Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Nexus6 Nov 03, 2014 9:01:18	New game coming up in a bit, and am considering a fighter for at least 1 level, and maybe up to 3 level to gain Action Surge and maybe Battle Master.   After that, thinking of multi-classing into Warlock for the remaining levels....we have rarely gotten to level 20, and level 19 and 18 with Warlock don't seem to add too much so by my thoughts, seems a fair trade off.   What am I missing/not considering?
#2 Yunru Nov 03, 2014 9:05:31	Depends, what are you wanting to do? Damage wise sticking with Fighter is better. Are you rolling stats? Blade Warlocks (I assume you're going Blade at least) are MAD and a nice set of rolled stats can help allieviate that (Str/Dex, Cha and Con all want to be high).
#3 Nexus6 Nov 03, 2014 9:14:25	Yunru wrote:
#4 IxidorRS Nov 03, 2014 9:24:31	Are you planning on being a melee character or spamming Eldritch Blast?   If melee, this isn't a terrible plan. Fighter 7 / Warlock 13 isn't too bad, either.   If the latter, you should go Warlock 2 / Sorcerer 18 or Warlock 3 / Sorcerer 7.
#5 Yunru Nov 03, 2014 9:29:04	In that case what Race are you considering? Dragonborn and Human both get you a 16 in Str and Cha, Human Variant allows you to pick up Polearm Master for a bonus action attack. 16/16/14/10/8/8 and 16/16/15/8/8/8 are basically the only two arrays open to you as a Human. 16/16/14/10/10/8, 16/16/14/12/8/8 are both available for a Dragonborn although I'd recommend 17/16/15/8/8/8 if you feel you don't mind a -1 to Dex, Int and Wis. It'd allow you to get 18/16/16 by your first ABI and -1s really aren't that bad, easily countered by skill proficiency if need be.
(Reply to #4) Yunru	IxidorRS wrote:
#7 Corran21 Nov 03, 2014 10:12:18	Yunru wrote:
#8 Corran21 Nov 03, 2014 10:21:49	I copy-paste a post of mine from another thread, regarding the creation of a similar-character to the one you want to make. I'm currently playing him for the HotDQ campaign and it works out fine for me. In summary, he is spamming EB after level 4-5, and schorching ray for when he wants to go serious after level 7, he is wearing heavy armor and carries a shield and his other hand is free for casting spells, since melee attacks are not his style (I use fluff for EB to make it more to my liking). Here it is, in case you find anything helpful:       I noted your hesitation over throwing 2 fighter levels in the mix, or not. If you decide that throwing 2 fighter levels in the build is worth it, then this is how I, personally, would go about building this EB machine:   Definitely you want Con save proficiency, so one thing is certain. That you don't want to start as a warlock. In fact, as Yunru suggested, levels 4 and 5 should be your 2 warlock levels, lettiing you decide later if you want a third level in warlock instead of one extra sorcerer level (I prefer the sorcerer level but I will expand on this later). But how to start? As a fighter, or as a sorcerer?   I would start as a fighter. Just to get heavy armor and shield proficiency. The best thing about a build involving fighter, sorcerer and warlock, is NOT your spectacular nova, and NOT your very good dpr. Instead, it is the versatility of this build. With only one feat (crossbow expert), and starting as a fighter, you can be an exceptional tank, while at the same time deal all the sweet damage you intended for.   The sorcerer has in his spell list, some very decent defensive spells, that can do wonders when working with the high AC you would have by just starting as a fighter. Consider how much better blur works with a high AC, or how you could spam shield on top of an AC of 21, to reach 26 AC for one round. Or mirror image (I've not really looked for any defensive spells past 3rd spell level, but you get the idea). The point is, that this way, your HP, and more importantly your concentration spells, are heavily protected.   So now, by starting as a fighter, you are not only a high damage dealer, but also more efficient at it (concentration spells are better protected), and a decent tank as well (better tank than a normal fighter would be anyways). Plus, you can spam EB all the time, even if your enemies are right in your face (crossbow expert).   The 4 extra hp (or 3 if you start dragon sorcerer) at 1st level is just the cherry on top.   Also, consider how badass it would be to blast your opponents with EB from point blank range, while clad on heavy armor (full plate as soon as you can afford it). You are as good as a one-man-party, as one can be. You tank very well, deal damage per round even better, and go nova like a boss.   (Fluff tip: describe your EB as a force weapon that materializes in your hand, rather than a beam, for style points. I personally describe it as a flail when targeting up to 10ft, or as a javelin for longer distances, but that's just how I like it. Make it a mace and push enemies with repelling blast, up to 40ft on a normal round, or up to 120ft on nova time, and you have Sauron in the first battle scene of the fellowship.)   Two ways for a 20-level build: A. Fighter2/ Warlock2/ Sorcerer 16 B. Fighter2/ Warlock3/ Sorcerer 15   Basicaly, it comes down to if you prefer one more feat/bump and an extra sorcery point and two 1st level spell slots recharged after a short rest, or if you prefer one additional known spell and two second level spell slots recharged after a short rest. The spell slots rechrged for 1st levels would obviously be shield, and the spell slots recharged for 2nd level spells would obviously be for scorching ray. Both these spells would be spammed a lot, so it is how you choose to taylor your build, more defensive or more attacking. Personally I prefer choice A, even if I get extra slots for shield and not scorching ray.     Level progression should be imo as follows: Fighter 1 (pick defense fighting style - or protection if you really need to help an ally often, but do note that it burns your reaction and you need it to castshield often. Also make sure to grab a shiled for your off hand, and wear the best heavy armor you can get your hands on).   Then I would take a level of sorcerer, followed by another level of fighter, and then my 2 levels of warlock, resulting in a fighter2/sorcerer1/warlock2 at 5th character level who has 2 attacks with EB each dealing d10+3 (+d6 if hexed), and you can go nova with action surge on a single  hexed target for 4d10+4d6+12 force damage.   From level 5 onwards, it's sorcerer, and at level 7 you have matamagic, and with quickened you can increase your nova to 6d10+6d6+18 with EB. You also get 2nd level spells, where you can find a lot of goodies. Darkness, blur, mirror image, scorching ray, etc...   Choose draconic origin (fire) to get the most of your scorching ray nova rounds. From warlock's invocations, agonizing blast is a must, and for the second invocation I prefer devil's sight (to work with a darkness spell on when necessary).    Choose variant human to get crossbow expert at 1st level, although you will probably start profit from this feat mostly after 4th-5th level, when EB takes over for the most part. Youi get your second feat at character level 8, better use it to bump charisma to 18.   Starting stats (with variant human): STR13, DEX10, CON16, INT8, WIS10, CHA16 (or STR10, DEX13, CON16, INT8, WIS10, CHA16, or even STR8, DEX14,CON16, INT8, WIS10, CHA16). Even with a strength score of 13, you will end up having some encumberance problems, but since you use EB, reduced speed by 10ft is not going to be a problem. Unless you are being chased by something you cannot kill....   Hope this helps...   Edit: Under no circumastances do not take the warcaster feat, from level 2 onwards you dont even need a weapon.... You just have a shield and an empthy hand with which you cast your spells. Advantage for concentration saves is nice, but you already have con save proficiency, a high armor class, good defensive spells to bolster your AC or avoid being hit, and if all else fails, a shield spell to probably negate a hit. And when you do get to roll for concentration, you plus is very good. So imo advantage on your already very well protected con saves is not worth giving up a cha boost.   Edit2: Besides EB, 3 more of your cantrips should be the following: shocking grasp (for OA), and poison spray and acid splash (for when you have disadvantage on attack rolls for being frightened). You wisdom saves are not especially good, so you need these 2 cantrips that force the enemy roll a save instead of you attacking. Poison spray deals better damage, but acid splash has better range (remember you cannot move closer to a target of which you are frightened, so you need all the range you can get). Also, since poison resistance is common, having a second non-attack roll cantrip that deals different damage type is useful. So take both of these. Bottom line, EB, poison spray, acid splash and shocking grasp are mandatory.
#9 sigfile Nov 03, 2014 12:16:29	Nexus6 wrote:
#10 Dyndrilliac Nov 03, 2014 13:58:03	The optimal Fighter/Warlock build is Fighter1/Warlock19. Losing the last ability score improvement from Warlock is a deal-breaker, and in order to balance that out with extra ability score improvements from Fighter means losing out on Warlock's high level spells.