I had a really fun character idea I'm trying to make work. The goal is to main rogue, and take about a 3 level dip into warlock. I realize there are stronger multi-classes, and stronger subclasses, but I'm building this for fun! So I just want advice on making this suboptimal combo as good as it can be.
End goal:
A rogue with devil's site and a mount. Devil's site + darkness + sentinel means that, in theory, the character could get advantage (and sneak attack) every turn, while preventing the enemy from leaving the darkness.
The mount paired with mounted combatant will also give sneak attack to all non mounted enemies. This is a reliable fall back in case an enemy can see in magical darkness. More than that, it's just super cool. The problem is getting a mount.... This build would already require two feats going into sentinel and mounted combatant. In order to get phantom steed, I'd need to sink a third feat into magic initiate. This seems like it wouldn't be worth it in the long run. A two level dip in paladin could also achieve this, but I think that would take too much away from sneak attack. Lastly, I tried to think of ways to make a pact of the chain familiar double as a mount, but because they're all tiny, that would also be very difficult.
Requirements:
Main phantom rogue. This is both for story, and because this subclass will make it easier to survive without relying as much on stealthing every single bonus action.
Either undead or fey warlock, also for story (and invocations/ minor magic). Pact Boon is flexible, but I'm thinking either pact of the blade or pact of the chain would do the most for this build.
I'm not dead set on 3 levels for warlock, if there's a better balance in there. I just don't want to dip too far so sneak attack can keep up at higher levels, and those are the classes I'm working with.
Are there any loopholes/ work arounds that could make this build viable? My DM is willing to negotiate a little bit, but ultimately everything has to have some kind of basis in RAW. It's looking like I'm just trying to do too much at once, so I may just have to scrap the whole mount idea. It's definitely doable, but it's looking like I'd be giving up way too much for this. So if anyone has any ideas on how to make it work, that would be super appreciated!
I had a really fun character idea I'm trying to make work. The goal is to main rogue, and take about a 3 level dip into warlock. I realize there are stronger multi-classes, and stronger subclasses, but I'm building this for fun! So I just want advice on making this suboptimal combo as good as it can be.
End goal:
A rogue with devil's site and a mount. Devil's site + darkness + sentinel means that, in theory, the character could get advantage (and sneak attack) every turn, while preventing the enemy from leaving the darkness.
The mount paired with mounted combatant will also give sneak attack to all non mounted enemies. This is a reliable fall back in case an enemy can see in magical darkness. More than that, it's just super cool. The problem is getting a mount.... This build would already require two feats going into sentinel and mounted combatant. In order to get phantom steed, I'd need to sink a third feat into magic initiate. This seems like it wouldn't be worth it in the long run. A two level dip in paladin could also achieve this, but I think that would take too much away from sneak attack. Lastly, I tried to think of ways to make a pact of the chain familiar double as a mount, but because they're all tiny, that would also be very difficult.
Requirements:
Main phantom rogue. This is both for story, and because this subclass will make it easier to survive without relying as much on stealthing every single bonus action.
Either undead or fey warlock, also for story (and invocations/ minor magic). Pact Boon is flexible, but I'm thinking either pact of the blade or pact of the chain would do the most for this build.
I'm not dead set on 3 levels for warlock, if there's a better balance in there. I just don't want to dip too far so sneak attack can keep up at higher levels, and those are the classes I'm working with.
Are there any loopholes/ work arounds that could make this build viable? My DM is willing to negotiate a little bit, but ultimately everything has to have some kind of basis in RAW. It's looking like I'm just trying to do too much at once, so I may just have to scrap the whole mount idea. It's definitely doable, but it's looking like I'd be giving up way too much for this. So if anyone has any ideas on how to make it work, that would be super appreciated!
One loophole/work around:
IF another PC in the campaign is a centuar, and you yourself are a "small" race character, You can use the centaur as a mount. The centaur doesn't *need* to see, since you can free action just tell him stuff you see. Or, the centaur can also do whatever they need to do to see in darkness too for even more fun.
If you're open to not dipping into Warlock specifically. Artificer's have a subclass that get a "pet" as well, the Steel Defender in the Battle Smith subclass. The big difference is that the Steel defender is a medium sized creature and it *can* be used as a mount. You just have to be a small size race. 3 levels of Artificer would get you the Steel Defender, same was as a 3 level dip of warlock gets you to Pact of the Chainmaster. Maybe something to consider
Harengon, one of the featured races from the Fey themed stuff, is a good rogue-race that is able to be a small size creature
If you have access to the rogue optional class feature Steady Aim then you always have sneak attack on your phantom steed as long as you don't use a bonus action. Steady aim allows for your next attack to have advantage if you have not moved this turn. Then it drops your speed to 0. Since your steed is moving not you this is free sneak attack no need for devil sight combo except for defense.
I had a really fun character idea I'm trying to make work. The goal is to main rogue, and take about a 3 level dip into warlock. I realize there are stronger multi-classes, and stronger subclasses, but I'm building this for fun! So I just want advice on making this suboptimal combo as good as it can be.
End goal:
A rogue with devil's site and a mount. Devil's site + darkness + sentinel means that, in theory, the character could get advantage (and sneak attack) every turn, while preventing the enemy from leaving the darkness.
The mount paired with mounted combatant will also give sneak attack to all non mounted enemies. This is a reliable fall back in case an enemy can see in magical darkness. More than that, it's just super cool. The problem is getting a mount.... This build would already require two feats going into sentinel and mounted combatant. In order to get phantom steed, I'd need to sink a third feat into magic initiate. This seems like it wouldn't be worth it in the long run. A two level dip in paladin could also achieve this, but I think that would take too much away from sneak attack. Lastly, I tried to think of ways to make a pact of the chain familiar double as a mount, but because they're all tiny, that would also be very difficult.
Requirements:
Main phantom rogue. This is both for story, and because this subclass will make it easier to survive without relying as much on stealthing every single bonus action.
Either undead or fey warlock, also for story (and invocations/ minor magic). Pact Boon is flexible, but I'm thinking either pact of the blade or pact of the chain would do the most for this build.
I'm not dead set on 3 levels for warlock, if there's a better balance in there. I just don't want to dip too far so sneak attack can keep up at higher levels, and those are the classes I'm working with.
Are there any loopholes/ work arounds that could make this build viable? My DM is willing to negotiate a little bit, but ultimately everything has to have some kind of basis in RAW. It's looking like I'm just trying to do too much at once, so I may just have to scrap the whole mount idea. It's definitely doable, but it's looking like I'd be giving up way too much for this. So if anyone has any ideas on how to make it work, that would be super appreciated!
One loophole/work around:
IF another PC in the campaign is a centuar, and you yourself are a "small" race character, You can use the centaur as a mount. The centaur doesn't *need* to see, since you can free action just tell him stuff you see. Or, the centaur can also do whatever they need to do to see in darkness too for even more fun.
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If you're open to not dipping into Warlock specifically. Artificer's have a subclass that get a "pet" as well, the Steel Defender in the Battle Smith subclass. The big difference is that the Steel defender is a medium sized creature and it *can* be used as a mount. You just have to be a small size race. 3 levels of Artificer would get you the Steel Defender, same was as a 3 level dip of warlock gets you to Pact of the Chainmaster. Maybe something to consider
Harengon, one of the featured races from the Fey themed stuff, is a good rogue-race that is able to be a small size creature
Buy a horse.
Ranger dragonrider instead of warlock maybe?
Ritual caster if you don't mind the wait... Depending on the level, you could ask the DM for an item that casts phantom steed a few times per day.
If you have access to the rogue optional class feature Steady Aim then you always have sneak attack on your phantom steed as long as you don't use a bonus action.
Steady aim allows for your next attack to have advantage if you have not moved this turn. Then it drops your speed to 0. Since your steed is moving not you this is free sneak attack no need for devil sight combo except for defense.
you do you dude