Post/Author/DateTime	Post
anomalousman 01-11-06, 10:15 PM	I'm looking at building a warlock (actually at level 7, but I'm planning as if from 1 to 20) for a stock standard 3.5 game. All core and completes are allowed. I need: advice on feats/invocation choices. Equipment, too. (19k at level 7) There seems to be a complete dearth of advice out there. I want this guy to stay out of combat, so all he needs is good Dex to hit and Chr for DCs. As far as I can see, DCs are critical, and I should have enough BAB to hit with ranged touch, so I'm going for a Chr heavy build. Invocation thoughts: I want at most two (and usually just one) shape and essence invocations, as the real fun of a warlock seems to be using the non-blast invocations. It's crazy to not have an essence/shape on the ubiquitous blast, though. Least: sickening blast (to be swapped out when noxious comes along) darkness // battlefield control and defence forever devil's sight // what a good combo w/darkness for small spaces! see the unseen/spiderwalk/eldritch spear [first two are good, but spear should be in the bag for sniping] Lesser: // This was the only level I was sure of flee the scene // Unbelievable fun! voracious dispelling // Yes! eldritch chain // This is the shape I will use for life Greater: noxious blast //Nauseated for 1 min is "save or die", better than utterdark devour magic // Key role vitriolic blast // Critical for anti-SR chilling tentacles/wall of perilous flame //Both look great for nontargeted dam Dark: dark foresight retributive invisibility path of shadow The other dark invocations actually didn't seem worth the trouble in comparison. Feat ideas: Very few feats compare with extra invocation. Unlimited power X is a superb feat. They can only be taken at level 6 or later, however. The exceptions: ability focus (eldritch blast) [any time] empower spell-like ability (eldritch blast) [level 6 or later] quicken spell-like ability (eldritch blast) [level 12 or later] This leaves the two first level feats for humans to fill. Can anyone beat: point blank shot & precise shot ?
Roatso 01-11-06, 10:40 PM	All I can add at the moment is that Word of Changing and a Wand of Charm Animal can lead to all sorts of fun :)
LordofProcrastination 01-11-06, 10:53 PM	For general advice, check out the Warlock Handbook (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=393586) and the Warlock Theme Builds (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=353886) thread. To be particular, I would suggest swapping out Sickening Blast for Baleful Utterance. Shattering weapons and dazing enemies is only the beginning. At low levels, destroy potions and spell component bags with impunity. At higher levels, start breaking down doors, evaporating wheels from carriages/chariots, and whole sets of armor.
Joachim 01-11-06, 11:44 PM	Maximize SLA is better than Empower, with the same restrictions, so take that at 6th and Empower at 9th. Mortalbane at 1st is good, because it increases blast damage by 2d6 five times per day. Also, Sudden Still Spell is good in the case that you ever get grappled, and you can take that one at 1st. Don't forget about Spell Penetration, Greater Spell Penetration, and Arcane Mastery later on to get around those nasty SR checks. Point Blank and Precise are nice at the lower levels, but lose oomph later on, and you feel like you wasted 2 feats just to stop a -4 to hit.
Skyrocket 01-11-06, 11:54 PM	For general advice, check out the Warlock Handbook (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=393586) and the Warlock Theme Builds (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=353886) thread. To be particular, I would suggest swapping out Sickening Blast for Baleful Utterance. Shattering weapons and dazing enemies is only the beginning. At low levels, destroy potions and spell component bags with impunity. At higher levels, start breaking down doors, evaporating wheels from carriages/chariots, and whole sets of armor. Don't forget to make the bard's instrument exploed in their hands. They hate it when you do that.
anomalousman 01-12-06, 12:24 AM	For general advice, check out the Warlock Handbook (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=393586) and the Warlock Theme Builds (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=353886) thread. Thanks for your advice and these links. Without a search I just couldn't find these. The stickies should have links, but they're out of date, I think.
anomalousman 01-12-06, 12:32 AM	Maximize SLA is better than Empower, with the same restrictions, so take that at 6th and Empower at 9th. Mortalbane at 1st is good, because it increases blast damage by 2d6 five times per day. Also, Sudden Still Spell is good in the case that you ever get grappled, and you can take that one at 1st. Don't forget about Spell Penetration, Greater Spell Penetration, and Arcane Mastery later on to get around those nasty SR checks. Good call on the maximise. I missed it in my master feat list. I believe sudden still spell is useless, because invocations != spells. Unless you mean still spell-like ability, which is very unlikely as eldritch blasts are the only SLA with a somatic component. Has there been an erratum on this? I decided vitriolic blast / wall of perilous flame / chilling tentacles will be my anti-SR, rather than the SR bypass feats. More flexible. I may be being thick, but what is Mortalbane? And where is it from?
GaffeR 01-12-06, 01:28 AM	Mortalbane is from the BoVD; basically adds 2d6 damage to any attack to a living creature, useable 5x per day, if memory serves. My favorite warlock is the Blastmaster from one of those guides. Basically a Xeph with (Greater) Psionic Shot for an extra 2d6 damage. The thought of making a Phrenic Strongheart Halfling warlock with GPS seemed like a nifty idea if you can stand the loss of 2 levels.
catharz 01-12-06, 01:34 AM	Don't forget to make the bard's instrument exploed in their hands. They hate it when you do that. Or you could just Eldritch Blast it to pieces... Anyway, I've got to say that Noxious Blast is amazing. You've already touched on it, but remember that it is particularly effective against constructs & undead. Because Eldrittch Blast can be used on objects, and because the 'unconstitutional' aren't immune to nausea, and because both tend to have really bad Fortitude saves, you'll tear things up. I'm also a fan of entropy.
Joachim 01-12-06, 07:52 AM	I believe sudden still spell is useless, because invocations != spells. Unless you mean still spell-like ability, which is very unlikely as eldritch blasts are the only SLA with a somatic component. Has there been an erratum on this? The Sudden ______ Spell feats are all usable with invocations. See the beginning of the feats section of CArc. My warlock has both Sudden Still and Sudden Maximize. I took Sudden Maximize because it can be used on any invocation, not just an Eldritch Blast equivalent to my level/2-2.