ARandomGod said:
Human race. Twelfth level character. Started with an 18 (+4), level boosted it to 20 (+5), spent a lot to get a +6 to charisma item (+3 more), took a feat to increase spell like ability DC by 2... It was only +10. I think the spell (invocation) was a sixth level one... (this would have to be checked). So I believe the Bewitching effect was a DC 25 will save. Which is nice for a 12th level character, and wouldn't have been a problem at all if not for the fact that he could throw that once per round, it was in addition to his damage that round, and it hit multiple opponents each round. He never ran out!
Ability focus applies to one special ability. Since Eldritch Blast does not have a save, it would apply to a single Essence invocation. Note that the "meta spell-like" feats also have the restriction of applying to a single spell-like ability, meaning only one invocation, so that must have been the 12th level feat choice. The player also had about half his total DMG recommended wealth tied up in that charisma cloak. Not illegal, per se, but something to be aware of.
A caster with the same stats, feats, items would have:
sorceror would have 18 spell slots with DC 24+ (4th & greater)
wizards would have 12 spell slots with DC24+
clerics would have 15 spell slots with DC24+
This warlock has *one* trick, a trick he burned a lot of resources to get. It's a good trick but it fails against plants, constructs, most casters, undead, and a lot of creatures with SR. I'm not sure, but I think this would be an enchantment effect so elves of all variants would be harder to affect.
The casters can hurl a bit more than a dozen spells of similar power before starting to fade but in 4 encounters a day that's 3 high power spells per fight. Most of our fights are ~5 rounds or less so add in a party buff/utility spell/encounter and they're done.