Why not consider a 2 level start as Paladin, then move into Bladelock? Delaying the Blade until 5th character level may be a slowdown, but since Warlock spells can power Paladin Smite, that enables a pool of additional damage d8's that recharges fully on short rests (especially nice since Warlock slots are always at highest level). Paladin gets Fighting Style, D10 HD, Armor and Weapon Proficiencies just like a Fighter.
Also, I think the MAD nature really depends on the build. There's lots of spells that don't offer saves, so a high CHA isn't a must. A DEX>CON>CHA build may be just as viable.
HEX is nice, but I've had it pointed out to me in my Sith-Bladelock thread (link) that using Concentration for Darkness, and the Darkness/Devil's Sight combo, is more beneficial.
Which is irrelevant because the proposed Tome'lock can also benefit from all of that.Not a bladelock but from what you are doing you may as well go Sorlock- warlock2/SorcererXYZ and blow the crap out of everything. Its not just damage either its tanking ability which the temporary hit point fiend pact lets you do. And extra 7-8 hit points whenever you kill something+armour of agathys makes you quite sticky.
We always have other PCs who can buff anyone using GWM. Bless spell or advantage. We have the SCAG other groups may not. GWM also works when you kill something as well and you get to cleave so 2 or 3 attacks by level 6 is not that unusual.
Not a bladelock but from what you are doing you may as well go Sorlock- warlock2/SorcererXYZ and blow the crap out of everything. Its not just damage either its tanking ability which the temporary hit point fiend pact lets you do. And extra 7-8 hit points whenever you kill something+armour of agathys makes you quite sticky.
A problem not unique to this mini-guide, is that the discussion does not really deal with "why bother do this." I comment about *this* guide, because of the OP's leading sentence, that this build is one of the better gishes out there, even though there is nothing here beyond being adequate. (Never mind that this thread is a guide to a specific bladelock build, rather than a guide to The Blade Lock.) That said, your guide is far superior to mine!
That's not entirely accurate. For starts, if the GWM is getting a 3rd attack then the GFB is doubling its dice. Assuming best case scenario for both, a crit grants GWM a bonus attack at (2d6+20) damage, so another 27 damage on the 3rd swing. GFB on a crit doubles all dice, so at level 11 an additional (5d8) damage if you count the primary and secondary, so another 22.5 damage.
However, let's assume the average scenario, no crits. We'll assume both GWM strikes hit, which is a huge assumption due to the fact that Bladelocks have no way of increasing their to-hit chance.
1. GWM 2 hits = 4d6 (weapon) + 10 cha + 20 GWM + 6 STR (can't max Str and Cha by level 11, so I'll assume Cha, the math works the same) = 50 damage. One miss, and you're down to 25 damage.
2. GFB 1 hit on 2 targets = 1d8 (weapon) + 2d8 GFB (primary) + 5 cha (Shillelagh on primary) + 2d8 (secondary) + 5 cha (secondary) = 32.5 damage.
Past level 11, it only gets better for the Tomelock. Dip 6 into Draconic Sorc = at least an extra +5 damage, more likely +10 damage (+cha to primary and secondary fire damage). The Bladelock levels off for damage past 11 while the Tomelock just increases even more. Quickened castings of GFB = monstrously more damage when two targets are present.
Best part, the Tomelock doesn't need to stick straight Warlock. Advancing in any class increases their damage because cantrips scale with character level, not Warlock level. Hell, a level 5 Warlock/6 Draconic Sorc does an average of: 42.5 fire damage per turn with no resources (+10 damage from Draconic Sorc). Quicken that into 85 damage and fuel those Quickens with short rest rechargable 3rd level spell slots.
All while still wielding a shield, having access to the Shield spell MUCH sooner than a Bladelock, achieving that damage at character level 11, etc.
Be a variant Human to take Elemental Adapt to deal with the resistance issue and you've got a Warlock gish that just dominates compared to the Bladelock. The only way the Bladelock wins is early stages and if the player doesn't have access to SCAG cantrips.
If we're talking DPR, worth looking at EK 7/Warlock X.