Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 flashedarling Aug 25, 2014 16:40:09	I'm looking for help building a Warlock / Bard multiclass character. They are both charisma based spellcasters with a melee option so I thought they seemed synergistic. However equal amount of investment in each causes your spell level to suffer so I'm trying to determine best way to build it.  I've only tried it out at level 4 and a Bard 1 / Warlock 3 split worked alright (despite delaying my ability increase). Now that I've tried it in a trial session I have the opportunity to reinvent the character and see what can be done. I'm willing to listen to the relative merits of both the backline blaster (eldritch bolt focus) versus singing skirmisher (pact blade focus) for either build.    I'm looking something that would be viable through a whole campaign, not just optimized for level 20.
#2 SpedGuy Aug 25, 2014 16:55:35	Half-Elf Bard (Lore) 3/Warlock 17 is a very versitile skill-monkey with a lot of options to specialize different ways and reasonable melee and Magic options alongside a great set of skills.  I focused on sensory powers mostly for theme.
#3 Kalani Aug 25, 2014 17:11:58	I would personally go the other route, and prioritize Bard (lore bard most likely), snagging a few tastey invocations and 1st level warlock spells to improve my bards repitoire. I have yet to look at spells in detail, so I am uncertain at what break point would be optimal at this junction however.   I expect that I would at least want Warlock 3, to pick up Tome Pact, further increasing the characters versatility.
#4 Yag007 Aug 25, 2014 17:16:26	yeah you're best bet would be to use a 17/3 split  choosing whichever class you like better to be the higher.  the 20 capstones for Lock and Bard are both kinda meh, and a 3 level dip in either has alot to offer utility wise.     whichever you were taking the 3 levels in you would want to take early and then go the rest in your main class.   if you're looking to be a backlines blaster you might consider going longbow bard 17/ Lock 3 and grabbing the long range blast invocation as well as some of the choice ranger spells like Wide Volley, Lightning arrow, or swift quiver.  If you're looking for a melee warlock build you might honestly be better off dipping into paladin for the, armor proficiencies, the dueling style, and some tasty smite action.
#5 flashedarling Aug 25, 2014 18:24:00	Admittedly it is tempting to go 5 levels in either. Putting 5 into Warlock gets you an extra invocation and 3rd level spell slots, which are where things really start to pick up. At level 5 in bard you get bardic inspiration on an encounter basis rather than on a daily basis. I almost always forget to use it ATM butThat said the character would be pretty behind the spell curve at that point in investment.    I'm leaning towards Bard at the moment for the ranged build. Although why would I go with a longbow when I have Eldritch blast, which keys of character level rather than class level? 1 extra bolt every 5 levels is a better deal than anything I would get with a bow. For Warlock invocations increased Eldritch Bolt damage and access to rituals of any class are also the top picks. For race Tiefling currently in the lead.
#6 Yag007 Aug 25, 2014 21:14:25	well the reason to take bard to at least 17 would be to get access to a 9th level spell, and if you go to 18 you get magical secrets that can be 9th level from any spell list which is nice. and taking warlock to 5 doesnt get you anything but 1 invocation and 2 extra spells known, you dont actually get a spell slot increase, so it comes down to that or access to a 9th level spell i guess.   as for why you would roll with a longbow. Longbow in conjunction with magical secrets opens up some huge dmg possibilities for you.  if you take hunters mark and swift quiver at level 10 for magical secrets you could do something like:   (assuming 18 dex) turn 1: EB > Hunters mark bonus action turn 2: EB > Swift Quiver bonus action turn 3: EB > 1d8+4+1d6 / 1d8+4+1d6   at level 14 you would get battle casting which would allow action:  EB > action: 1d8+4+1d6 > bonus: 1d8+4+1d6/1d8+4+1d6   then you could also grab haste for ANOTHER attack in there and lightning arrow to throw what is basically another EB if you want, and since theyre all bonus action spells(aside from haste) you don't have to sacrifice dmg each turn to buff your attacks for the next so at level 15 with a few turns of prep you should be able to haste yourself, and set up Hunters Mark/Swift Quiver/Lightning arrow bust out something along the lines of:   Action(Battle Casting): EB(3d10)+Attack [Lightning Arrow(4d8+1d6 with 2d8 10ft AoE)] > Action: Attack(1d8+4+1d6) > Bonus: Swiftquiver(1d8+4+1d6/1d8+4+1d6)   swift quiver and haste last for 10 rounds each so you get to pile on three additional weapon attacks for pretty much an entire encounter if you want.   also, you need a ranged weapon to use Conjure volley which is another great pick up for magical secrets at lvl 10 for a 40ft AoE of 8d8   this is just one way of doing things.  In a perfect world Arcane archer would still be a feat and you could just enchant all your arrows with Eldritch bolts to begin with for truly insane damage but alas they took it out of PHB for some reason
#7 whammoblammo Aug 25, 2014 21:29:45	Haste, hunter's mark and swift quiver each require concentration.
#8 Kalani Aug 25, 2014 21:43:56	Yeah, this won't work by RAW as each requires concentration (as indicated above). Nice try though. It was thinking outside the box.
#9 the_move Aug 25, 2014 22:43:31	What does work is Eldritch Blast (4 attacks at lvl 17) with Hex, which is 1d10(force)+1d6(necro)+Cha(force) as long as you attack the "hexed" target.
#10 flashedarling Aug 26, 2014 6:36:57	Any opinions on the different pacts if just dipping into warlock? Infernal Pact seems useful but I found that staying in the rear made the temporary HP somewhat superfluous. Fey pact has both in and out of combat utility with the blast of charm or fear for a round. Old One pact has telepathy which has a lot of flavor but I've never found telepathy to be as helpful as one might hope.
#11 mellored Aug 26, 2014 7:50:04	Valor Bard 7 could let you do both eldric blast and a longbow attack.