Warlocks...how do they play?

[irdeggman]

But no social skills, proving yet again it is a martial class (with a little bit of scouting ability that is solely from skills and not from class abilities, which the warlock does have).

When I read your comment on infiltration I assumed it also refered to sneakky skills. Warlocks have none, soulknives have them (Hide, MS, Listen, Spot).

I also tend to play Kalashtar soulknives so my comparision, unfortunetely tends to combine the racial bonuses - which are "social" in nature:

+2 to disguise (when disguising a human)
+2 to bluff, diplomacy and intimidate

And the racial substitution levels which give:
Disguise
Perform
Knowledge (the planes)
as class skills.

[/QUOTE]

 

[airwalkrr]

When I read your comment on infiltration I assumed it also refered to sneakky skills. Warlocks have none, soulknives have them (Hide, MS, Listen, Spot).

I meant Bluff and Disguise actually. Hide/Move Silently have more to do with scouting while avoiding detection than infiltration. Infiltration means to assume another identity and usually assumes you are being detected, just not accurately. It can be used for spying, but it is at least as likely to be used as a means of sabotage.

I also tend to play Kalashtar soulknives so my comparision, unfortunetely tends to combine the racial bonuses - which are "social" in nature:

I'm sorry. My bad. That was so obvious. I mean, everyone plays kalashtar soulknives. Who doesn't play a kalashtar with racial substitution levels when they play a soulknife? Nobody that's who! How could I overlook that? Silly me.

Seriously though, you can't assume I would think kalashtar soulknife with racial substitution levels when you say "soulknife." Throw me a bone here.

 

[Ambros]

well I personally did enjoy playing an cg warlock, trying to redeem himself, I had hideous blow and emm not see unseen but the one that lets you see in darkness.. emm...
Anyway, One must not forget that hideous blow, can be channeled into any sort of weapon, I had myself for flavor (when I could affort it) an MW mace made in the shape of an rams skull with horn, and got to love my spiked gauntlet ( I used a large Iron ring with the scred sigel of my former order/cult before I bought my spiked gauntlet) and there is something eerie about facing up to a guy whos one gauntlet begins to flare with a malvoent energy.

The reason I think I loved it was I made him eerie, but not unforgiven in his manners, and we were as such also luck enought to have a party consisteing of an CN "noneck bare knocked fighter", who happent to be an doctor (with practise in his home village ) and a halfelf (or half human) Pelor cleric, who had his mind set on "Delvering me from sin", while hording loot for... his church...

I think that warlock in their own right offers more then just tricks and fighting force, (as such they might be as good or as bad as you skill & feat them) but their charm comes in place when you don't just play for the "omg im so über" thrill...

So in conlusion of my own rambling... Go warlock if you want flare and mood over dmg pr. hit /spell, skills.

Well thats my opinion, and on a sidenote Im not saying that warlocks are weak, im only saying if you want a kick ass roll of the dice add it up, throw the spell and erratecte the city then, you'll proberly find another class more suited for that

Ambros

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

I appreciate your input Nightfall!

My choice for arcane is mostly due to wanting to play something other than a Fighter-type (my usual PC). Having not played in awhile, I was looking at some "interesting" choices, such as the Warlock (hence my original post), the Psion (never used psionics before, but do see your points), or possibly a cleric (mostly to help the party out if need be). I guess I'm trying to go for the knowlegable, thinking side of the party.

Matt

Play a bard. You get the knowledge skills and bardic knowledge to fill the 'thinking' role, lots of skill points to spread around to different things, and a dabble of magic thrown in for fun. You won't be a combat powerhouse, but it sounds like you don't want to be.

 

[irdeggman]

I meant Bluff and Disguise actually. Hide/Move Silently have more to do with scouting while avoiding detection than infiltration. Infiltration means to assume another identity and usually assumes you are being detected, just not accurately. It can be used for spying, but it is at least as likely to be used as a means of sabotage.



I'm sorry. My bad. That was so obvious. I mean, everyone plays kalashtar soulknives. Who doesn't play a kalashtar with racial substitution levels when they play a soulknife? Nobody that's who! How could I overlook that? Silly me.

Seriously though, you can't assume I would think kalashtar soulknife with racial substitution levels when you say "soulknife." Throw me a bone here.

Is there a reason that you need to be so pointed in your posts?

I stated that it was my fault in comparison by using a Kalashtar soulknife.

Now, I would state that infiltration also applies to sneakiness. Hide and MS are skills used to infilitrate, especially "infiltrating behind enemy lines". But from your usage of the text - yes a warlock has a better chance at "infiltration" - even though diplomacy is not a class skill for them (which is the real big one necessary for that type of work, IMO).

 

[Particle_Man]

Mechanically, the big thing about the psion is that they're at the OTHER end of the endurance spectrum from the Warlock. It's really easy to blow your total power load in a few encounters and be left kind of limping along for the rest of the day, if your party likes a lot of daily encounters.

I wonder how some "mystic theurge" version of a Psion/Warlock would fare. You would have the "blow your wad" ability of the Psion to start with, and then the endurance factor of the warlock for the rest of the day. Mind you, you would be behind the power curve in both respects...

 

[Nightfall]

Is there a Mystic Theurge for Psionic characters with divine powers?

*thinks maybe Thry might try druids* They are incredible under-rated, have a pretty wide spell selection and extra bonus, wildshape. Clerics are fine and all, but try a druid for a change.

If you want a true jack of all trades, there's two in Dragon Compendium I'd recommend. The skill guy, Savant (who gets both arcane and divine spellcasting albeit at lower levels), and Jester (more of guy that can improve things via acting and stuff. He also casts spells but at earlier levels and with higher spell level caps.)

There's also Beguiler, a mixture of rogue with illusion based powers. Spellthieves, who can not only cast spell but steal em to.

Honestly as I said Thry, it's entirely up to you what you want. I just honestly think druid might be the best to suit your "knowledgeable" needs since you play a worldy druid that is kind of a mixture of Garrison Keillor meets Merlin (plus the fact there is a Mystic Theurge class that's great for Druids, Arcane Hierophant.) so you could still be the guy offering sage-like advice but it doesn't have to be about the "tree hugging."

Danny,
Yeah this is true about D&D psions/psionic characters. They sure aren't like their movie/fictional counterparts.

 

[Prince of Happiness]

I dunno...I saw a warlock in play twice when I ran, first The Wizard's Amulet and the Vaults of Tsathazar Rho. They got wasted in the first encounter in both.

 

[Nightfall]

Well to be fair, Wizard's Amulet is kind of tough on 1st level PCs with no sense.

 

[Prince of Happiness]

Well to be fair, Wizard's Amulet is kind of tough on 1st level PCs with no sense.

Yeah, killing baby leucrotta in front of mommy leucrotta was a very bad idea.