Warlock and Summon Swarm
- Thread starter Scharlata
- Start date
SelcSilverhand
First Post
I DM'd for a 7th level kobold warlock player. Nearly every fight starts with an Earthen Grasp spell then a swarm of bats. The bats have blindsense so they can detect 99% of my bad guys and a fly speed so they can move to engage anything in their range.
The only balancing factor was that he couldn't control the swarm, so if the bad guys break free of the earthen grasp spell (Which was the bigger pain in the rear) the swarm would follow it back and engulf both. Even if he stops concentrating it still takes 2 rounds to vanish which could cause plenty of harm to allies. Especially with wounding.
They're a one trick pony, so their one trick better be effective. *shrug*
The only balancing factor was that he couldn't control the swarm, so if the bad guys break free of the earthen grasp spell (Which was the bigger pain in the rear) the swarm would follow it back and engulf both. Even if he stops concentrating it still takes 2 rounds to vanish which could cause plenty of harm to allies. Especially with wounding.
They're a one trick pony, so their one trick better be effective. *shrug*
XCorvis
First Post
Having seen it in play, it's not that bad. If it's the highest level invocation the warlock has it might seem a bit strong but it tapers off fast. Later enemies will be able to shrug off the damage and the save is easy.
When running the swarm, be random about who it attacks. Make sure the PCs consider it a threat. (You might even fudge the rolls the first few times to make sure they DO attack the PCs - just to give them the idea.)
When running the swarm, be random about who it attacks. Make sure the PCs consider it a threat. (You might even fudge the rolls the first few times to make sure they DO attack the PCs - just to give them the idea.)
with it being uncontrollable and needing concentration and it only having a duration of concentration (instead of concentration +2 rounds) and only useful against living targets and being 1 round to cast and being close range while being uncontrollable is this ability even good at all? 
I have never seen summon swarm used in play actually.. But while it looks like it would be interesting at very low levels I would expect it to go to useless 'very' fast.
I have never seen summon swarm used in play actually.. But while it looks like it would be interesting at very low levels I would expect it to go to useless 'very' fast.
Summon Swarm seems powerful, but is really no better than eldritch blast itself in damage-dealt-per-round, and has a lot of other drawbacks. Before 5th level or so, it is very useful, especially for clearing rooms. But the swarm becomes mostly useless in combat beyond 5th level or so, so I do not consider it unbalanced for a least invocation.
HeapThaumaturgist
First Post
I thought the Darkness+Bat Swarm one sounded alot more useful, personally, since the bats stay in the darkness and you don't so much have to worry about them wandering around eating off your face. Plus the radius is much larger.
--fje
--fje
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