The Star Pact Handicap

Actualy I prefer the Rod of Reaping.
:1: minor action target 2 minions, killing them both
:2: move action -> minor action target a minion and a big monster. killing the minion
:3: use standard power to attack at an extra +6 attack on the main monster repeat till you run out of minions (with improved pact feat)
 

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Jawa1972 said:
Actualy I prefer the Rod of Reaping.
:1: minor action target 2 minions, killing them both
:2: move action -> minor action target a minion and a big monster. killing the minion
:3: use standard power to attack at an extra +6 attack on the main monster repeat till you run out of minions (with improved pact feat)
You can only target the one (or two) closest enemies with your curse.

You're assuming a lot, and you'll be unhappily surprised many rounds.

Cheers, -- N
 

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

Actually, what prevents a different Pact Warlock from going Cha and Con as well? An Infernal Pact Warlock would loose out on damage from Encounter abilities, but make up for it in attacking different defenses from Cha ones. A Fey Pact Warlock going the same way would loose out on damage from their Paragon Tier Slashing Wake, but in return they would get much better options for damage that the Cha ones may lack.

What does Star Pact have to offer over Fey and Infernal? One is the bonuses to specific Encounter powers that grow depending on Int. Unless there is one or two specific Pact related Encounter powers that you plan on getting and never giving up at higher levels, there isn't much to worry about this. And if any of the Pacts are going Cha and Con, the Int bonus is minor and can be overlooked.

Another difference is the initial class features that differ between the three. Star Pact gives Dire Radiance and Fate of the Void. Dire Radiance punishes a target that moves towards you and Fate of the Void grants bonuses to d20 rolls, such as Saving Throws and Attack Throws. Fey Pact gives Eyebite and Misty Step. Eyebite makes you invisible to one target, making it harder for that person to retaliate or chase you. Misty Step allows you to teleport 3 steps initially when a cursed enemy falls. Infernal Pact gains Hellish Rebuke and Dark One's Blessing. Hellish Rebuke is similar to Dire Radiance, but punishes the target for when you get hurt. Dark One's Blessing grants Temporary HP when a cursed enemy falls, which as a buffer to your actual HP that hits have to break through.

Star is nice for accuracy, Fey is great for mobility, and Infernal is perfect for taking damage. Infernal's Pact ability grows as you level, granting more Temp HP. Star's ability is static, generally giving the same amount of success no matter the level, but can stack on itself if multiple cursed enemies die before your next turn. Fey's seems to be static, until you look into the magic equipment. Eladrin Armor(Chainmail) and Eladrin Boots grant bonuses to the distance you can teleport.

For the final differences, the Paragon Path. Rather then speak of each difference, since there are so many with advantages each way, only one feature stands out against the rest. Star Pact's Doomsayer's Proclamation is by far the least useful. As it stands before seeing any errata that may come out, it will only work with one power a Warlock can use, Dreadful Word.
Edit: Also for the level 29 Hurl through Hell's Stun effect.

While the bonus to d20 rolls and Dire Radiance sounds nice, I plan on taking that Con/Cha Half-elf Warlock to Fey Pact. I like the Feytouched Paragon Path more than the Doomsayer's, and that Misty Step at level 3 can equal my speed of 6 with Improved Misty Step and Eladrin Armor+1. I'll loose out on damage from Slashing Wake, dropping down to just 2 damage at Paragon to Epic instead of the Cha/Int possible 4-9 from Paragon to Epic. While I may loose the accuracy a Star Pact's Fate of the Void may give, being able to teleport 5-10 squares with Misty Step depending on the equipment I wear is a boost I'm willing to trade. Especially since a Rod of Harvest can store that teleport for use as a Minor Action for later use.

For RPing a Half-elf Fey Pact? The poor PC liked to visit his "cousins" the Eladrin whenever possible when younger. One visit he accidentally got caught in a Wild Hunt, lived, but came out slightly touched in the head. The rest of it is easier to setup the background for.
 
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I think the Star Warlock is fine, with one exception.

I think the at will power should be charisma or con based. As the at will he will have, the warlock should be able to use his best stat with it just like the other pact warlocks.
 

Nifft said:
Look up Rod of Corruption. You're welcome.
Jawa1972 said:
Actualy I prefer the Rod of Reaping.
Why not both? As far as i can tell, there's nothing stopping you from wielding two implements and benefiting from the properties of both. (And the FAQ certainly seems to support it.) It makes for one hell of a minion-killing domino effect.
 

I like that you can curse multiple enemies with the warlock's curse, unlike the ranger's prey. Look for that to be a commonly overlooked matter, in either direction.
 

Nifft said:
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.
I'll just tell my DM "But, Nifft gave it to me. You can't take it away!" ;)

I've found my Starpact Warlock's pact boon very flexible and useful. I wouldn't change him to Fey or Infernal.
 

ohGr said:
Why not both? As far as i can tell, there's nothing stopping you from wielding two implements and benefiting from the properties of both. (And the FAQ certainly seems to support it.) It makes for one hell of a minion-killing domino effect.
Dunno if it's actually legal. Reaving activates when you place your curse on a target, but Corruption doesn't "place" a curse -- the word they use there is transfer. It's probably possible to use both Rods to place -> kill -> spread, but I don't think you'd then get to kill again.

However... if you're not going to have a weapon in hand, take Quickdraw and invest in a bandoleer of Harvest Rods. Save up those big kill bonuses (when you have a room full of minions you can kill all in one round), then expend them when you need to hit the BBEG with your big gun right now.

"I know what you're thinking. 'Did he expend four daily powers or only three?' Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a +10 bonus in my +6 Rod of Harvesting, the most powerful Rod in the PHB, and would blow your Will defense clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?"

Cheers, -- N
 

TarionzCousin said:
I'll just tell my DM "But, Nifft gave it to me. You can't take it away!" ;)
I've got to try that on my DMs!

TarionzCousin said:
I've found my Starpact Warlock's pact boon very flexible and useful. I wouldn't change him to Fey or Infernal.
Yeah, Star Pact is awesome, particularly at low level. Warlocks in general are my favorite class of 4e, and the Star Pact may be my favorite of their pacts. :)

Cheers, -- N
 

Nifft said:
Dunno if it's actually legal. Reaving activates when you place your curse on a target, but Corruption doesn't "place" a curse -- the word they use there is transfer. It's probably possible to use both Rods to place -> kill -> spread, but I don't think you'd then get to kill again.

However... if you're not going to have a weapon in hand, take Quickdraw and invest in a bandoleer of Harvest Rods. Save up those big kill bonuses (when you have a room full of minions you can kill all in one round), then expend them when you need to hit the BBEG with your big gun right now.

"I know what you're thinking. 'Did he expend four daily powers or only three?' Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a +10 bonus in my +6 Rod of Harvesting, the most powerful Rod in the PHB, and would blow your Will defense clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?"

Cheers, -- N

As cool as the quote is, you can only store 1 charge of a Pact Boon in a single Rod of Harvest at a time. The best being a +2 to a roll stored in a Rod of Harvest due to Improved Fate of the Void. So you can at least add +4 to a d20 roll with 2 Minor Actions, on top of any bonuses Fate of the Void gives before you turn started.

Its kinda funny, that the Star Pact ability with Improved Fate of the Void means that if one cursed creature falls the turn before yours, or you have a Rod of Harvest, you are literally just as accurate with just a 16 Con/Cha ability as a person who went and got 20 Con/Cha for that attack.
 

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