Do I understand Eldritch Blast?

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Toshi

Sep 20, 2014 16:06:08

So a warlock can cast Eldritch blast every round forever? 

They never have to pay for or run out of ammunition.  The d10 can be upgraded and attacks the same number of times as a fighter? 

 

 

#2

dwgautier

Sep 20, 2014 16:09:29

Yes, but a fighter can get a magic weapon.  We have yet to see a power that adds to hit for Eldritch blast.

#3

Novacat

Sep 20, 2014 16:09:40

Yeah, being a warlock is pretty sweet. Makes that pact sound awful tempting, doesn't it?

#4

Sorxores

Sep 20, 2014 16:22:21

technically, elddritch spear, and spell sniper make your spell range to be 600ft, I think the opponent cannot see you at 600ft (you can if you bring a telescope) so since you are unseen (and the ennemy shoul dbe effectively surprise) you have advantage on your roll lol^^

#5

Toshi

Sep 20, 2014 16:34:35

Wow!  Forget magic missile and archery.  This is my new range fighter. 

#6

dwgautier

Sep 20, 2014 16:38:07

Sorxores wrote:
#7

Grunj

Sep 20, 2014 16:51:33

There's a pact feature available at 3rd level that allows the CHA bonus to be added to the damage.

#8

Yunru

Sep 20, 2014 16:57:12

Grunj wrote:
#9

Grunj

Sep 20, 2014 17:10:46

Right, it's an invocation and available at 2nd level.  I assumed third because after 5th level the invocations increase by one every other level.

#10

Huntsman57

Sep 20, 2014 18:39:42

Everyone is all over EB w/ agonizing, but this doesn't really sound any different than Firebolt as a fire dragon bloodline Sorc. In fact the spells seem identical in damage, range, and scaling...but I don't hear near as many folks getting so excited about the latter option.

#11

Novacat

Sep 20, 2014 18:45:52

Huntsman57 wrote:
#12

Strill

Sep 20, 2014 19:12:01

Toshi wrote:
#13

Toshi

Sep 20, 2014 20:05:41

Strill wrote:
#14

Novacat

Sep 20, 2014 20:17:01

Toshi wrote:
(Reply to #13)

Tony_Vargas

Toshi wrote:
#16

Toshi

Sep 20, 2014 22:32:43

Tony_Vargas wrote:
#17

Corwyn77

Sep 20, 2014 23:26:09

Toshi wrote:
#18

Jordan175

Sep 21, 2014 0:06:26

Corwyn77 wrote:
#19

BW0222

Sep 21, 2014 8:34:17

Toshi wrote:
#20

mellored

Sep 21, 2014 10:35:13

EB doesn't do a ton of damage.  It's pretty much on par with the rogue, ranger, or fighter.

 

The thing that makes it so attractive is that it scales by character level, not class level.  So you can take 2 levels of warlock, then fill up on daily powers via the sorcerer, bard, or whatever.

#21

2Chlorobutanal

Sep 21, 2014 16:50:13

The hex spell does a good job of boosting eldritch blast's damage, though, for any Warlock who isn't concentrating on another spell.

(Reply to #17)

Toshi

Corwyn77 wrote:
(Reply to #20)

Seekus

mellored wrote:
#24

2Chlorobutanal

Sep 22, 2014 20:57:51

It's been clarified by developers to mean "character level," but an inference is that the "level" is inside a spell description in the Magic section of the rules.  Spells do not belong to a specific class, so their text would most likely (by default) refer to "total character level" unless it specifically stated "spellcaster class level" or something.

(Reply to #24)

Seekus

 

2Chlorobutanal wrote:
(Reply to #24)

Inaubryyn

2Chlorobutanal wrote:
#27

UnknownMourner

Sep 23, 2014 14:56:04

Ok, so at high levels you're all "Pew pew pew" and the Wizard's all "GADOOOOOSHHHHH!"

#28

RedwoodElf

Sep 23, 2014 15:00:06

here is the list of damaging) cantrips for casters:

 

Eldrich Blast (120 foot base range, Force damage(!) 1D10 at 1, 5, 11, 17, independantly targettable (+ CHA bonus with an invocation)) - Warlocks, and any character taking "Spell Sniper", but the to hit is always charisma based, so bards and sorcerers are the most likely candidates to get it that way)

 

Poison Spray (AKA "Bigby's Farting Hand", 10 foot base range, Poison damage 1D12 at 1, 5, 11, 17 negated by CON save) - Anyone but Bards and those without cantrips can get this, unless they can take "Spell Sniper".

 

Fire Bolt (base range, fire damage, ignites combustible targets 1D10 at 1, 5, 11, 17) - (Oddly, Warlocks can't get this from their devil/demon patrons?) Wizard, Sorcerer

 

Ray of Frost (good for keeping drinks cold, 60 feet cold damage plus -10' movement for 1 round 1D8 at 1, 4, 11, 17) - Sorcerer, Wizard

 

Acid Splash (60 feet acid damage, 1d6 at 1, 5, 11, 17) - Sorcerer, Wizard

 

Produce Flame (30 feet, Fire damage, 1D8 at 1, 5, 11, 17) - Druids

 

Thorn Whip (30 feet, 1D6 piercing plus tractor beam to pull creature 10 feet closer) - Druids

 

Sacred Flame (Radiant damage, no cover, 1D8 at 1, 5, 11, 17  negated by dex save) - Clerics

 

So there is no spellcaster who can NOT have a "usable at will" damaging attack - Any spellcaster without cantrips just needs one spell that requires a "to hit" roll, and they can take spell sniper and get any of these except Poison Spray and Sacred Flame (because they are save based and not "roll to hit" cantrips.)

 

Eldrich Blast's main claim to fame is the loooooong range, and being force damage, which other than False Life has no real resistance, and since it is NOT a "magic missile" spell, the shield spell doesn't block it (not that anyone but an idiot would take the shield spell the way it works now, with a duration of one lousy round.)

(Reply to #27)

Ashrym

UnknownMourner wrote:
(Reply to #28)

Ashrym

RedwoodElf wrote:
(Reply to #28)

grendel111111

RedwoodElf wrote:
#32

Strill

Sep 24, 2014 1:40:31

RedwoodElf wrote:
#33

Novacat

Sep 24, 2014 1:42:27

RedwoodElf wrote:
#34

RedwoodElf

Sep 26, 2014 0:09:39

Strill wrote:
#35

2Chlorobutanal

Sep 26, 2014 0:13:12

I believe the contention is that those 1st-level spell slots occupy a smaller percentage of a Wizard's (et al.) resources at higher (character) levels, making it more likely that a caster can spare the slots to use shield.

 

Additionally, as scaling through levels tends to occur more via increased damage and less from increased accuracy, getting a +5 to AC will remain very relevant for a long time, and will save the caster more and more HP as monsters hit harder and harder.

 

A major difference between old (proactive) and new (reactive) shield is that you can wait until you're actually threatened to cast new shield, whereas the old shield may go its entire lifespan without blocking a single attack.

 

Most spells have also received a commensurate reduction in duration, along with the concentration rules.  If new shield lasted 1 minute/level, or maybe even 1 round/level, it would certainly have a duration of "concentration."