The Warpole Master

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

HeirRaktus

Aug 31, 2014 18:37:38

So, I've been browsing the forums and have come across a few class/feat combo's that have interested me lately. The one to grab my attention most recently has been the mix of War Caster and Polearm Mastery. The core of which is simply to Op attack anything that gets within ten feet with a 1 action spell.

 

Now, I've been enamoured as of late with the concept of the Hexblade (Paladin/Warlock MC). So I'll start this build idea off using that as my basis and if anyone has a better idea I'd be more than willing to hear it. Also, I've never been all that good at optimization, which is why I post this in a forum full of people much better at it than I.

 

 

Stay Bakkus, level 6
Human, Paladin 4/Warlock 2
Background: Acolyte 
Speed: 30'
Languages: Common, Three of your choice

 

ABILITY SCORES (using point buy)
Str 16 (+1), Con 15, Dex 8, Int 8, Wis 8, Cha 16 (+1).

 

AC: 17 (Splint)  HP: 68 (assuming max HP)

 

Skill Proficiencies
Insight, Religion, One of choice plus two from (Athletics, Insight, Intimidation, Medicine, Persuasion, and Religion)

 

Item Proficiencies
All armor, shields, Simple weapons, martial weapons

 

FEATS

Level 1: Polearm Master
Level 4: War Caster

 

POWERS
Paladin 1: Lay on Hands
Paladin 1: Divine Sense
Paladin 2: Great Weapon Fighting
Paladin 2: Spellcasting
Paladin 2: Divine Smite
Paladin 3: Divine Health
Paladin 3: Sacred Oath (Oath of Vengeance)
Warlock 1: Otherworldly Patron (The Fiend)
Warlock 1: Pact Magic
Warlock 2: Eldritch Invocations (Agonizing Blast, Repelling Blast)

#2

Captain_Kobold

Aug 31, 2014 19:29:16

The base combination that you're building around works.

However, remember that you only get one reaction a round. If the mob has spare movement, it can move back to you after you repel it. Or use the disengage action, or attack you with more than one at a time.

 

As long as you have options other than this combination, you should be fine though.

#3

SpedGuy

Sep 01, 2014 14:59:08

One wonders if it could work the other way as well with Thorn Whip (and maybe add 'Sentinel' in the mix)

#4

PeteZero

Sep 03, 2014 13:06:17

I was thinking along the same line - Polearm master, Warcaster, Sentinel, Heavy armor master

How would you get Thorn whip in there?

Also Fighter 1 might be a good choice - either bump your AC or get great wepaon master style, and get constitution save proficiency - as you have no space to get resilient (Constitution) as a feat

#5

BW0222

Sep 03, 2014 21:58:22

That's fine, but only provides any real bonus in such a specific situation that it likely isn't going to play well.

 

Most creatures have 30' or so of movement, so if they are 20' or less away from you, they move 20',.. you get your reaction attack, you deal d10+cha and knock them back 10'. They simply continue moving towards you. Your polearm would have done d10+str against them anyway. The only possible case where it makes any difference is if they start the round either exactly 25' or 30' away. That also really only works once. Further, even if it works, they could just spend their action to dash and would be next to you. You'd get an attack and they would get their attack(s). At best, you've denied them one attack. If you try to move away to repeat this, you are provoking an attack from them. So, its merely trading attacks for attacks.

 

Further, you have given up multiple attack options by multi-classing so heavily. You could have had two attacks ... as a Paladin 5, or Warlock 5 (with Blade), plus two Eldritch blasts. If you wish to try that tactic...

 

Try cleric 1 (tempest domain), warlock 5 (pact of the blade with thirsting blade, agonizing blast and repelling ray). Take the same feats. While you are giving up greater weapon fighting... you get two attacks in melee, two ranged when you use your eldritch blast, and two anytime you get your polearm/war caster combo -- which means you are more likely to hit them and obviously twice the damage. Combine tempest and armor of agathys and you get a pretty good deterant to someone hitting you. Finally, don't worry about wisdom... start as a cleric. It means you only get to prepare one spell, but you have 2 slots for using warlock spells and cure wounds, plus your domain is likely good enough. You have 3rd-level warlock slots and possiblity of spells such as fly and fear, plus your patron spells. Flying with a reach weapon is insanely powerful. Fly 10' above someone and you can attack them, they might not be able to attack you, and you still get actions if they try leaving that square.

 

However, if you want to be a paladin, that's fine. I would recommend against giving up 5th-level in one of the classes (likely warlock) as it means no multiple attacks or eldritch blasts.

#6

PeteZero

Sep 04, 2014 0:51:07

Thank you for your advise. Sentinel in there would be very good then, to keep them from moving.

 

For stats, if I see this right, I always need WIS13 if I take cleric to multiclass, for an array would

STR 14, DEX 9, CON 14, INT 8 WIS 13 CHA 16 work best?

#7

Sorxores

Sep 04, 2014 6:58:14

SpedGuy wrote:
#8

Clutchbone

Sep 04, 2014 10:06:42

Question: does the Great Weapon Fighter feature work with the +1d4 from Polearm Mastery?

 

If so, what is the average damage on a 1d4 if you can reroll once a 1 or a 2?

#9

IxidorRS

Sep 04, 2014 10:43:55

Clutchbone wrote:
#10

jonathan_sicari

Sep 04, 2014 13:35:22

How about druid with quarterstaff/shilleghliegh? d8 on both ends if I ruled it correctly.

#11

LongTimeLurker

Sep 06, 2014 10:21:02

GWF average damage on d4

​0.50 chance of rolling a 3 or 4, which averages 3.5 damage, so 1.75 damage from case A.

​0.50 chance of triggering a reroll, which deals 1-4 damage so averages 2.5, so 1.25 damage from case B.

​A + B = 1.75 + 1.25 = 3 damage, compared to 2.5 average damage for not having GWF.

​Ergo, +0.5 average damage. When compared to the base 2.5 it's a 20% increase to the damage, but only because the base number is small.