warlock prestige classes

[mr.pink]

I am building a level 20 warlock for a 1-shot i am doing next week. Besides hellfire warlock, which is already going to be in my build. Do you have any ideas what prestige classes would be good/possible for a non-charisma warlock. I really want to work some sneak attack into the build

 

[Theroc]

Since Charisma is the key stat for Warlocks, doing one that is 'non-charisma' doesn't mesh well with prestige classes.

Demonbinder from Drow of the Underdark might suit you, depending on your campaign and etc... one of the binds the warlock can invoke actually grants you sneak attack itself.

Eldritch Disciple from Complete Mage MIGHT be one to look into, if you wanted to throw in a bit of Cleric.

Overall though, from my understanding, there aren't many Warlock oriented PrC's that don't key a mess of things on Charisma.

 

[Shin Okada]

It is not a multiclassing but be a straight Warlock, or at least take 12th level of it and max-out UMD skill. Take Craft Wand feat and make a Wand of Hunter's Eye spell (PHB 2, Ranger 2) at caster level 18. If you are using Rules Compendium rule for spell trigger items, you can use the wand as a swift action (equal to the casting time of the spell). The spell gives you +6d6 sneak attack ability at caster level 18.

Then use Eldritch Glaive (Dragon Magic) to make multiple melee touch attacks.

 

[NewJeffCT]

It is not a multiclassing but be a straight Warlock, or at least take 12th level of it and max-out UMD skill. Take Craft Wand feat and make a Wand of Hunter's Eye spell (PHB 2, Ranger 2) at caster level 18. If you are using Rules Compendium rule for spell trigger items, you can use the wand as a swift action (equal to the casting time of the spell). The spell gives you +6d6 sneak attack ability at caster level 18.

Then use Eldritch Glaive (Dragon Magic) to make multiple melee touch attacks.

Oh - that's a good idea. At level 20, the warlock is going to be doing 9d6 with his or her eldritch blast... not a huge total on a per attack basis at level 20, but if you add in another 6d6 and now you're talking.

 

[Dandu]

It is not a multiclassing but be a straight Warlock, or at least take 12th level of it and max-out UMD skill. Take Craft Wand feat and make a Wand of Hunter's Eye spell (PHB 2, Ranger 2) at caster level 18. If you are using Rules Compendium rule for spell trigger items, you can use the wand as a swift action (equal to the casting time of the spell). The spell gives you +6d6 sneak attack ability at caster level 18.

Then use Eldritch Glaive (Dragon Magic) to make multiple melee touch attacks.

Slight problem: The wand requires one hand and the glaive requires two hands.

If you want to progress Hellfire Damage, look into the prestige classes Legacy Champion (WoL) and (I believe) Uncanny Trickster (CS).

Both advance previous class abilities (specifically stated that way) so you can use them to advance Hellfire Warlock, which gets you a lot of Hellfire Damage.

Your DM might smack you though

 

[Shin Okada]

Slight problem: The wand requires one hand and the glaive requires two hands.

Eldritch Glaive is not a physical glaive. It is a Blast Shape invocation which enables a Warlock to make a melee touch attack (or attacks if his BAB is high enough) as if wielding a reach weapon. The text does not say that a warlock need two hands.

Also, to use a wand without a free hand, you can use Caster's Glove in Magic Item Compendium.

That way, you can wield a Rod or something (Warlock's Scepter?) and still have a free hand to perform invocations' somatic components.

 

[irdeggman]

Eldritch Glaive is not a physical glaive. It is a Blast Shape invocation which enables a Warlock to make a melee touch attack (or attacks if his BAB is high enough) as if wielding a reach weapon. The text does not say that a warlock need two hands.

Also, to use a wand without a free hand, you can use Caster's Glove in Magic Item Compendium.

That way, you can wield a Rod or something (Warlock's Scepter?) and still have a free hand to perform invocations' somatic components.

Your eldritch blast takes on physical substance, appearing similar to a glaive.

While it does not specifically state you need 2 hands it does say that it takes on physical substance (i.e., is material in shape and such) and appears similar to a glaive. A glaive requires 2 hands to use. Now it also doesn't say it requires martial weapon proficiency to wield the glaive either, but it doesn't grant any weapon damage from being created - in fact it specifically states it doesn't give any - so an argument could be made on whether or not the wielder gains 1 1/2 strength bonus damage to his attack since it is "physical" in nature.

 

[Shin Okada]

"takes on physical substance" and "appearing similar to a glaive" are too vague and far from being rule definitions.

Regarding rule terms, all it says is "as if wielding a reach weapon". Being a reach weapon does not automatically mean a two-handed weapon (whip, Kusari-Gama, etc.).

And it says "as if" and the use of those two words always cause debates regarding interpretation.

If I were a DM, I will go with which the rules clearly require. This is a invocation and thus you need to perform a somatic component. Thus you need one free hand.

 

[irdeggman]

"takes on physical substance" and "appearing similar to a glaive" are too vague and far from being rule definitions.

Regarding rule terms, all it says is "as if wielding a reach weapon". Being a reach weapon does not automatically mean a two-handed weapon (whip, Kusari-Gama, etc.).

And it says "as if" and the use of those two words always cause debates regarding interpretation.

If I were a DM, I will go with which the rules clearly require. This is a invocation and thus you need to perform a somatic component. Thus you need one free hand.

Be careful on how you interpret things - based on this interpretation you can't use Hideous Blow with a 2 handed weapon - since you need a free hand to use an invocation.

I read it as you need a free hand to cast (or manifest or whatever the proper verb is for this) but only when casting it. Once the invocation is invoked you hand is free to use the weapon in question.

In general WotC has said (via FAQ and other things) that "as if" in general means just like.

 

[Shin Okada]

I read it as you need a free hand to cast (or manifest or whatever the proper verb is for this) but only when casting it. Once the invocation is invoked you hand is free to use the weapon in question.

That is my interpretation, too.

In general WotC has said (via FAQ and other things) that "as if" in general means just like.

True. and the word "as if" is only used for "wielding a reach weapon". Not "as if wielding a glaive" or "as if you are wielding a two-handed reach weapon" or something.

So I think the pseudo-reach weapon created by Eldritch Glaive does not require two-hands.

Combining those two interpretations, I say one can perform necessary somatic component when he use this invocation, then can use that same hand to "wield" a (non two-hand) pseud reach weapon.

There may be 3 other possible interpretations.

If you can use the same hand for performing somatic component and wielding the pseudo-weapon, but the pseud-weapon is a two-handed weapon, then you need 2 free hands to use Eldritch Glaive.

If you need a free hand all the way during a full action for this invocation but the pseudo-reach weapon is a one-handed weapon, then you need 2 hands to use this invocation. One to perform a somatic component, and another one to wield a one-handed weapon.

If you need a free hand all the way during a full-round action for this invocation and the pseudo-reach weapon is a two-handed weapon, then, you need 3 hands to use this invocation. One to perform it's somatic component and 2 more to wield a two-handed weapon. Thus usual humanoid warlock cannot use this at all.