I have a friend who plays with me, who's character is a tiefling warlock that isn't very optimized, I decided to help him out and have permission from my DMs to make some changes. We are level 6 and his character is the conman fast-talker type and he likes ranged spell based combat. After a chat with him about what he enjoys and wants I got the following: He wants to be able to fly, cast lots of spells, be good at the social game and speak more languages (he missed out on quite a few story beats where a couple of characters were speaking dwarvish). We are a large group of mostly new players and a couple of experienced ones, the newer players want to be epic in combat, which is why I am looking for something that will make him happy on that front, some help would be appreciated:
Variant Tiefling (+2cha +1int) with ‘Winged’ 30ft. flying speed
8str 15dex 12con 14int 12wis 17cha
Background:Courtier (as a conman knowing your way around high society was a must, you did it with flair going from one court to the next).
Court Functionary: Know the bureaucracies to navigate into places you shouldn’t be and also who to speak to (ask DMS, reminding them of this feature).
Rituals:Identify & Detect Magic (use these to help with magic items and to find books to get more rituals)
Sorcerer (Shadow Magic) 2
Eyes of the Dark – 120ft Dark Vision
Strength of the Grave - When damage reduces you to 0 hit points, you can make a Charisma saving throw (DC 5 + the damage taken). On a success, you instead drop to 1 hit point. You can’t use this feature if you are reduced to 0 hit points by radiant damage or by a critical hit. After the saving throw succeeds, you can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.
Flexible Casting: You can use your sorcery points to gain additional spell slots, or sacrifice spell slots to gain additional sorcery points. You learn other ways to use your sorcery points as you reach higher levels.
Pact Magic: To cast one of your warlock spells of 1st level or higher, you must expend a spell slot. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a short or long rest.
Reach level 2 Warlock and level 2 Sorcerer.
Use Flexible Casting to turn Warlock spell slots into sorcery points.
Use Flexible Casting to turn sorcery points into spell slots.
Take a short rest and refresh Warlock spell slots.
Warning: Though you could use Aspect of the Moon to stay up all night every night repeating this process and getting loads of spell slots… don’t! It breaks the game and immersion, what I am advising that you do is every time we have a short rest or some down time do this a little bit to gain a few second level spell slots.
As I play neither a Sorcerer or a Warlock what am I missing, and as he want to go primarily Warlock, what is a good way to balance the levels going forward?
I would say take one or two more levels of sorcerer, two if they want the ASI, one if they don't. Cause metamagic is super useful
Excellent, that is exactly what I was thinking, I’m glad I am on the right lines.
Power wise, how is a Fiend Warlock X / Shadow Sorcerer 3/4 build? I have helped optimise a few characters in our game (Barbarian, Rogue & Ranger) and would like him to feel impactful.
My advise after lv7
Level 8 – Sorcerer 3
Get free Darkness - Magical Darkvision combo
Meta-magic: Quickened Spell & Subtle Spell (fantastic combat, and spells without risking detection)
Enlarge/Reduce – wonderful utility spell and combat buff
Then Warlock from here on out – unless you really want/need that Sorc 4 ASI
Picking up ‘Tongues’ at Warlock 6 (basically having every language… though through a spell)
I have a friend who plays with me, who's character is a tiefling warlock that isn't very optimized, I decided to help him out and have permission from my DMs to make some changes. We are level 6 and his character is the conman fast-talker type and he likes ranged spell based combat. After a chat with him about what he enjoys and wants I got the following: He wants to be able to fly, cast lots of spells, be good at the social game and speak more languages (he missed out on quite a few story beats where a couple of characters were speaking dwarvish). We are a large group of mostly new players and a couple of experienced ones, the newer players want to be epic in combat, which is why I am looking for something that will make him happy on that front, some help would be appreciated:
Variant Tiefling (+2cha +1int) with ‘Winged’ 30ft. flying speed
8str 15dex 12con 14int 12wis 17cha
Background: Courtier (as a conman knowing your way around high society was a must, you did it with flair going from one court to the next).
Court Functionary: Know the bureaucracies to navigate into places you shouldn’t be and also who to speak to (ask DMS, reminding them of this feature).
Proficiencies: Insight & Persuasion & Languages: Dwarvish & Elvish
Warlock (The Fiend) 4
Proficiencies: Intimidation & Deception
Dark One’s Blessing – gain temporary hit points whenever you kill an enemy
Pact of the Tome – (Thaumaturgy, Vicious Mockery & Guidance)
Invocations – Agonizing Blast & Book of Ancient Secrets Aspect of the Moon (pick at Warlock 5)
ASI: +1 dex +1 cha
Cantrips: Eldritch Blast, Friends, Guidance, Minor Illusion, Thaumaturgy & Vicious Mockery
1 Level: Hex
2Level: Hold Person, Invisibility, Shatter & Suggestion
Rituals: Identify & Detect Magic (use these to help with magic items and to find books to get more rituals)
Sorcerer (Shadow Magic) 2
Eyes of the Dark – 120ft Dark Vision
Strength of the Grave - When damage reduces you to 0 hit points, you can make a Charisma saving throw (DC 5 + the damage taken). On a success, you instead drop to 1 hit point. You can’t use this feature if you are reduced to 0 hit points by radiant damage or by a critical hit. After the saving throw succeeds, you can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.
Cantrips: Mage Hand, Message, Mold Earth & Prestidigitation
1 Level: Feather Fall, Magic Missile & Shield
Spell Slots:
3 1 level (return on a long rest)
2 2 level pact slots
Sorcery Points 2
More Spell Slots (Cheese):
Flexible Casting: You can use your sorcery points to gain additional spell slots, or sacrifice spell slots to gain additional sorcery points. You learn other ways to use your sorcery points as you reach higher levels.
Pact Magic: To cast one of your warlock spells of 1st level or higher, you must expend a spell slot. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a short or long rest.
Warning: Though you could use Aspect of the Moon to stay up all night every night repeating this process and getting loads of spell slots… don’t! It breaks the game and immersion, what I am advising that you do is every time we have a short rest or some down time do this a little bit to gain a few second level spell slots.
Level 7- Warlock 5
Invocation: Aspect of the Moon
Counterspell & Fireball (Shatter)
As I play neither a Sorcerer or a Warlock what am I missing, and as he want to go primarily Warlock, what is a good way to balance the levels going forward?
I would say take one or two more levels of sorcerer, two if they want the ASI, one if they don't. Cause metamagic is super useful
'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
I'll worldbuild for your DnD games!
Just a D&D enjoyer, check out my fiverr page if you need any worldbuilding done for ya!
Excellent, that is exactly what I was thinking, I’m glad I am on the right lines.
Power wise, how is a Fiend Warlock X / Shadow Sorcerer 3/4 build? I have helped optimise a few characters in our game (Barbarian, Rogue & Ranger) and would like him to feel impactful.
My advise after lv7
Level 8 – Sorcerer 3
Get free Darkness - Magical Darkvision combo
Meta-magic: Quickened Spell & Subtle Spell (fantastic combat, and spells without risking detection)
Enlarge/Reduce – wonderful utility spell and combat buff
Then Warlock from here on out – unless you really want/need that Sorc 4 ASI
Picking up ‘Tongues’ at Warlock 6 (basically having every language… though through a spell)
Yep, sounds good. However, taking draconic bloodline and fiend would work better as you get the fire thing. Or hexblade and shadow sorcerer.
'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
I'll worldbuild for your DnD games!
Just a D&D enjoyer, check out my fiverr page if you need any worldbuilding done for ya!
Thanks, been carrying on experimenting with my backup character's build now (a Kobold str grappler)