WizLock? A silly idea?

[Radevilen]

I'm thinking of making a Wizard character that multiclasses as a warlock. However I am pretty bad at planning out characters and definitely would make a terrible Min/Maxer.

So, does this sound silly? Wizard multiclassed as a Warlock? Would I take the wizard paragon path, or warlock?

Your help and input is most appreciated.

 

[Danceofmasks]

Depends on what you're trying to do .. certain things don't quite work.
Just a couple of points ..

Orb of Imposition only works on wizard powers.
Multiclassing into warlock doesn't give you a pact boon or the ability to curse.
Stat synergy is tricky.

I think it's more feasible to multi a Warlock into Wizard, though that means you don't get a spellbook (i.e. you only get 1 if you take a swith out feat for a daily or utility).

 

[VannATLC]

What are your reasons for doing it?

I don't think its silly, personally, especially if you went Half-Elf, which would enable you to take Eldritch Blast as well, as an encounter. (Or a different Pact Power)

It would let you, if you picked your powers carefully, get a solid balance between Controller/Striker abilities.

The biggest concern is the lack of stat synergy. I'd go for a fey Pact, personally, and concentrate on Cha powers, as Cha is at least a semi-useful stat for Wizards, allowing for the much vaunted Feat that reduces an enemies save.

 

[DLichen]

Depends on what you want to do.

Supplementing wizard aoes with warlock damage could work, even though you suffer a bit from MAD.

I personally think Warlock MC to Wizard is a better way to go, but that depends a lot on campaign level.

 

[FrozenChrono]

A Wizlock is definantly a doable build, picking a few powers to add a bit more direct damage would be great in boss fights.

A tiefling would probably be best for this as far as stat synergy goes but depending on what pact you're interested in and how deep you want to go a lot of things would work. Here's a few options

Tiefling pump int and cha to at least 16 each (or 18/14 if you prefer) and let your +2's make them 18's. Go Feypact, the ability may not be great for damage but it's cha based which is great for this build. Grabbing the Hellfire blood feat and fire based lock powers would be complementary and would mitigate an 18/14 starting build.

Unfortunanly many of the lock PP abilities are based on curses, which you can't get through multiclassing so going lock or taking one of the wizard PP's is probably the way to go.

Another interesting build would be con/int based. You could go half elf, dwarf, eladrin, or human for the stat synergy, or you could go dragonborn since their racials key off of con so much.
These builds would give you a bit more direct damage with the encounter at will power, and if you go half-elf you can pick up eltrich blast or the other con based pact power too.

Once you figure out a race the build will become a little more clear.

 

[doctorhook]

It's not a terrible idea, in my mind. The classes share a power source, which makes fluffing easy, and the classes will likely be able to share benefits (if not now, then in future products).

Tiefling is a good racial choice, for the Intelligence and Charisma bonuses, which are primary to each of your classes. If you choose 16 16 12 10 10 10 or 16 16 12 11 11 8 as your base ability scores, you (as a Tiefling) can begin at level 1 with a competitive '18' in both abilities.

Alternatively, if your DM is allowing PCs to play Monster Manual races, Githyanki is a cool choice, particularly if you're willing to start as a Infernal Pact Warlock and multiclass to Wizard; such a character could potentially be much more durable/resilient in combat, thanks to a racial Constitution bonus (which your Warlock powers can use), increased hit points from being a striker instead of a controller, and lastly, access to the Dark One's Blessing Warlock feature, which gives you temporary hit points when enemies you've cursed get killed. The Githyanki race also gives you an Intelligence bonus, which obviously helps your Wizard spells, not to mention a racial encounter power which lets you or an ally fly 5 squares.

I'm not much of a min-maxer, but I hope this has helped!

 

[Tony Vargas]

So, does this sound silly? Wizard multiclassed as a Warlock? Would I take the wizard paragon path, or warlock?

Your help and input is most appreciated.

It's conceptually perfectly alright, they're both arcanists, and a Wizard seeking a little extra power from infernal sources, or becoming obsessed with astrology and the distant powers of the stars, or simply having a fey origin (1/2 elf, eladrin, elf) and deriving some extra abilities from that are all perfectly reasonable ideas.

The Warlock uses the Rod, Wand or Pact Blade as implements and the Wizard the Orb, Staff, or Wand. For efficiency, you'd want a magic wand, since you could use it with both class's spells - however, Wizard's Wand Mastery works off DEX, a stat of little other use to either Wizards are Warlocks. The Warlock has some powers that benefit from high INT, these would be the logical ones to snag as a multiclass Wiz/'lock. Another point of synergy is CON. Staff Wizards benefit from high CON, many Warlock powers are based on CON - you lose the implement synergy, but the stat synergy may be worth it.

Wizards gain little benefit from CHA, except for qualifying for Spell Focus, so there's not much to be gained in the conceptually pleasing Fey Warlock/Spiral Tower Wizard Half-elf (dual weilding Corellon's Sword & Pact Blade).

 

[Danceofmasks]

Well, the flipside works a fair bit better. Warlock with Wiz MC.
Tiefling ('cos they rock)

Either star pact or infernal pact, with this statline:
Str 10
Con 16
Dex 13
Int 18
Wis 8
Cha 13
K, I like that statline, but apart from the 16s in con and int, it's flexible.

Take hellfire blood, to make up for a con deficiency with fire & fear powers.
Sure, at that point your eldritch blast would be weak, but I'd happily trade -1 average damage for the other at will's +1 to hit and extra effect.

Pick up scorching burst as your wiz multi .. that one gets +5 to hit and damage ..
As well, if you went with infernal pact, you can catch yourself in your scorching burst the turn after landing a hellish rebuke ... with your fire resist, it's minimal pain for extra damage.

Even if you went star pact, and your pact's power choice(s) aren't based on con, grab the infernal pact option.

Maybe do the encounter power swap at 4 to take fire shroud to capitalise on your higher int.

Just a few ideas.

 

[ccmage]

be honest, i rather suggest the opposite, do a warlock with multi class wizard.
here is y:
1. u will get primal shot, which help u if u only have +3 on int
2. warlock curse the curse will dmg the target regardless what spell u cast. if u try to do crowd control with wizard spell, warlock's curse allow u get some extra dmg on ur main target.
3. u will get boon bonuses.

 

[Mal Malenkirk]

It can work fine.

Make a Staff Wizard, always increase CON and INT at every opportunity and if you power swap some Warlock powers, choose constitution based ones.

Tadaaa. No MAD. Only annoying bit is carrying both a staff and a wand/rod. Mayeb the DM could accept a feat to turn the staff into a warlock implement, or just waive that restriction altogether.

You can do the reverse (Warlock MCing as wizard) even more easily.