Warlocks, Eldritch Blast & Rapid Shot Feat/Metamagic

[Dragonblade275]

Howdy,

Our group is rather new to using the Warlock class.

1. Can a Warlock take Rapid Shot and apply it to his Eldritch Blast (thereby getting two Eldritch Blasts in a round)?

2. Or, is there a (metamagic or other kind of) feat that would allow a Warlock to use more than one Eldritch Blast in a round?

3. When a Warlock gains multiple attacks from increased Base Attack Bonus, does that entitle the Warlock to multiple Eldritch Blasts in a single round?

Thanks in advance.

If the Warlock survives the next few encounters, tonight, these questions will likely come into play.

Thanks, again.

 

[frankthedm]

1. Can a Warlock take Rapid Shot and apply it to his Eldritch Blast (thereby getting two Eldritch Blasts in a round)?

No.

2. Or, is there a (metamagic or other kind of) feat that would allow a Warlock to use more than one Eldritch Blast in a round?

Yes. You have to be using the Complete arcane errata for it to work.

Quicken Spell-Like Ability [General]

Prerequisite
Spell-like ability at caster level 10th or higher.


Benefit
Choose one of the creature’s spell-like abilities, subject to the restrictions described below. The creature can use that ability as a quickened spell-like ability three times per day (or less, if the ability is normally usable only once or twice per day).

Using a quickened spell-like ability is a free action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. The creature can perform another action—including the use of another spell-like ability—in the same round that it uses a quickened spell-like ability. The creature may use only one quickened spell-like ability per round.

The creature can only select a spell-like ability duplicating a spell with a level less than or equal to half its caster level (round down) -4. For a summary, see the associated table.

In addition, a spell-like ability that duplicates a spell with a casting time greater than 1 full round cannot be quickened.

Special
This feat can be taken multiple times. Each time it is taken, the creature can apply it to a different one of its spell-like abilities.

3. When a Warlock gains multiple attacks from increased Base Attack Bonus, does that entitle the Warlock to multiple Eldritch Blasts in a single round?

Never

 

[Rystil Arden]

No.
Yes

Quicken Spell-Like Ability [General]

Prerequisite
Spell-like ability at caster level 10th or higher.


Benefit
Choose one of the creature’s spell-like abilities, subject to the restrictions described below. The creature can use that ability as a quickened spell-like ability three times per day (or less, if the ability is normally usable only once or twice per day).

Using a quickened spell-like ability is a free action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. The creature can perform another action—including the use of another spell-like ability—in the same round that it uses a quickened spell-like ability. The creature may use only one quickened spell-like ability per round.

The creature can only select a spell-like ability duplicating a spell with a level less than or equal to half its caster level (round down) -4. For a summary, see the associated table.

In addition, a spell-like ability that duplicates a spell with a casting time greater than 1 full round cannot be quickened.

Special
This feat can be taken multiple times. Each time it is taken, the creature can apply it to a different one of its spell-like abilities.
Never

Those three answers are almost correct. The true answer to the last one is "Almost Never, but if she takes the correct abusive Least Invocation from a different supplement, then she can do it, but only in melee and only if the GM allows that Least Invocation."

 

[stonegod]

1. Can a Warlock take Rapid Shot and apply it to his Eldritch Blast (thereby getting two Eldritch Blasts in a round)?

No. EB is a spell-like ability, not a ranged weapon.

2. Or, is there a (metamagic or other kind of) feat that would allow a Warlock to use more than one Eldritch Blast in a round?

Quicken Spell-like ablity. Its in the back of the MM and the SRD. EB is treated as a 1st level spell unless it is augmented (with a shape or essence invocation) which would change its effective level. This allows two attacks.

3. When a Warlock gains multiple attacks from increased Base Attack Bonus, does that entitle the Warlock to multiple Eldritch Blasts in a single round?

No more than having iterative attacks allows the wizard to cast more than one spell a round.

EB is a spell-like ability, not a weapon.

 

[stonegod]

Those three answers are almost correct. The true answer to the last one is "Almost Never, but if she takes the correct abusive Least Invocation from a different supplement, then she can do it, but only in melee and only if the GM allows that Least Invocation."

Ah, but that isn't EB by itself, its EB + a shape invocation (eldritch glaive in Dragon Magic).

 

[Sejs]

1. No. Rapid Shot does not work with an Eldritch Blast.

2. Yes. Quicken Spell-Like Ability would allow you to make one quickened eldritch blast, and one normal eldritch blast in a round a total of 3/day. The Eldritch Glaive blast shape invocation from Dragon Magic would allow you to use your Eldritch Blast as if it were a melee weapon, gaining your normal iterative attack spread. This, as mentioned, is -very- powerful and many DMs do not care for it.

There are several other blast shape invocations that would allow a single blast to affect several targets at once. Eldritch Chain and Eldritch Doom being two examples.

On the whole there are not many options for multiple blasts per round. This is fully intentional, given the nature of the Warlock and Eldritch Blast.

 

[frankthedm]

Also, note the quickening does not increase the level of the ability. So it looks like you can release a quickened, maximised & empowered basic eldrich blast. This is useful since you can still make your 'normal' blast, modded by the best shape / essence you have.

 

[RigaMortus2]

Interestingly enough, these exact questions were asked and answered in the last Sage Advice...

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/ask