actually, the specific note for warlocks and prestige classes on p. 18 of Complete Arcane says that Warlocks stack +1 spellcasting levels for the purpose of eldritch blast damage and for invocations known.

 

[wuyanei]

LokiDR, you are mistaken. On P18 of CA it is explicitly seated that if a warlock takes a prestige class that grants '+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class' or '+1 level of existing spellcasting class,' the warlock gains +1 caster level, increased eldritch blast damage and new invocations as if he had taken another level of warlock.

That being said, the enlightened fist is an exceedingly poor PrC for the warlock to take. Since the warlock does not actually cast spells, Arcane Fist, Arcane Rejuvenation and Hold ray do not work for him.

If I were the DM, I might be ameniable to let Arcane Fist and Hold Ray work with invocations, including eldritch blast. These two abilities are, after all, only slightly more useful than eldritch blow. And in any case, a warlock that tries to go toe-to-toe with -- i.e. full-attack and be full-attacked against in turn -- a foe will likely soon be dead.

Arcane Rejuvenation, OTOH, simply does not work.

edit: Too slow...

 

[Phaelan]

Actually, the specific note for warlocks and prestige classes on p. 18 of Complete Arcane says that Warlocks stack +1 spellcasting levels for the purpose of eldritch blast damage and for invocations known.

Awesome. Thanks for pointing that out Sukael. I may have caught it eventually, since I just started reading through it, but you saved me time.

 

[Phaelan]

That being said, the enlightened fist is an exceedingly poor PrC for the warlock to take. Since the warlock does not actually cast spells, Arcane Fist, Arcane Rejuvenation and Hold ray do not work for him.

If I were the DM, I might be ameniable to let Arcane Fist and Hold Ray work with invocations, including eldritch blast. These two abilities are, after all, only slightly more useful than eldritch blow. And in any case, a warlock that tries to go toe-to-toe with -- i.e. full-attack and be full-attacked against in turn -- a foe will likely soon be dead.

I really don't consider Arcane Rejuvenation to be that good as it is. Give up a 4th level spell to heal 4 hp? I'd rather cast the spell. I won't be missing it. I would still argue that EF is a decent choice for a monk/warlock. Although, you are missing out on all those nice warlock abilities and you would be heavily stat-dependent (need good con, dex, wis, cha).

Hold ray should work, since eldritch blasts are rays. As for arcane fist, a warlock can already channel eldritch blasts into their attacks. So meh. On second thought, I do see your point. I would say it's a mediocre choice. You gain, but not as much as you would for a wizard or sorceror.

 

[sukael]

Another note -- as the Complete Arcane errata set the spell level equivalent of Eldritch Blast to always be 1 (or the highest-level shape or essence applied to it), the note about that increasing (if I recall right) doesn't apply any more.

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/CompArcaneErrata03162005.zip

 

[Drowbane]

Monk / Drunken Master / Pryo? o.0

On a related note.

Ex-Monk / Pyro (psionic PrC) works very nicely...

Or ask your DM to allow that a Pyro's psionic abilties be "Ki based" and thus make the PrC Lawful...

 

[Phaelan]

Another note -- as the Complete Arcane errata set the spell level equivalent of Eldritch Blast to always be 1 (or the highest-level shape or essence applied to it), the note about that increasing (if I recall right) doesn't apply any more.

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/CompArcaneErrata03162005.zip

So basically, a monk/warlock/EF would be able to strike for monk damage + eldritch blast damage an unlimited number of times per day, and each time would have to pass a concentration check of 16 no matter how powerful the eldritch blast, since they would be using the 'hideous blow' shape. That almost sounds broken.

Monk/Drunken Master/Pyro sounds pretty awesome. I was originally going to go for ninja/monk/drunken master. Maybe I'll have to make one character of each of these kinds, have them fight each other, and then choose based on that.