Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Ashur420 Jan 06, 2015 10:40:19	Greetings everyone, happy new year n such.    Some of you might remember me from my last post about optimizing fighter/warlock.  The group that I intended to play the fighter/warlock fell apart, so it gave me more time to optimize the character.  After tinkering with different builds I decided to see if I could optimize a Shillelagh build.  It is a shame that the interaction between polearm master and war caster was errated.  Personally, I don't agree with their reasoning. I would lawyer my ass off trying to argue that polearm master invokes OA which war caster allows you to forgo to cast a spell.  But I digress, I still believe it's worth it to take both feats even if it is ruled the interaction doesn't work.   Anyway here is the build... The plan is to wield a quarterstaff (which also doubles as your Arcane Focus) in one hand and a shield (later Rod of the Pact Bearer) in the other.  It is my understanding of Polearm Master that you do not need to be wielding the quarterstaff in both hands to take advantage of the feat (please correct me if I'm wrong).  War Caster isn't 100% necessary since the quarterstaff is also an Arcane Focus, but I like the advantage on concentration saves.   Fighter 11 (Battle Master) / Warlock 9 (Archfey - Pact of the Tome) Standard Array - 15/14/13/12/10/8 (CHA/STR/CON/WIS/DEX/INT) Human - Variant rule, +1CON, +1CHA, Bonus Feat (Heavy Armor Master), Bonus Skill (Persuasion) Pirate (Athletics, Perception) L1 - Fighter - Dueling, Second Wind, Skills (Insight, Intimidation) L2 - Fighter - Action Surge L3 - Fighter - Battle Master - Student of War (Jeweler's Tools), Maneuvers (Menacing Attack, Precision Attack, Trip Attack) L4 - Fighter - Feat (Polearm Mastery) L5 - Fighter - Extra Attack L6 - Warlock - Archfey (Fey Presence), Cantrips (Eldritch Blast, Minor Illusion), L1 Spells (Faerie Fire, Hex) L7 - Warlock - Invocations (Agonizing Blast, Devil's Sight), L1 Spells (Expeditious Retreat, Faerie Fire, Hex) L8 - Warlock - Invocations (Book of Ancient Secrets (Alarm, Find Familiar), Devil's Sight) Pact of the Tome (Guidance, Shocking Grasp, Shillelagh), L1 Spells (Faerie Fire,  Hex,) L2 Spells (Darkness, Hold Person) L9 - Warlock - +1CHA, +1CHA (18) Cantrips (Eldritch Blast, Mage Hand, Minor Illusion), L1 Spell (Armor of Agathys, Faerie Fire, Hex), L2 Spells (Darkness, Hold Person) L10 - Warlock - Invocations (Agonizing Blast, Book of Ancient Secrets, Devil's Sight), L1 Spells (Armor of Agathys, Faerie Fire, Hex), L2 Spells (Darkness, Hold Person) L3 Spells (Blink) L11 - Fighter - +1CHA, +1CHA (20) L12 - Fighter - Battle Master (Know your enemy), Maneuvers (Parry, Rally) L13 - Fighter - Feat (War Caster) L14 - Fighter - Indomitable L15 - Fighter - Battle Master (Improved Combat Superiority), Maneuvers (Commander's Strike, Pushing Attack) L16 - Fighter - Extra Attack (2) L17 - Warlock - Archfey (Misty Escape), L1 Spells (Armor of Agathys, Faerie Fire, Hex), L2 Spells (Darkness, Hold Person), L3 Spells (Blink, Hypnotic Pattern) L18 - Warlock - Invocations (Agonizing Blast, Eldritch Sight, Book of Ancient Secrets, Devil's Sight), L1 Spells (Faerie Fire, Hex), L2 Spells (Darkness, Hold Person), L3 Spells (Blink, Dispel Magic, Hypnotic Pattern) L4 Spells (Banishment) L19 - Warlock - Feat (Sentinel), L1 Spells (Faerie Fire, Hex), L2 Spells (Darkness, Hold Person), L3 Spells (Blink, Dispel Magic, Fear, Hypnotic Pattern) L4 Spells (Banishment) L20 - Warlock - Invocations (Agonizing Blast, Eldritch Sight, Ascendant Step, Book of Ancient Secrets, Devil's Sight), L1 Spells (Faerie Fire, Hex), L2 Spells (Darkness, Hold Person), L3 Spells (Blink, Dispel Magic, Fear, Hypnotic Pattern) L4 Spells (Banishment), L5 Spell (Dominate Person)   I really like the options this build gives you. In most situations you would be concentrating on Hex.  Remember that Hex's damage isn't limited to once per round.  So with Shillelagh running, per round, you can attack 3 times at 1d8+2+5, bonus action 1d4+2+5(polearm master), reaction 1d8+2+5 (from either polearm master or sentinel).  If all of these attacks land Hex deals an additional 5d6 necrotic damage per round. If you run into a situation where you need more control you can concentrate on Darkness.  Remember Darkness and Sentinel work really well together, and it can be cast on an object (your quarterstaff) to make it mobile. This is a strength based build, arguably a dex based build would work just as well (you would have to shift around feats if you did go that way).    Thank you for taking time to read this, and I would appreciate any feedback.
#2 Stormborn20 Jan 06, 2015 11:21:19	1. Shillelagh makes your quarterstaff's damage die a d8, not a d10 2. Since Shillelagh is not being learned as a warlock spell, you can't use Charisma as its spellcasting ability. 3. Hex only deals 1d6 damage, not 5d6.
(Reply to #2) Ashur420	Stormborn20 wrote:
#4 Stormborn20 Jan 06, 2015 11:42:03	Ah, I understand the 5d6 now.  You should probably reread dueling and pact of the tome though.  Dueling just adds +2 to the damage rolls, and pact of the tome says nothing about the spells being warlock spells.
#5 Ashur420 Jan 06, 2015 11:49:51	Stormborn20 wrote:
#6 mellored Jan 06, 2015 11:53:02	Ashur420 wrote:
#7 durntaur Jan 06, 2015 12:42:49	Ashur420 wrote:
#8 Ashur420 Jan 07, 2015 8:25:29	mellored wrote:
#9 durntaur Jan 07, 2015 9:19:34	Ashur420 wrote:
(Reply to #9) Ashur420	durntaur wrote:
#11 durntaur Jan 07, 2015 9:53:54	Ashur420 wrote:
(Reply to #11) Ashur420	durntaur wrote:
#13 mellored Jan 07, 2015 10:22:44	Hex is a top spell as is, no need to buff it more.
(Reply to #13) Ashur420	mellored wrote:
#15 mellored Jan 07, 2015 12:58:18	Ashur420 wrote: