Warlock while grappled [Archive] - Wizards Community

Warlock while grappled [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
pmurray@bigpond.com
06-03-07, 10:48 PM The other night, a chull was grappling the warlock. We allowed the warlock to fire an eldrich blast at the chull. Ought we have?
Nom
06-03-07, 11:38 PM As an SLA? SLAs have no somatic components, so you're good to trigger one as long as you can make the Concentration check. Given that you can trigger the ability, I don't see the problem in attacking into your own square.

Caveat: I'm assuming eldritch blast is ranged touch? If it's AoE, you have a different problem, namely that you can't target the grappler without targetting yourself also.
glacialcat
06-03-07, 11:41 PM As an SLA? SLAs have no somatic components, so you're good to trigger one as long as you can make the Concentration check. Given that you can trigger the ability, I don't see the problem in attacking into your own square.

Warlock Invocations are Spell-Like Abilities, BUT they are unique in that they are spell-like abilities that have somantic components. That's why Warlocks can't use medium or heavy armor and avoid the spell failure chance.
Nom
06-04-07, 02:49 AM Thanks for the correction. If it has a somatic component, it's a no-go in the grapple. Though is the eldritch blast considered an invocation?
StoneStokes
06-04-07, 03:48 AM Well, Complete Arcane is somewhat vague as to whether or not eldritch blast is an invocation (I think it is).

However, it definitely has a somatic component (which is the real question anyway).

One can find this on pg. 7, in the second paragraph of Weapon and Armor Proficiencies.
glacialcat
06-04-07, 03:50 AM Well, Complete Arcane is somewhat vague as to whether or not eldritch blast is an invocation (I think it is).

However, it definitely has a somatic component (which is the real question anyway).

One can find this on pg. 7, in the second paragraph of Weapon and Armor Proficiencies.

Complete Arcane is vague on the issue, but the Complete Arcane errata does clarify that Eldritch Blast is an invocation.
StoneStokes
06-04-07, 04:07 AM Complete Arcane is vague on the issue, but the Complete Arcane errata does clarify that Eldritch Blast is an invocation.
Good to know. Thanks.
Lilinthra
06-04-07, 12:48 PM I was going to make a thread, but saw this one which is very similar:

Since warlock invocations have a somatic component, they would be identifiable by a Spellcraft 15+Invocation's Level, correct? I'm wondering more for the utility ones and not the Eldritch Blast.
thaylok
06-04-07, 10:26 PM I have dealt with this before. Although not really grappled, the warlock was paralyzed, but flying (by force of will) using his fell flight.

I did not allow the attack, as the SLA does require a somatic component that DOES provoke an AoO. As my warlock was paralyzed, he could not use his ability, but since he flys at will, i did allow him to move (full round action, that could not avoid the AoO for leaving a threatened square).

Still, we checked closely, and were I in your shoes, I would consider that he can pull it off with a concentration check (modified appropriately). Still, the AoO could end the use of his ability, depending on the outcome of it.
RainerNader
06-04-07, 10:35 PM My take:

An Eldritch Blast is a Spell-like Ability. SLAs don't have any somatic components. Although they do require a Concentration check. He would have to make a DC 20 + spell level Concentration check.

However, he would provoke an AOO not for using an SLA, but because he's making a ranged attack. Any ranged attack, whether it's a ranger's longbow, a monk's Ki Blast, or a warlock's eldritch blast will provoke an AOO.
glacialcat
06-04-07, 11:03 PM My take:

An Eldritch Blast is a Spell-like Ability. SLAs don't have any somatic components. Although they do require a Concentration check. He would have to make a DC 20 + spell level Concentration check.

However, he would provoke an AOO not for using an SLA, but because he's making a ranged attack. Any ranged attack, whether it's a ranger's longbow, a monk's Ki Blast, or a warlock's eldritch blast will provoke an AOO.

As I mentioned before, Complete Arcane specifically says that despite Invocations, and Eldritch Blast, being SLAs, they DO have Somatic Components.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
pmurray@bigpond.com 06-03-07, 10:48 PM	The other night, a chull was grappling the warlock. We allowed the warlock to fire an eldrich blast at the chull. Ought we have?
Nom 06-03-07, 11:38 PM	As an SLA? SLAs have no somatic components, so you're good to trigger one as long as you can make the Concentration check. Given that you can trigger the ability, I don't see the problem in attacking into your own square. Caveat: I'm assuming eldritch blast is ranged touch? If it's AoE, you have a different problem, namely that you can't target the grappler without targetting yourself also.
glacialcat 06-03-07, 11:41 PM	As an SLA? SLAs have no somatic components, so you're good to trigger one as long as you can make the Concentration check. Given that you can trigger the ability, I don't see the problem in attacking into your own square. Warlock Invocations are Spell-Like Abilities, BUT they are unique in that they are spell-like abilities that have somantic components. That's why Warlocks can't use medium or heavy armor and avoid the spell failure chance.
Nom 06-04-07, 02:49 AM	Thanks for the correction. If it has a somatic component, it's a no-go in the grapple. Though is the eldritch blast considered an invocation?
StoneStokes 06-04-07, 03:48 AM	Well, Complete Arcane is somewhat vague as to whether or not eldritch blast is an invocation (I think it is). However, it definitely has a somatic component (which is the real question anyway). One can find this on pg. 7, in the second paragraph of Weapon and Armor Proficiencies.
glacialcat 06-04-07, 03:50 AM	Well, Complete Arcane is somewhat vague as to whether or not eldritch blast is an invocation (I think it is). However, it definitely has a somatic component (which is the real question anyway). One can find this on pg. 7, in the second paragraph of Weapon and Armor Proficiencies. Complete Arcane is vague on the issue, but the Complete Arcane errata does clarify that Eldritch Blast is an invocation.
StoneStokes 06-04-07, 04:07 AM	Complete Arcane is vague on the issue, but the Complete Arcane errata does clarify that Eldritch Blast is an invocation. Good to know. Thanks.
Lilinthra 06-04-07, 12:48 PM	I was going to make a thread, but saw this one which is very similar: Since warlock invocations have a somatic component, they would be identifiable by a Spellcraft 15+Invocation's Level, correct? I'm wondering more for the utility ones and not the Eldritch Blast.
thaylok 06-04-07, 10:26 PM	I have dealt with this before. Although not really grappled, the warlock was paralyzed, but flying (by force of will) using his fell flight. I did not allow the attack, as the SLA does require a somatic component that DOES provoke an AoO. As my warlock was paralyzed, he could not use his ability, but since he flys at will, i did allow him to move (full round action, that could not avoid the AoO for leaving a threatened square). Still, we checked closely, and were I in your shoes, I would consider that he can pull it off with a concentration check (modified appropriately). Still, the AoO could end the use of his ability, depending on the outcome of it.
RainerNader 06-04-07, 10:35 PM	My take: An Eldritch Blast is a Spell-like Ability. SLAs don't have any somatic components. Although they do require a Concentration check. He would have to make a DC 20 + spell level Concentration check. However, he would provoke an AOO not for using an SLA, but because he's making a ranged attack. Any ranged attack, whether it's a ranger's longbow, a monk's Ki Blast, or a warlock's eldritch blast will provoke an AOO.
glacialcat 06-04-07, 11:03 PM	My take: An Eldritch Blast is a Spell-like Ability. SLAs don't have any somatic components. Although they do require a Concentration check. He would have to make a DC 20 + spell level Concentration check. However, he would provoke an AOO not for using an SLA, but because he's making a ranged attack. Any ranged attack, whether it's a ranger's longbow, a monk's Ki Blast, or a warlock's eldritch blast will provoke an AOO. As I mentioned before, Complete Arcane specifically says that despite Invocations, and Eldritch Blast, being SLAs, they DO have Somatic Components.