Edit for clarity: This is obviously not in reference to the Fighter subclass Gunslinger, just using the term gunslinger because that will be the character's weapon of choice.
Getting ready to start a new campaign where a few first time players will be in the group and my DM asked that I play a CHA-based character to be the party face. In our last campaign I was a rogue/bard multiclass and filled the face role, but this time wanted to go a different direction and decided I will be a Warlock. This will be my first Warlock so I am currently in the research phase now.
I really like the idea of a Warlock gunslinger. As I am researching the class though it seems kind of dumb since Eldritch Blast is basically an arcane firearm, but I still really like the flavor of a gun-toting Warlock blasting away in battle. The DM loves the idea too and said I could use a firearm as a Pact Weapon if I go the Hexblade route, so I am pursuing this idea. I am looking for some advice on this build though. Should I go with Hexblade or something else? I like the medium armor/shield allowance of the Hexblade. Has anyone ever played a gunslinger Warlock? Any advice is appreciated. FWIW I don't think this is going to be a super long campaign and for the time being I am not planning to mulitclass. That could change if it goes on longer than expected, but it is not my plan at the moment.
I likely would just flavor my eldritch blasts to be a gun, the various invocations improving it would be specialty rounds which i'd announce as shooting. Lets go with a piratical theme, and say fathomless warlock. Captain Black leaps aboard the merchant vessel with a quick gesture and word a spectral gun manifests in his hand recoiling, a bust of smoke and fire erupts form it from which a eldritch ball fires out smashing into a sailor and flinging him off the ship a moment later he seeming drops the gun which dispersing in the wind as he draws a second spectral gun from his waistband firing off another shot.
Mechanically its just a eldritch blast cast at 5th level with the repelling blast invocation(and lets face it agonizing blast). AS a fathomless I'd quickly add lance of lethargy so when my tentacle lashes out I'd be dropping a enemies speed by up to 20 feet for the round.
to add to what MyDudeicus said, dont forget you can have an arcane spell focus so there isnt a reason why you oculdn;t have a gun shaped focus and away you go.
As a PS to the above, I've done a similar thing but with a Tortle Sorcerer using firebolt and ray of frost fired from a flintlock pistol.
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I likely would just flavor my eldritch blasts to be a gun, the various invocations improving it would be specialty rounds which i'd announce as shooting. Lets go with a piratical theme, and say fathomless warlock. Captain Black leaps aboard the merchant vessel with a quick gesture and word a spectral gun manifests in his hand recoiling, a bust of smoke and fire erupts form it from which a eldritch ball fires out smashing into a sailor and flinging him off the ship a moment later he seeming drops the gun which dispersing in the wind as he draws a second spectral gun from his waistband firing off another shot.
Mechanically its just a eldritch blast cast at 5th level with the repelling blast invocation(and lets face it agonizing blast). AS a fathomless I'd quickly add lance of lethargy so when my tentacle lashes out I'd be dropping a enemies speed by up to 20 feet for the round.
Love the description in your example. Well done. What you are describing with reflavoring the Eldritch Blast as the blast from a spectral handgun is definitely something I have thought about and seems like best way to approach it.
The pirate/fathomless is a good thought. My character is kind of an anti-establishment street punk from Westgate who upon receiving powers from his patron became a bounty hunter (Urban Bounty Hunter background) taking on small-time jobs, mostly tracking down delinquent gambling debts for some of the local underworld types.
I play a fiend warlock multiclassed with gunslinger fighter and it works fine. You don't necessarily have to design a new subclass. Hexblade is THE best warlock subclass, so you can't go wrong there. IMO, you can still get warlock abilities and vibes and do better than eldritch blast (*gasp*) if you just dual wield pistols. For the flavor the gun can still be your hexblade weapon
You should check out Steinhardt's guide's "Pact of the trigger" if your DM supports some homebrew, as it is literally designed for an eldritch blasting gunslinger. -> https://www.monkeydm.com/trigger-pact
You should check out Steinhardt's guide's "Pact of the trigger" if your DM supports some homebrew, as it is literally designed for an eldritch blasting gunslinger. -> https://www.monkeydm.com/trigger-pact
I am very interested in checking that out but I got a page not found error from that link. Didn't see it when I scrolled through the homebrew section but it is possible I overlooked it. Will check again later.
I know you didn’t want to multi class but I have done this and I loved it! Yes hexblade is the way to go. Hexblade lets you use your charisma mod for attack rolls involving your pact weapon so no need to prioritize dexterity. And with improved pact weapon(if dm allows) you can make your summoned pact weapon a firearm. on the fighter side of things Take the archery fighting style for the +2 in ranged attack rolls. By level 6 you would have both subclasses access to invocations and trick shots (grit points) and a +11 to hit with a revolver. Later on in hexblade there’s a feature or invocation (I can’t recall) that says “if you make an attack with a pact weapon you may attack with it a second time” so with your normal attack, action surge attack(fighter), and extra attack(fighter) that’s 6 shots in one turn. Not including two weapon fighting and taking a shot with your bonus action 🤷🏼But you should probably be using your bonus action for hex
Edit for clarity: This is obviously not in reference to the Fighter subclass Gunslinger, just using the term gunslinger because that will be the character's weapon of choice.
Getting ready to start a new campaign where a few first time players will be in the group and my DM asked that I play a CHA-based character to be the party face. In our last campaign I was a rogue/bard multiclass and filled the face role, but this time wanted to go a different direction and decided I will be a Warlock. This will be my first Warlock so I am currently in the research phase now.
I really like the idea of a Warlock gunslinger. As I am researching the class though it seems kind of dumb since Eldritch Blast is basically an arcane firearm, but I still really like the flavor of a gun-toting Warlock blasting away in battle. The DM loves the idea too and said I could use a firearm as a Pact Weapon if I go the Hexblade route, so I am pursuing this idea. I am looking for some advice on this build though. Should I go with Hexblade or something else? I like the medium armor/shield allowance of the Hexblade. Has anyone ever played a gunslinger Warlock? Any advice is appreciated. FWIW I don't think this is going to be a super long campaign and for the time being I am not planning to mulitclass. That could change if it goes on longer than expected, but it is not my plan at the moment.
I likely would just flavor my eldritch blasts to be a gun, the various invocations improving it would be specialty rounds which i'd announce as shooting. Lets go with a piratical theme, and say fathomless warlock. Captain Black leaps aboard the merchant vessel with a quick gesture and word a spectral gun manifests in his hand recoiling, a bust of smoke and fire erupts form it from which a eldritch ball fires out smashing into a sailor and flinging him off the ship a moment later he seeming drops the gun which dispersing in the wind as he draws a second spectral gun from his waistband firing off another shot.
Mechanically its just a eldritch blast cast at 5th level with the repelling blast invocation(and lets face it agonizing blast). AS a fathomless I'd quickly add lance of lethargy so when my tentacle lashes out I'd be dropping a enemies speed by up to 20 feet for the round.
to add to what MyDudeicus said, dont forget you can have an arcane spell focus so there isnt a reason why you oculdn;t have a gun shaped focus and away you go.
As a PS to the above, I've done a similar thing but with a Tortle Sorcerer using firebolt and ray of frost fired from a flintlock pistol.
Love the description in your example. Well done. What you are describing with reflavoring the Eldritch Blast as the blast from a spectral handgun is definitely something I have thought about and seems like best way to approach it.
The pirate/fathomless is a good thought. My character is kind of an anti-establishment street punk from Westgate who upon receiving powers from his patron became a bounty hunter (Urban Bounty Hunter background) taking on small-time jobs, mostly tracking down delinquent gambling debts for some of the local underworld types.
I play a fiend warlock multiclassed with gunslinger fighter and it works fine. You don't necessarily have to design a new subclass. Hexblade is THE best warlock subclass, so you can't go wrong there. IMO, you can still get warlock abilities and vibes and do better than eldritch blast (*gasp*) if you just dual wield pistols. For the flavor the gun can still be your hexblade weapon
Updog
You should check out Steinhardt's guide's "Pact of the trigger" if your DM supports some homebrew, as it is literally designed for an eldritch blasting gunslinger. -> https://www.monkeydm.com/trigger-pact
I am very interested in checking that out but I got a page not found error from that link. Didn't see it when I scrolled through the homebrew section but it is possible I overlooked it. Will check again later.
I know you didn’t want to multi class but I have done this and I loved it! Yes hexblade is the way to go. Hexblade lets you use your charisma mod for attack rolls involving your pact weapon so no need to prioritize dexterity. And with improved pact weapon(if dm allows) you can make your summoned pact weapon a firearm. on the fighter side of things Take the archery fighting style for the +2 in ranged attack rolls. By level 6 you would have both subclasses access to invocations and trick shots (grit points) and a +11 to hit with a revolver. Later on in hexblade there’s a feature or invocation (I can’t recall) that says “if you make an attack with a pact weapon you may attack with it a second time” so with your normal attack, action surge attack(fighter), and extra attack(fighter) that’s 6 shots in one turn. Not including two weapon fighting and taking a shot with your bonus action 🤷🏼But you should probably be using your bonus action for hex