Warlocks and pacts

[SolitonMan]

Hi,

I'm creating my first 4e warlock and I am failing to understand a fundamental aspect of power selection. In the PHB the description of the class features mentions (I don't know the page, I don't have the book in front of me but it's probably around 130) that a warlock's pact determines one of their at-will abilities. Then the description of the powers explicitly states that the warlock is not limited to selecting powers associated with their pact.

So which is it? Must I take the at-will power associated with my pact, or can I choose any one? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[icarusfallz]

It's pretty simple, but a bit misleading. Your Pact tells you what your At Will power is (barring being a human.) But after that, you get to choose. note that there are rather good bonuses for taking powers that match your pact, though you aren't limited by it.

 

[Larrin]

Pact determines what your at wills will be and which encounter powers you will get the most benefit from (you can take any encounter, but taking one in your pact will useually benefit you with some bonus based on INT). Daily powers have little tie in to pacts except whether they use CON or CHA so you can take any as long as you have the stats to use it. Utilities pact is more or less meaningless, take whatever you want.

 

[Aservan]

Your at-will powers as a warlock are set for you. You can't pick them unless you are a human (who get an extra at-will) and then two of your at-will powers are selected for you and you may pick the third one from the remaining at-will powers.

After that the field is wide open. You may select any encounter or daily powers you like. Beware that many encounter powers offer a bonus if you are one pact or another. The game balance means that you are pretty much expected to pick one of the powers that offers a bonus. You don't have to, but your character may be less effective if you do not.

Warlock unlike the other classes does not get to pick his at-will powers. Your at-will powers are selected by your choice of pact and because pacts are class features you can't retrain the powers they grant.

 

[SolitonMan]

Excellent, thanks to you all for clarifying for me. I'm kind of falling in to this role in an existing group, so I'll be playing a drow warlock of level 4. I was initially thinking of taking the infernal pact, but now I'm not so sure since I won't be limited to anything except at-will, and because drow are good with charisma. Anybody have any suggestions on power selection?

Thanks!

 

[Obryn]

Excellent, thanks to you all for clarifying for me. I'm kind of falling in to this role in an existing group, so I'll be playing a drow warlock of level 4. I was initially thinking of taking the infernal pact, but now I'm not so sure since I won't be limited to anything except at-will, and because drow are good with charisma. Anybody have any suggestions on power selection?

Thanks!

Be sure you get both a good Constitution and a good Charisma. Having a good mix of powers is essential, IMHO. I think Intelligence gives you benefits, too.

Unlike in 3e, Dexterity will do pretty much nothing for you, other than Initiative. Strength and Wisdom are pretty superfluous, too.

I have a Tiefling Fey-lock in my group. She's great with her Eldritch Blasts, but hardly ever uses Eyebite. (She has better ways of protecting herself against attacks - the teleports and her companions.) Still, her Pact Boon is pretty sweet; it's saved her bacon at least once every battle. I was worried the character would be weak, but she's doing awesome so far.

-O

 

[Korror]

Excellent, thanks to you all for clarifying for me. I'm kind of falling in to this role in an existing group, so I'll be playing a drow warlock of level 4. I was initially thinking of taking the infernal pact, but now I'm not so sure since I won't be limited to anything except at-will, and because drow are good with charisma. Anybody have any suggestions on power selection?

Thanks!

There has been some discussion of warlock encounter/daily powers in these threads.

http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?t=234118

http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?t=235028

There hasn't been much debate over the warlock powers. It seems generally accepted that some like Frigid Darkness are quite powerful while others like Crown of Madness and Curse of the Bloody Fangs are on the weak side.