A couple of Warlock questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

A couple of Warlock questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Haplo781
05-10-07, 07:51 PM 1. If I use an Eldritch Glaive, is it considered a weapon attack for purposes of sneak attack, damage bonuses from inspire courage, adding my STR bonus, etc?

2. Can I use Eldritch Essence invocations in conjunction with the Hellfire Blast Hellfire Warlock ability? The description says that it changes my Eldritch Blast into a Hellfire blast, and all Eldritch Essence invocations state that they change your Eldritch Blast into X, where X is the name of the Eldritch Essence invocation. This would suggest that it's not allowed, since you're not using an Eldritch Blast, but a Hellfire Blast, and therefore there's no legal target for the EE invocation. However, the description of Hellfire Blast doesn't bring it up one way or another.
Tempest Stormwind
05-10-07, 08:12 PM 1. If I use an Eldritch Glaive, is it considered a weapon attack for purposes of sneak attack, damage bonuses from inspire courage, adding my STR bonus, etc?Those aren't grouped with "weapons". Eldritch Glaive isn't a weapon so much as a very special shape for your blast.

1) Sneak Attack: Yes. It involves an attack roll, it can recieve sneak attack bonuses provided the conditions are met.
2) Inspire Courage: No. It isn't a true weapon.
3) Strength: Again, no.

If it keys off of a melee attack roll, the answer is probably yes. The damage roll, probably no.2. Can I use Eldritch Essence invocations in conjunction with the Hellfire Blast Hellfire Warlock ability? The description says that it changes my Eldritch Blast into a Hellfire blast, and all Eldritch Essence invocations state that they change your Eldritch Blast into X, where X is the name of the Eldritch Essence invocation. This would suggest that it's not allowed, since you're not using an Eldritch Blast, but a Hellfire Blast, and therefore there's no legal target for the EE invocation. However, the description of Hellfire Blast doesn't bring it up one way or another.Hellfire Blast, sans errata, isn't even an essence, but rather a modifier to EB. thus you can apply it, an essence, AND Eldritch Glaive to the same effect.

(Do note that even if you dig as deep into the precise wording as it shows there, you can still do it: Apply the essence and the glaive, then the hellfire. There shouldn't be different results based on different order of application.)
Treantmonklvl20
05-10-07, 08:23 PM There is an invocation (least) that allows you to channel your EB through a weapon (the name escapes me at the moment). Consider that instead if you have SA, or Str bonuses. Be careful with a warlock in melee though, they simply can't take the punishment like a fighter-type.
Haplo781
05-10-07, 08:26 PM Awesome. Thanks.
Haplo781
05-10-07, 08:28 PM There is an invocation (least) that allows you to channel your EB through a weapon (the name escapes me at the moment). Consider that instead if you have SA, or Str bonuses. Be careful with a warlock in melee though, they simply can't take the punishment like a fighter-type.

Yeah, it's called Hideous Blow. I'm well aware of that as well.

And I'm going to be running a gestalt Warlock/Rogue, so I'll be really sneaky.
Treantmonklvl20
05-10-07, 08:30 PM In that case Warlock/Rogue could work very nicely. 2d6 damage every two levels...sweet.
LordPendragon
05-11-07, 05:38 PM Here's another question about the Glaive... can Power Attack be used with it??
Toloran
05-11-07, 05:59 PM Here's another question about the Glaive... can Power Attack be used with it??
Again, No. It is not a real weapon so you if you don't get your strength bonus on the attack you cannot power attack either.

Think of it this way: I shine a beam of light on an enemy. No matter how hard I swing, that beam of light isn't going to hit any harder.

The reason sneak attack works is not because you are physically hitting harder but because you are aiming at vulnerable spots.
LordPendragon
05-11-07, 06:08 PM Think of it this way: I shine a beam of light on an enemy. No matter how hard I swing, that beam of light isn't going to hit any harder.
Yeah, I figured that would be how it works, but I wanted to make sure. The Power Attack description never actually mentions a weapon until the part about wielding a 2-handed weapon. The pertinent part actually only says "melee attack rolls" and "melee damage rolls".

So as written, it seems to work, but I wanted to check anyways, sicne it doesn't make much sense.
Tempest Stormwind
05-11-07, 06:17 PM You could use it on rounds with the glaive.

You'd suffer the attack roll penalty, since those are melee attack rolls. Touch attacks, but melee attack rolls nevertheless.

You would not gain the bonus, however, since the glaive's damage is based entirely on your eldritch blast, which cannot recieve the damage from Power Attack.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Haplo781 05-10-07, 07:51 PM	1. If I use an Eldritch Glaive, is it considered a weapon attack for purposes of sneak attack, damage bonuses from inspire courage, adding my STR bonus, etc? 2. Can I use Eldritch Essence invocations in conjunction with the Hellfire Blast Hellfire Warlock ability? The description says that it changes my Eldritch Blast into a Hellfire blast, and all Eldritch Essence invocations state that they change your Eldritch Blast into X, where X is the name of the Eldritch Essence invocation. This would suggest that it's not allowed, since you're not using an Eldritch Blast, but a Hellfire Blast, and therefore there's no legal target for the EE invocation. However, the description of Hellfire Blast doesn't bring it up one way or another.
Tempest Stormwind 05-10-07, 08:12 PM	1. If I use an Eldritch Glaive, is it considered a weapon attack for purposes of sneak attack, damage bonuses from inspire courage, adding my STR bonus, etc?Those aren't grouped with "weapons". Eldritch Glaive isn't a weapon so much as a very special shape for your blast. 1) Sneak Attack: Yes. It involves an attack roll, it can recieve sneak attack bonuses provided the conditions are met. 2) Inspire Courage: No. It isn't a true weapon. 3) Strength: Again, no. If it keys off of a melee attack roll, the answer is probably yes. The damage roll, probably no.2. Can I use Eldritch Essence invocations in conjunction with the Hellfire Blast Hellfire Warlock ability? The description says that it changes my Eldritch Blast into a Hellfire blast, and all Eldritch Essence invocations state that they change your Eldritch Blast into X, where X is the name of the Eldritch Essence invocation. This would suggest that it's not allowed, since you're not using an Eldritch Blast, but a Hellfire Blast, and therefore there's no legal target for the EE invocation. However, the description of Hellfire Blast doesn't bring it up one way or another.Hellfire Blast, sans errata, isn't even an essence, but rather a modifier to EB. thus you can apply it, an essence, AND Eldritch Glaive to the same effect. (Do note that even if you dig as deep into the precise wording as it shows there, you can still do it: Apply the essence and the glaive, then the hellfire. There shouldn't be different results based on different order of application.)
Treantmonklvl20 05-10-07, 08:23 PM	There is an invocation (least) that allows you to channel your EB through a weapon (the name escapes me at the moment). Consider that instead if you have SA, or Str bonuses. Be careful with a warlock in melee though, they simply can't take the punishment like a fighter-type.
Haplo781 05-10-07, 08:26 PM	Awesome. Thanks.
Haplo781 05-10-07, 08:28 PM	There is an invocation (least) that allows you to channel your EB through a weapon (the name escapes me at the moment). Consider that instead if you have SA, or Str bonuses. Be careful with a warlock in melee though, they simply can't take the punishment like a fighter-type. Yeah, it's called Hideous Blow. I'm well aware of that as well. And I'm going to be running a gestalt Warlock/Rogue, so I'll be really sneaky.
Treantmonklvl20 05-10-07, 08:30 PM	In that case Warlock/Rogue could work very nicely. 2d6 damage every two levels...sweet.
LordPendragon 05-11-07, 05:38 PM	Here's another question about the Glaive... can Power Attack be used with it??
Toloran 05-11-07, 05:59 PM	Here's another question about the Glaive... can Power Attack be used with it?? Again, No. It is not a real weapon so you if you don't get your strength bonus on the attack you cannot power attack either. Think of it this way: I shine a beam of light on an enemy. No matter how hard I swing, that beam of light isn't going to hit any harder. The reason sneak attack works is not because you are physically hitting harder but because you are aiming at vulnerable spots.
LordPendragon 05-11-07, 06:08 PM	Think of it this way: I shine a beam of light on an enemy. No matter how hard I swing, that beam of light isn't going to hit any harder. Yeah, I figured that would be how it works, but I wanted to make sure. The Power Attack description never actually mentions a weapon until the part about wielding a 2-handed weapon. The pertinent part actually only says "melee attack rolls" and "melee damage rolls". So as written, it seems to work, but I wanted to check anyways, sicne it doesn't make much sense.
Tempest Stormwind 05-11-07, 06:17 PM	You could use it on rounds with the glaive. You'd suffer the attack roll penalty, since those are melee attack rolls. Touch attacks, but melee attack rolls nevertheless. You would not gain the bonus, however, since the glaive's damage is based entirely on your eldritch blast, which cannot recieve the damage from Power Attack.