The Star Pact Handicap

[Voss]

You have a pact that puts a premium on maximizing one stat, a second pact that puts the premium on maximizing another stat, and a third pact that prefers a balance between the two.

Works for me.

Except balancing two attack stats is as suboptimal as you can get in this system. You want one attack stat, forever.

It wouldn't be so bad really. The star pact has the best boon (attack bonuses are rare and hard to find, and usually involve relying on the cleric giving you a bonus), and has good Con based powers, and can take Infernal powers when it doesn't. The real handicap to the class is the paragon path, which is a slap in the face since its entirely charisma based and you don't have any other options at all, since nothing else in the book is Con based.

 

[ZombieRoboNinja]

I have contacted the officiants of star-pact magic in regards to this dilemma, and received this response.

To Whom or What It May Concern:

Thank you for contacting the offices of the Unspoken Void Beyond the Ken of Mankind. We consider all of our pact-sworn warlocks valuable assets in our long-term strategy whose implications are as wholly beyond mortal comprehension as an architect's drawings are to a writhing insect, and your continued debasement before the altar of ultimate insanity is important to us.

In regards to your specific query re: "Why do I need to be persuasive AND tough to cast spells?" our galactic-cluster representative has made the following statement:

BLESSED AND DAMNED ARE THE MINIONS OF SHUB-NIGGURATH, MOTHER OF ALL DESTRUCTION, BASTION OF CHAOS, WHISPERER OF THE UNSPEAKABLE. YOU SHALL WORSHIP HER GREATNESS WITH EVERY OUNCE OF YOUR BODY AND SOUL, AND FOR SO DOING YOUR EVENTUAL HORRIFIC DEATH WILL HAVE ITS EXCRUCIATING TIMESPAN REDUCED SLIGHTLY ON THE DAY WHEN AT LAST THE BLACK SUN SHINES AND THE END OF HOURS IS UPON US. CHAOS BLACKNESS EMO PURPLE MONKEY DISHWASHER.

We hope this statement clears up any confusion, or alternately, instills a deeper and more terrifying level of confusion upon your personal mortal plane of existence.

We will devour your soul,
Star Pact Unlimited

 

[GravyFingerz]

I have contacted the officiants of star-pact magic in regards to this dilemma, and received this response.

Well, this explanation sold me. I agree

 

[DonAdam]

I don't think the Star Pact guy is going to be hurting. Since he's the in-between, he's also the best at cherry-picking the best effects. He can have one really good stat and two secondary stats, and they're spread out across all three defenses.

And with twofold curse, at 11th level they can really start bringing the hurt (twofold curse, improved boon). Curse multiple minions, spend an action point to attack a more serious target and wipe them all out. Next round, get a mad bonus to hit on one of your good powers.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Except balancing two attack stats is as suboptimal as you can get in this system. You want one attack stat, forever.

It wouldn't be so bad really. The star pact has the best boon (attack bonuses are rare and hard to find, and usually involve relying on the cleric giving you a bonus), and has good Con based powers, and can take Infernal powers when it doesn't. The real handicap to the class is the paragon path, which is a slap in the face since its entirely charisma based and you don't have any other options at all, since nothing else in the book is Con based.

I was creating an infernal warlock, and, I don't know if by accident or at some point deliberately, I had only a 1 point difference between my Con and my Cha score. So, unless you min-max extremely, it should be possible to keep up both. I was a little surprised by this, and maybe I actually need to min-max more. But high stats are very expensive - I would probably never buy an 18 _before_ racial modifiers.

I think I should actually try to make this Infernal Warlock a Star-Pact Warlock...

 

[TimeOut]

I have contacted the officiants of star-pact magic in regards to this dilemma, and received this response.

Awesome!

Topic: I love the Star Pact. You can easily gain a good Con and Cha score, as long as you don't need a 18 in each stat at the beginning. And even if it is not as good for min-maxing as the other ones: The star pact powers are awesome.

 

[Ian Demagi]

Star Pact

Yeah, it not as nice as having just one stat to max out, but there is a bright side as well.

If you are attacking a brute, its con defense is going to be really high. The star pact 'Lock can just switch and use a charisma based attack and attack the will defense. On the other hand, if you are attacking a controller type monster who probably has a great will defense, attacking with con against its fort defense may be the thing to do. You traded some maxed out options for flexibility.

Star pact has some really nasty side effects as well. The sent to the outer dark stuff is very cool, while out there the target can not do things like be targeted by spells, spend healing surges or the like. Also Star pact allows you to mess with the basic mechanic of the game, the roll of the dice. This is pretty powerful stuff. So yeah , its sub optimal but there are some pluses too.

I do think that the best race for star pact warlocks is half elf that gives you a bonus to both Cha and Con.

my 2 coopers,

Ian

 

[jtrowell]

Hobgoblins also get +2 CON and +2 CHA, and get an useful racial power (hobgoblin resilience, allow an immediate save as an interrupt)

 

[Nifft]

Sure, with the pact boon you can apply +1 to your attack bonuses IF you've spent a minor action to curse the target first and IF you hit the target, WHEN you kill it, PROVIDED you spend that +1 in your very next turn, AND spend the bonus on an attack roll.

Yes, it goes up to +2 if you spend feat to improve the pact boon.

1/ The kill bonus is cumulative. If you can Curse many, and then many die, you get plus many. This does help mitigate the penalty if you do choose powers from outside your primary attack stat.

2/ Humanity. If you simply must be a pretty Star Pact Warlock, forget Half-Elf. Be a Human. Throw Eyebites and Eldritch Blasts; and hey look, you have Dire Radiance if you really need it for some reason.

3/ Cursing and killing two at a time is cute, but hardly the pinnacle of your bonus. Look up Rod of Corruption. You're welcome.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Cadfan]

First of all, you do not HAVE to boost both Cha and Con, you could go either insanity star pact, or dark energies star pact. Second, it isn't that hard to boost both Cha and Con. Third, the half elf already boosts both cha and con. Finally, if you choose to go just Cha or just Con, you can cherry pick powers from the other pacts.

Also, Star Pact is one of the better ones for attacking varying enemy defenses, which is a neat benefit.