I am a Level 3 Tome Warlock and wanting to focus on control. My Patron is Great Old One. I am looking for some advice to make this better and some advice on spells and rituals.
Cantrips: Eldritch Blast and Minor Illusion.
Spells: Tasha's Hideous Laugh, Suggestion , Cloud of Daggers, Invisibility
Invocation: Book of Ancient Secrets and Repelling Blast
My Tome Feature Cantrips: Thorn Whip, Guidance, and 1 more I'm unsure of.
In my group I have a Wizard, Sorcerer, Druid, Bard and a Barbarian. I feel I have the battlefield control covered, just trying to balance out the rest so I don't have a bunch of stuff that overlaps.
I'm also not sure what ritual spells to take fro my book of ancient secrets
I am playing a warlock lvl 3 pact of the old one and going the control route myself. What i found really helpful are phantasmal force and crown of madness as offensive control spells. Phantasmal force can be really powerful.
Phantasmal force is a lvl 2 spell not a cantrip. That means if you really want it, you have to swap with Suggestion or Cloud of Daggers. I saw that you have the Book of Ancient Secrets invocation so you can choose two more spells from lvl 1 with the ritual tag. That would mean - Alarm - Comprehend Languages - Detect Magic - Detect Poison and Disease - Find Familiar - Identify - Illusory Script - Purify Food and Drink - Speak with animals - Tenser's floating Disc - Unseen Servant
Depending what games you play or what suits your character all spells can be useful. I personally like the Unseen Servant, it gives the Warlock that that strange aura if something happens around him without him doing anything. (because you can telepathically command him)
The Unearthed Arcana Starter Spell Puppet could be interesting, its a 1st level one as well.
Phantasmal Force is a great 2nd level spell (Archfey or GOO)
Suggestion , Cloud of Daggers, Invisibility are all 2nd level spells, so I'm curious how you have 3 of them at the level you access them. You can have a new spell of 2nd level and change an older spell for a new one. Once you are level 4 Warlock, you gain another spell and can change an older one also.
What 1st level ritual spells did you pick for your Book of Ancient Secrets Invocation?
Find Familiar is pretty useful, as your familiar can use the help action for you and your friends which is handy for a Warlock who wants more control. Speak with Animals via ritual or Beast Speech Invocation could work if you can persuade an animal to help you. Probably better for roleplay. Identify is handy if you have no Wizard though it works better with Eldritch Sight Invocation. (Proverbial Loremaster (Lore)Bardlock- Eldritch Sight, Book of Ancient Secrets (Identify, Comprehend Languages rituals) with Expertise in two Knowledge skills and the Sage background). I second Unseen Servant as a cool ritual.
One thing to remember, the ritual takes time to perform it does not necessarily mean you have to be wandering around performing exotic dances, gestures, spouting phrases in barbarous tongues.Rituals could possibly be performed in silent contemplation (meditation or appearing to be reading their Book of Shadows) whilst doing inner work. A Warlock who just wields their arcane focus, taking time to conjure their unseen servant is way more scary than someone who is physically performing the ritual.
Your third cantrip could be Thaumaturgy or Prestidigitation, both are very useful and differ greatly from the eminently useful Minor Illusion.
I guess I could be confused on how the spells work? So I am Level 3. The PHB says I have 4 spells known. I have 2 spell slots and my spell slots 2nd level starting at 3rd level. I thought I could switch them out once I got into my new level. If I have the wrong understanding I would love the actual rule. One reason I posted this here :)
Book of Ancient Secret I have chosen: 1. Find Familiar, 2. (Not sure, havn't picked it, looking for ideas).
At Warlock lvl 2 you have three lvl 1 spells. When you get Warlock lvl 3 you get to choose one new spell now from lvl 1 or 2. (Of course lvl 2 makes more sense.) Additionally you can swap one of your learned lvl 1 Spells into one lvl 2 Spell.
In context what i said before: "Phantasmal force is a lvl 2 spell not a cantrip. That means if you really want it, you have to swap with Suggestion or Cloud of Daggers." Because they are both lvl 2 spells and at Warlock lvl 3 you can only have two lvl 2 spells.
I went and back tracked and changed my level as what I was told by you guys.
Lv 1 - Hex, Charm Person
Lv 2 - Arms of Hadar, Charm Person, Dissonant Whispers
Lv 3 - Arms of Hadar, Suggestion, Dissonant Whispers, Phantasmal Force
I think that updates me. Tho I really dont have anything for defense, since I have 2 party members that can heal. Do you guys find yourself needing a protection spell or not really?
For my second ritual, whats yall opinion on detect magic?
Well, all your spells at lvl 3 are offense as defense spells: Arms of hadar effects all creatures within 10 feet of you and they cant take a reaction (attack of opportunity) so you can retreat without fearing an attack. Suggestion - Dont attack me Dissonant Whispers - If successfull the enemy runs away from you Phantasmal Force - For Example: You are coated in a fireshield which "burns" the enemy if they attack you. Melee enemys could search for easier prey than you. (Remember the Illusion is not larger than a 10 foot cube but has a "range" of 5 Foot if it is a hazard or a creature) etc....
Didn't see it like that. I guess now that you put it that way, I have gained the control I was looking for in making a control Warlock. This seemed a lot more overwhelming but now that I know I can only really add 1 new spell and replace 1 spell for level, it seems a lot easier to narrow down. My Book of Shadows cantrips I went with, Thorn Whip, Thaumaturgy, and Guidance. My Rituals for Book of Ancient Secret, I have find familiar, and searching for my last one. Leaning towards the servant one
Well in theory in made more sense when I had cloud of daggers. Moving people into the cloud. But re doing the spells, I couldn't bring in daggers and make it work imo. So now I have it more for just having battlefield control. Moving enemies away from my hurt team mates or moving them in ranges of my other players if needed to. Maybe take someone off a horse they're riding?
Detect Magic as a ritual is fine, it just gets beaten by the Eldritch Sight Invocation. I did play a Tome Warlock who had Detect Magic and Find Familiar as her rituals. It was fun. I would say go for Unseen Servant, as its handy and can make you seem a little more spooky or magical. Detect Magic is useful, but every magic user can access it, Identify is a Wizard and Bard spell.
Once you get 6th level Warlock, persuade your DM to let you meet someone who has Leomunds Tiny Hut, then let your Warlock persuade them to let you copy or learn the ritual.
A great familiar form is the Owl, its pretty handy when you are in combat, once it is helping you, advantage on your Eldritch Blast attack rolls is pretty useful. If you perform th Find Familiar ritual again, you can change the form of your familiar. It may not be as potent as the Imp etc, but its situationally handy if you can change the form of your familiar.
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I am a Level 3 Tome Warlock and wanting to focus on control. My Patron is Great Old One. I am looking for some advice to make this better and some advice on spells and rituals.
Cantrips: Eldritch Blast and Minor Illusion.
Spells: Tasha's Hideous Laugh, Suggestion , Cloud of Daggers, Invisibility
Invocation: Book of Ancient Secrets and Repelling Blast
My Tome Feature Cantrips: Thorn Whip, Guidance, and 1 more I'm unsure of.
In my group I have a Wizard, Sorcerer, Druid, Bard and a Barbarian. I feel I have the battlefield control covered, just trying to balance out the rest so I don't have a bunch of stuff that overlaps.
I'm also not sure what ritual spells to take fro my book of ancient secrets
For the last cantrip, I would advice Resistance.
For rituals, I would go for divination spells, like Locate creature.
Thank you. I looked them up and liked them a lot.
Do you think there are better control spells I could switch out my existing spells with?
Well I would say go with the spells you think are more fun and more appropriate for your character.
Personally, I use a lot Charm person, both for combat situations and to gather information.
I am playing a warlock lvl 3 pact of the old one and going the control route myself. What i found really helpful are phantasmal force and crown of madness as offensive control spells. Phantasmal force can be really powerful.
I looked up phantasmal force and really liked it. Is it worth dumping Guidance or Spare the dying for since its not a Warlock cantri
Phantasmal force is a lvl 2 spell not a cantrip. That means if you really want it, you have to swap with Suggestion or Cloud of Daggers.
I saw that you have the Book of Ancient Secrets invocation so you can choose two more spells from lvl 1 with the ritual tag.
That would mean
- Alarm
- Comprehend Languages
- Detect Magic
- Detect Poison and Disease
- Find Familiar
- Identify
- Illusory Script
- Purify Food and Drink
- Speak with animals
- Tenser's floating Disc
- Unseen Servant
Depending what games you play or what suits your character all spells can be useful. I personally like the Unseen Servant, it gives the Warlock that that strange aura if something happens around him without him doing anything. (because you can telepathically command him)
The Unearthed Arcana Starter Spell Puppet could be interesting, its a 1st level one as well.
Phantasmal Force is a great 2nd level spell (Archfey or GOO)
Suggestion , Cloud of Daggers, Invisibility are all 2nd level spells, so I'm curious how you have 3 of them at the level you access them. You can have a new spell of 2nd level and change an older spell for a new one. Once you are level 4 Warlock, you gain another spell and can change an older one also.
What 1st level ritual spells did you pick for your Book of Ancient Secrets Invocation?
Find Familiar is pretty useful, as your familiar can use the help action for you and your friends which is handy for a Warlock who wants more control. Speak with Animals via ritual or Beast Speech Invocation could work if you can persuade an animal to help you. Probably better for roleplay. Identify is handy if you have no Wizard though it works better with Eldritch Sight Invocation. (Proverbial Loremaster (Lore)Bardlock- Eldritch Sight, Book of Ancient Secrets (Identify, Comprehend Languages rituals) with Expertise in two Knowledge skills and the Sage background). I second Unseen Servant as a cool ritual.
One thing to remember, the ritual takes time to perform it does not necessarily mean you have to be wandering around performing exotic dances, gestures, spouting phrases in barbarous tongues.Rituals could possibly be performed in silent contemplation (meditation or appearing to be reading their Book of Shadows) whilst doing inner work. A Warlock who just wields their arcane focus, taking time to conjure their unseen servant is way more scary than someone who is physically performing the ritual.
Your third cantrip could be Thaumaturgy or Prestidigitation, both are very useful and differ greatly from the eminently useful Minor Illusion.
Thank you very much. Really helped me get a idea from a experienced fellow control Warlock player.
I guess I could be confused on how the spells work? So I am Level 3. The PHB says I have 4 spells known. I have 2 spell slots and my spell slots 2nd level starting at 3rd level. I thought I could switch them out once I got into my new level. If I have the wrong understanding I would love the actual rule. One reason I posted this here :)
Book of Ancient Secret I have chosen: 1. Find Familiar, 2. (Not sure, havn't picked it, looking for ideas).
At Warlock lvl 2 you have three lvl 1 spells.
When you get Warlock lvl 3 you get to choose one new spell now from lvl 1 or 2. (Of course lvl 2 makes more sense.)
Additionally you can swap one of your learned lvl 1 Spells into one lvl 2 Spell.
In context what i said before: "Phantasmal force is a lvl 2 spell not a cantrip. That means if you really want it, you have to swap with Suggestion or Cloud of Daggers."
Because they are both lvl 2 spells and at Warlock lvl 3 you can only have two lvl 2 spells.
I went and back tracked and changed my level as what I was told by you guys.
Lv 1 - Hex, Charm Person
Lv 2 - Arms of Hadar, Charm Person, Dissonant Whispers
Lv 3 - Arms of Hadar, Suggestion, Dissonant Whispers, Phantasmal Force
I think that updates me. Tho I really dont have anything for defense, since I have 2 party members that can heal. Do you guys find yourself needing a protection spell or not really?
For my second ritual, whats yall opinion on detect magic?
Well, all your spells at lvl 3 are offense as defense spells:
Arms of hadar effects all creatures within 10 feet of you and they cant take a reaction (attack of opportunity) so you can retreat without fearing an attack.
Suggestion - Dont attack me
Dissonant Whispers - If successfull the enemy runs away from you
Phantasmal Force - For Example: You are coated in a fireshield which "burns" the enemy if they attack you. Melee enemys could search for easier prey than you. (Remember the Illusion is not larger than a 10 foot cube but has a "range" of 5 Foot if it is a hazard or a creature) etc....
Didn't see it like that. I guess now that you put it that way, I have gained the control I was looking for in making a control Warlock. This seemed a lot more overwhelming but now that I know I can only really add 1 new spell and replace 1 spell for level, it seems a lot easier to narrow down. My Book of Shadows cantrips I went with, Thorn Whip, Thaumaturgy, and Guidance. My Rituals for Book of Ancient Secret, I have find familiar, and searching for my last one. Leaning towards the servant one
One question though,... how do you want to use Thorn Whip? I dont see how that fits except for style. :)
Well in theory in made more sense when I had cloud of daggers. Moving people into the cloud. But re doing the spells, I couldn't bring in daggers and make it work imo. So now I have it more for just having battlefield control. Moving enemies away from my hurt team mates or moving them in ranges of my other players if needed to. Maybe take someone off a horse they're riding?
Ok, i can see that work out quite nice. I like the idea with the rider.
Yeah. Since we have 1 tank in the group, and a wizard, then a bard then a druid. I can find a lot of uses for it
Detect Magic as a ritual is fine, it just gets beaten by the Eldritch Sight Invocation. I did play a Tome Warlock who had Detect Magic and Find Familiar as her rituals. It was fun. I would say go for Unseen Servant, as its handy and can make you seem a little more spooky or magical. Detect Magic is useful, but every magic user can access it, Identify is a Wizard and Bard spell.
Once you get 6th level Warlock, persuade your DM to let you meet someone who has Leomunds Tiny Hut, then let your Warlock persuade them to let you copy or learn the ritual.
A great familiar form is the Owl, its pretty handy when you are in combat, once it is helping you, advantage on your Eldritch Blast attack rolls is pretty useful. If you perform th Find Familiar ritual again, you can change the form of your familiar. It may not be as potent as the Imp etc, but its situationally handy if you can change the form of your familiar.