Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
Frozen Sick
D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Basic Rules (2014)
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Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer CreaturesFrozen SickD&D Beyond Basic RulesBasic Rules (2014)Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
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I want to make a fiend bladelock for a campaign i'm joining, we start at level 3. I'm considering multiclassing into rogue, but i'm usure about starting levels or how i should progress with the multiclass. Also, I haven't paid for anything, and don't plan on buying anything (i'm broke), so I can only use free content. Please help me go about it
What are you hoping to get from multiclassing?
pronouns: he/she/they
There is a play here if you really want to do this. Once you have the darkness cantrip and the devil’s sight eldritch invocation, you can hide in your darkness to get sneak attack next turn. There are other smaller benefits from this multiclass, but offhand, I think this is the best one. So, wait until level 5 or higher for thirsting blade and probably eldritch smite, and take what I advised before taking two levels in rogue.
It’s worth noting though you’re putting off higher level spells to do this. Also, if you are going to level 20 you’ll miss out on an epic boon feat/ 5th asi or feat.
Just remember you definitely want a plan and a reason as wagnarokr put it to multiclass, so never just do it because you think it sounds cool, ok?
Good luck, fellow Warlock!
I want to be a melee tough guy with some magical options and magical flair during combat.
You're really not getting much of that from rogue that you can't get from blade pact and fiend patron. Rogue gets you a weapon mastery and sneak attack, but sneak attack's really only good if you level up in rogue, and that leaves you with weak warlock spells. If you are going to do it, I think you're better stopping at level 3 in warlock, which gets you blade pact, dark one's blessing and armor of agathys. (And they'll probably be marginal once you get out of the early levels, because the AoA will break too quickly. (And I'm not sure AoA is in the free rules anyway. (And if your campaign's online, is nobody using content sharing? Or, if it's offline, can you borrow books from other players?)))
Leveling up just in warlock gets you extra attacks, spells, and invocations.
Now, if this is your character concept, don't let me stop you, but it's not necessarily going to fulfill your desires. The two classes don't synergize well, and "melee tough guy" is already a stretch for warlocks.
Ftr 1, Bladelock 19 is an option for the long haul. So start as Fighter 1 - Warlock 2 for your 3rd level start.
If the desire is to become a melee tough guy, then having heavy armour proficiency is useful else as a d8 hit die Warlock in melee with mage armour on it is a long road.
Sticking to the basic rule set you can do this ... Sample Bladelock
Uses defence fighting style for +1 AC from fighter, chain armour and shield for AC19. Thinking of the d8 hit die and not d10 the higher AC may be useful compared to damage output from great weapon fighting, though changeable to suit your style.
Stone Goliath cos they can use their reaction to reduce damage coming in which makes the bladelock better able to survive in melee.
At 5th level (Ftr1/Lock 4) take heavy armour master as a feat, STR goes to 15 which is what you need for plate armour and you get action free damage reduction, which also helps the tank factor.
Life's hard - get a helmet!
^ this
Fighter / Bladelock is insane. The details you can change as you see fit, but 3 levels of Fighter as you level up Warlock will only make you stronger.
Action Surge is just too good to pass on, especially after you've unlocked Thirsting Blade, and Battle Master is always good (but you can pick any subclass you like and it will still be a benefit).
I have no idea what that even means? What is a tough guy? To me a tough guy really can't be a any sort of mage because you would need high Con/Str abilities which does not help you spell casting ability.
On a forum like this and in any paper drill, that is great advice. but on the table, this can be a huge problem. You are 3rd level so your mates all have great 3rd level subclass abilities that you don't have. You move up to fourth level, you are still behind in spite of getting a subclass, because they all have received feats at their 4th level.
When you move up to 5th level the psychological pain of being behind continues. A 5th level warlock starts getting more and more spells and invocations. But you are still a 4th level warlock. As a melee guy you still have but a single attack but all of your melee mates are getting two attacks pers turn. They are cranking out damage to their opponents, basically double damage to what you can do, so any thought of being a tough guy is false.
The above is the problem with multiclassing and yet running a low level character. You end up during every session seeing your teammates excelling and you are left with the realization that you can not fulfill your vision yet.
Again that is great advice, but that is looking at what happens when you are at least 8th level. So starting at 3rd, means that is a long slog to get their.
One thing people don't think about giving you advice to be multiclass at 20th level is the actual psychological cost of getting there when you start at 3rd level. As long as you are aware of that cost, go follow the above as that is all great multiclass advice.
Your biggest challenge is likely going to be defence. Depending on your campaign, the temp HP from your subclass feature might be enough. If not, then multiclassing to a class with armor proficiency is probably your best option. Fighter, paladin, and cleric are all viable alternatives with their own strengths.