Question about Warlocks

[wuyanei]

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).

Well, each to their own. However....

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.

By the RAW, you are incorrect. I quote CA (emphasis mine):

Arcane Fist (Su): Beginning at 3rd level ... daily stunning attemps to cast and deliver a touch spell as part of an unarmed full-attack action.

Hold Ray (Ex): A 7th level or higher, an enlightened fist can cast any spell that produces a ray effect as a touch spell instead.

Note that both explicitly mention spells. An invocation is not a spell. It is not 'cast,' as is a spell. It does not obey the same rules as a spell. It cannot work as a spell can with Arcane Fist or Hold Ray.

I would allow it IMC, if a player wanted take this PrC. However, do not be surprised or upset if your DM refuses.

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.

Not really. Hideous blow (and Arcane Fist or Hold Ray if your DM allows it) will only allow you to add your eldritch blast damage once per round.

Hideous blow is a standard action that cannot be quickened. Arcane Fist lets you cast a spell as part of a full-round action (very different from 'as part of a melee attack'), and you get only one full-round action per round. Hold Ray is actually worse than hideous blow, since you must take a standard action to use eldritch blast first, and then attack on the next round.

In effect, you are doing about an extra 1d6 per two warlock levels one per round. Now compare that to a rogue's sneak attack (1d6 per two levels, but potentially more than one attack per round), or a sorcerer's attack spells (generally around 1d6 per level, or twice your warlock damage output). While the ability to regularly deal monk unarmed plus 1d6 per two levels damage once per turn all day long is both useful and impressive, it is hardly unbalancing or broken.

BTW: It has been written in the errata for CA (or is it the FAQ? I'm not quite sure) that hideous blow does not provoke an attack of opportunity, so a concentration check to cast on defensive is unneccessary in this case.

edit: FAQ p10 Does hideous blow provoke an attack of opportunity?

Yes. As a spell-like ability, using hideous blow provokes attacks of opportunity just as any other spell-like ability would. A warlock who relies on this invocation should consider
investing ranks in the Concentration skill so that he can use it defensively.

Note that the act of using the invocation, not the act of making the touch attack, draws the attack of opportunity, since the warlock delivering hideous blow is considered “armed”
(just like a spellcaster delivering a touch spell).

By the FAQ, Phaelan is correct.

 

[Enamel_32]

How would Eldritch Knight be for a warlock?

 

[RigaMortus2]

How would Eldritch Knight be for a warlock?

If they can qualify for the class (I forget what the prereqs are for EK atm) it might not be so bad. You are gaining 1 feat, losing 1 invocation level, gaining d10 HD plus improved BAB (I think) and different saves... Is that all worth losing the Warlock's other class features (DR, Fast Healing, energy resistance, etc.)? That is all in the eye of the beholder...

But something tells me they can't even qualify for EK (strangley enough). What are the prereqs?

 

[Enamel_32]

You're right... I think one must be able to cast arcane spells of a certain level.

 

[RigaMortus2]

You're right... I think one must be able to cast arcane spells of a certain level.

If, on the other hand, it said "level x arcane caster" then he could qualify. But if it said "must be able to cast x level arcane spells" then sadly the answer is no

 

[Phaelan]

There's always the house rule. I think a warlock-based eldritch knight would be badass.

 

[LokiDR]

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.

My bad. I suppose I should read that section.

 

[boolean]

I really don't consider Arcane Rejuvenation to be that good as it is. Give up a 4th level spell to heal 4 hp?

For Sorcerers and Wizards, with a limited number of spell slots, it's bad.

If it were allowed for Warlocks, they could use invocations to heal an unlimited amount of damage, post combat.

 

[FoxWander]

There's always the house rule. I think a warlock-based eldritch knight would be badass.

Yes, a Warlock/EK would be very cool. Be sure to take the Steady Concentration feat so you can take-10 to invoke Hideous Blow defensively!

But the EK prereqs specifically say "Able to cast 3rd-level arcane spells." I wish WOTC would realize how limited the Warlock is with PrC choices and post some errata for prereqs to say "X caster level" rather than "X level of spells"!

 

[moritheil]

Yes, a Warlock/EK would be very cool. Be sure to take the Steady Concentration feat so you can take-10 to invoke Hideous Blow defensively!

But the EK prereqs specifically say "Able to cast 3rd-level arcane spells." I wish WOTC would realize how limited the Warlock is with PrC choices and post some errata for prereqs to say "X caster level" rather than "X level of spells"!

Odd. I recall a statement someone posted to the effect that WOTC knew what they were doing in not errataing those, because warlocks combined with some PrCs would simply kick too much ass.

Although, truthfully, I think EK is somewhat underpowered when combined with the traditional arcane casters, since either your armor or your spell and feat selection is very limited.