Blaster Warlock Feats [Archive] - Wizards Community

Blaster Warlock Feats [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Xabre
12-09-05, 09:56 AM I'm going for a mostly-blast-based Warlock. When I say mostly blast based, I mean that almost all my feats will be for my Eldritch Blast, and I'll have (hopefully) a 20 or so Dex to start with.

Note my race of choice is Xeph, which gives me the high dex, and qualifies me for Psi feats.

Here's my Feat choices, along 20 levels. Let me know what you all think of these...

Level 1: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Psionic Shot*

Level 3: Item Familiar**

Level 6: Empower Spell-Like Ability

Level 9: Maximize Spell-Like Ability

Level 12: Greater Psionic Shot

Level 15: Quicken Spell-Like Ability

Level 18: Supernatural Transformation (Eldritch Blast)***

*This, of course, comes from having 2 additional feats from flaws. Noncombatant would be one... anyone have a suggestion (even homebrewed) for another?

**I like Item Familiars because of the bonus XP and skill points... I don't know if a Warlock's Invocations would work with Invest Spell Energy... in fact, it probably doesn't, which makes it less valuable. This is a fairly optional feat.

*** I don't have all the info for this feat in front of me... including when it's valid to take. I've even noticed that it's still debated whether it CAN be taken. It might be better to take this around level 3 if it can be taken that low, and never need to worry about V. Blast.

Alternatively, if I use a Human, I get one more feat to work with, but lose access to the two Psionic Shot feats... unless I took Wild Talent also, but then I'm right back where I was. If I used Human, without WT, then I lose the extra damage from Psionic shot... Ability Focus might be good, but I hadn't planned on using alot of Essence Invocations (Utterdark, Vitrolic if I couldn't use Transformation, etc). Even Weapon Focus didn't seem all that required with such a high dex, but perhaps that might be useful.

Has anyone ever looked at the Books of Eldritch Might, that M Cook put out? Would the Eldritch Lace feats (that normally add extra damage to spells) work for a Blast?
Ed-Zero
12-10-05, 12:38 PM As far as the "Complete Book of Eldritch Might" goes, using Eldritch Laces will do nothing for you since their prerequisite is "caster level". You don't "cast" anything, therefore lacing feats won't do anything... of course, that's easily changeable if your GM is cool with those feats.
saucercrab
12-10-05, 05:30 PM Xabre,
Warlocks can't use Supernatural Transformation on their invocations. The D&D FAQ addresses this, page 10 (as of the 11/24/05 version).

If you're going to take Fell Flight (I would), I'd suggest the Flyby Attack feat (in MM). Like Spring Attack but better.

If you're playing in Eberron or your DM uses action points, then Action Surge is a good choice.

Ed-Zero,
Warlocks cast their invocations. Complete Arcane states that a warlock can enter a PrC that has a requirement of [caster level x] (like acolyte of the skin, blood magus, etc.), so if those lacing feats are similarly worded, they may be valid choices. I'm not familiar with the Eldritch Might books, so I can't say for sure.
SoulStorm
12-10-05, 05:50 PM Xabre,

If you can handle playing a chaotic good warlock, I'd take a look at incarnum blast.
Ed-Zero
12-10-05, 06:41 PM saucercrab,

I thought Warlocks didn't "cast" their eldritch blasts because they are supernatural abilities, but if it is no longer an innate ability (due to some crazy errata) then it would work fine.

One thing about the eldritch feats:
Lace Spell (every Eldritch feat is worded like this):
Prereqs: Int 17, caster level 5th
Summary of feat: Give extra power to a single-target spell.

If it didn't say that. then I would simply say that yes, it does work like you say saucercrab, but like I said earlier, I'm sure they can get their GM to change it for them.
saucercrab
12-10-05, 06:53 PM saucercrab,

I thought Warlocks didn't "cast" their eldritch blasts because they are supernatural abilities, but if it is no longer an innate ability (due to some crazy errata) then it would work fine.Eldritch blast has always been a (sp) ability. I wouldn't say the FAQ is crazy; it clarifies that invocations are not considered innate (like what would be gained from monster HD or most template).

One thing about the eldritch feats:
Lace Spell (every Eldritch feat is worded like this):
Prereqs: Int 17, caster level 5th
Summary of feat: Give extra power to a single-target spell.

If it didn't say that. then I would simply say that yes, it does work like you say saucercrab, but like I said earlier, I'm sure they can get their GM to change it for them.I was going by what you had mentioned initially, a caster level prerequisite. :)
Ed-Zero
12-10-05, 07:15 PM I was going by what you had mentioned initially, a caster level prerequisite. :)

Sorry about that, didn't want to mislead you. I was just going by what the prerequisite of the feats said, not actually looking into the body of them, but I gave them a 2nd look and clarified it in my 2nd post.
Xabre
12-10-05, 07:43 PM Xabre,

If you can handle playing a chaotic good warlock, I'd take a look at incarnum blast.

I don't have Magic of Incarnum, sadly.
Impeesa
12-10-05, 08:41 PM Mortalbane, from BoVD? Lets you add +2d6 damage to your spell-like abilities against mortal creatures 5/day, and it's not actually a vile feat, just general. Oh, and it should go without saying, but don't forget to pick up a Warlock's Scepter and Greater Chasuble of Fell Power.

--Impeesa--
SoulStorm
12-10-05, 10:18 PM I don't have Magic of Incarnum, sadly.

It's worth buying or at least borrowing from a friend if you want to play a blaster warlock. Incarnum Blast adds up to +5d6 damage to every blast. The opponent must be living and have an alignment opposite your own on at least one axis. Thus, it would affect any living evil, lawful neutral or lawful good opponent. The opponent must save or be dazed for 1 round as well.

If you combine incarnum blast, greater psionic shot and a greater chasuble, every eldritch blast will do 20d6 damage! This would require taking 1 flaw if human or 2 flaws otherwise in order to have enough feats to pull off the 20d6 blast.
saucercrab
12-12-05, 05:45 PM Sorry about that, didn't want to mislead you. I was just going by what the prerequisite of the feats said, not actually looking into the body of them, but I gave them a 2nd look and clarified it in my 2nd post.No problem, that's what my smiley was for.
MarkB
12-12-05, 06:40 PM One minor point is that I'd swap round Maximise and Empower. They're both available at the same level and Maximise doubles your damage on average whilst Empower increases it by 50% on average, so there's no reason not to get the more powerful one first.
doobiusPortugal
12-12-05, 08:21 PM I don't get one thing, guys... :confused: supernatural transformation turns your SLA into supernatural, right? or am I wrong here? (I never saw the feat, I'm assuming from all that has been said)...

Well... if so, then why do you choose to take it at 18th level? I don't get it, mainly because I think (and, once again I'm not sure) that you would lose all the benefits from the feats Empower, Quicken and Maximize, since they apply only to SLA's... :confused: :confused: :confused:
Minotaur
12-13-05, 04:07 AM Depending on what level you are playing at you may not even want Point Blank and Precise shot. I played a Warlock from like 5th level to 15th and found by 9th or 10th I had no trouble hitting monsters touch AC even when they had cover. My DM let me redo my feats and I never missed them. They are nice at lower levels, but if you can suffer through those with out them, I think you will be happier in the long run.
LiamDeclan
12-13-05, 05:20 AM Can the extra dice from Mortalbane and Psionic Shot combined with your eldritch blast dice be maximized also? So if you are doing 5d6 Eldritch blast and 4d6 from the psionic and mortalbane feats, would that be 9d6=54points if you used Maximize Spell-like Ability?
Xabre
12-13-05, 08:08 AM Well, without Point Blank, you can't take Psionic Shot, and Psionic and Greater Psionic is just too powerful to ignore.

Doobius, I put Supernatural Transformation all the way at 18 because I didn't have it in front of me to look at. And it's been stated in other threads that Invocations are LEARNED, not innate, and therefore can't be Transformed like that.

Lastly, Using Empower or Maximize on Eldritch Blast can only effect that damage... so a Maximized Eldritch at 5d6 would be 30 + 4d6 (Greater Psi Shot) + 15 (Empower, if you use it) + 4d6 (is that what Mortalbane is? I don't remember...).
kilroo
12-14-05, 12:52 PM Well, without Point Blank, you can't take Psionic Shot, and Psionic and Greater Psionic is just too powerful to ignore.

Doobius, I put Supernatural Transformation all the way at 18 because I didn't have it in front of me to look at. And it's been stated in other threads that Invocations are LEARNED, not innate, and therefore can't be Transformed like that.

Lastly, Using Empower or Maximize on Eldritch Blast can only effect that damage... so a Maximized Eldritch at 5d6 would be 30 + 4d6 (Greater Psi Shot) + 15 (Empower, if you use it) + 4d6 (is that what Mortalbane is? I don't remember...).

...Hmm...or, depending on which school of thought you take where metamagic is concerned, instead of 15 for Empower you might be rolling 5d6 and getting half of it...or something equally screwy.

You know, for as often as I've seen people trying to combine sneak attack dice with Eldritch Blasting, I'm surprised how few of them seemed to get around to taking Craven...
Xabre
12-14-05, 12:58 PM I don't know Craven. But then agian, I wasn't diluting the class with any levels of Rogue, so there's no Sneak attack to be had.

Heck, I'm not even sure if I'd bother with Mortalbane, because it's only good depending on the target it's used against.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Xabre 12-09-05, 09:56 AM	I'm going for a mostly-blast-based Warlock. When I say mostly blast based, I mean that almost all my feats will be for my Eldritch Blast, and I'll have (hopefully) a 20 or so Dex to start with. Note my race of choice is Xeph, which gives me the high dex, and qualifies me for Psi feats. Here's my Feat choices, along 20 levels. Let me know what you all think of these... Level 1: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Psionic Shot* Level 3: Item Familiar Level 6: Empower Spell-Like Ability Level 9: Maximize Spell-Like Ability Level 12: Greater Psionic Shot Level 15: Quicken Spell-Like Ability Level 18: Supernatural Transformation (Eldritch Blast)* This, of course, comes from having 2 additional feats from flaws. Noncombatant would be one... anyone have a suggestion (even homebrewed) for another? I like Item Familiars because of the bonus XP and skill points... I don't know if a Warlock's Invocations would work with Invest Spell Energy... in fact, it probably doesn't, which makes it less valuable. This is a fairly optional feat. ** I don't have all the info for this feat in front of me... including when it's valid to take. I've even noticed that it's still debated whether it CAN be taken. It might be better to take this around level 3 if it can be taken that low, and never need to worry about V. Blast. Alternatively, if I use a Human, I get one more feat to work with, but lose access to the two Psionic Shot feats... unless I took Wild Talent also, but then I'm right back where I was. If I used Human, without WT, then I lose the extra damage from Psionic shot... Ability Focus might be good, but I hadn't planned on using alot of Essence Invocations (Utterdark, Vitrolic if I couldn't use Transformation, etc). Even Weapon Focus didn't seem all that required with such a high dex, but perhaps that might be useful. Has anyone ever looked at the Books of Eldritch Might, that M Cook put out? Would the Eldritch Lace feats (that normally add extra damage to spells) work for a Blast?
Ed-Zero 12-10-05, 12:38 PM	As far as the "Complete Book of Eldritch Might" goes, using Eldritch Laces will do nothing for you since their prerequisite is "caster level". You don't "cast" anything, therefore lacing feats won't do anything... of course, that's easily changeable if your GM is cool with those feats.
saucercrab 12-10-05, 05:30 PM	Xabre, Warlocks can't use Supernatural Transformation on their invocations. The D&D FAQ addresses this, page 10 (as of the 11/24/05 version). If you're going to take Fell Flight (I would), I'd suggest the Flyby Attack feat (in MM). Like Spring Attack but better. If you're playing in Eberron or your DM uses action points, then Action Surge is a good choice. Ed-Zero, Warlocks cast their invocations. Complete Arcane states that a warlock can enter a PrC that has a requirement of [caster level x] (like acolyte of the skin, blood magus, etc.), so if those lacing feats are similarly worded, they may be valid choices. I'm not familiar with the Eldritch Might books, so I can't say for sure.
SoulStorm 12-10-05, 05:50 PM	Xabre, If you can handle playing a chaotic good warlock, I'd take a look at incarnum blast.
Ed-Zero 12-10-05, 06:41 PM	saucercrab, I thought Warlocks didn't "cast" their eldritch blasts because they are supernatural abilities, but if it is no longer an innate ability (due to some crazy errata) then it would work fine. One thing about the eldritch feats: Lace Spell (every Eldritch feat is worded like this): Prereqs: Int 17, caster level 5th Summary of feat: Give extra power to a single-target spell. If it didn't say that. then I would simply say that yes, it does work like you say saucercrab, but like I said earlier, I'm sure they can get their GM to change it for them.
saucercrab 12-10-05, 06:53 PM	saucercrab, I thought Warlocks didn't "cast" their eldritch blasts because they are supernatural abilities, but if it is no longer an innate ability (due to some crazy errata) then it would work fine.Eldritch blast has always been a (sp) ability. I wouldn't say the FAQ is crazy; it clarifies that invocations are not considered innate (like what would be gained from monster HD or most template). One thing about the eldritch feats: Lace Spell (every Eldritch feat is worded like this): Prereqs: Int 17, caster level 5th Summary of feat: Give extra power to a single-target spell. If it didn't say that. then I would simply say that yes, it does work like you say saucercrab, but like I said earlier, I'm sure they can get their GM to change it for them.I was going by what you had mentioned initially, a caster level prerequisite. :)
Ed-Zero 12-10-05, 07:15 PM	I was going by what you had mentioned initially, a caster level prerequisite. :) Sorry about that, didn't want to mislead you. I was just going by what the prerequisite of the feats said, not actually looking into the body of them, but I gave them a 2nd look and clarified it in my 2nd post.
Xabre 12-10-05, 07:43 PM	Xabre, If you can handle playing a chaotic good warlock, I'd take a look at incarnum blast. I don't have Magic of Incarnum, sadly.
Impeesa 12-10-05, 08:41 PM	Mortalbane, from BoVD? Lets you add +2d6 damage to your spell-like abilities against mortal creatures 5/day, and it's not actually a vile feat, just general. Oh, and it should go without saying, but don't forget to pick up a Warlock's Scepter and Greater Chasuble of Fell Power. --Impeesa--
SoulStorm 12-10-05, 10:18 PM	I don't have Magic of Incarnum, sadly. It's worth buying or at least borrowing from a friend if you want to play a blaster warlock. Incarnum Blast adds up to +5d6 damage to every blast. The opponent must be living and have an alignment opposite your own on at least one axis. Thus, it would affect any living evil, lawful neutral or lawful good opponent. The opponent must save or be dazed for 1 round as well. If you combine incarnum blast, greater psionic shot and a greater chasuble, every eldritch blast will do 20d6 damage! This would require taking 1 flaw if human or 2 flaws otherwise in order to have enough feats to pull off the 20d6 blast.
saucercrab 12-12-05, 05:45 PM	Sorry about that, didn't want to mislead you. I was just going by what the prerequisite of the feats said, not actually looking into the body of them, but I gave them a 2nd look and clarified it in my 2nd post.No problem, that's what my smiley was for.
MarkB 12-12-05, 06:40 PM	One minor point is that I'd swap round Maximise and Empower. They're both available at the same level and Maximise doubles your damage on average whilst Empower increases it by 50% on average, so there's no reason not to get the more powerful one first.
doobiusPortugal 12-12-05, 08:21 PM	I don't get one thing, guys... :confused: supernatural transformation turns your SLA into supernatural, right? or am I wrong here? (I never saw the feat, I'm assuming from all that has been said)... Well... if so, then why do you choose to take it at 18th level? I don't get it, mainly because I think (and, once again I'm not sure) that you would lose all the benefits from the feats Empower, Quicken and Maximize, since they apply only to SLA's... :confused: :confused: :confused:
Minotaur 12-13-05, 04:07 AM	Depending on what level you are playing at you may not even want Point Blank and Precise shot. I played a Warlock from like 5th level to 15th and found by 9th or 10th I had no trouble hitting monsters touch AC even when they had cover. My DM let me redo my feats and I never missed them. They are nice at lower levels, but if you can suffer through those with out them, I think you will be happier in the long run.
LiamDeclan 12-13-05, 05:20 AM	Can the extra dice from Mortalbane and Psionic Shot combined with your eldritch blast dice be maximized also? So if you are doing 5d6 Eldritch blast and 4d6 from the psionic and mortalbane feats, would that be 9d6=54points if you used Maximize Spell-like Ability?
Xabre 12-13-05, 08:08 AM	Well, without Point Blank, you can't take Psionic Shot, and Psionic and Greater Psionic is just too powerful to ignore. Doobius, I put Supernatural Transformation all the way at 18 because I didn't have it in front of me to look at. And it's been stated in other threads that Invocations are LEARNED, not innate, and therefore can't be Transformed like that. Lastly, Using Empower or Maximize on Eldritch Blast can only effect that damage... so a Maximized Eldritch at 5d6 would be 30 + 4d6 (Greater Psi Shot) + 15 (Empower, if you use it) + 4d6 (is that what Mortalbane is? I don't remember...).
kilroo 12-14-05, 12:52 PM	Well, without Point Blank, you can't take Psionic Shot, and Psionic and Greater Psionic is just too powerful to ignore. Doobius, I put Supernatural Transformation all the way at 18 because I didn't have it in front of me to look at. And it's been stated in other threads that Invocations are LEARNED, not innate, and therefore can't be Transformed like that. Lastly, Using Empower or Maximize on Eldritch Blast can only effect that damage... so a Maximized Eldritch at 5d6 would be 30 + 4d6 (Greater Psi Shot) + 15 (Empower, if you use it) + 4d6 (is that what Mortalbane is? I don't remember...). ...Hmm...or, depending on which school of thought you take where metamagic is concerned, instead of 15 for Empower you might be rolling 5d6 and getting half of it...or something equally screwy. You know, for as often as I've seen people trying to combine sneak attack dice with Eldritch Blasting, I'm surprised how few of them seemed to get around to taking Craven...
Xabre 12-14-05, 12:58 PM	I don't know Craven. But then agian, I wasn't diluting the class with any levels of Rogue, so there's no Sneak attack to be had. Heck, I'm not even sure if I'd bother with Mortalbane, because it's only good depending on the target it's used against.