Just wondering if this makes sense as a character arc ... a young half-drow attempts to escape the Underdark (evil mother) with her human bard father (follower of Milil, god of poetry and song). The father (who is sadly re-captured) prays to Milil to help protect his daughter (who escapes successfully). Milil sends a hollyphant (celestial), who makes a pact with the half-drow. She agrees to bring light to dark/evil places in exchange for healing/protection/attack powers. I'm thinking my neutral good, half-drow celestial warlock will really impress the hollyphant (and thereby Milil) around level 3/4. I'll then dip light cleric for 1-2 levels as the young warlock is called upon by Milil (light domain). I like the idea of a character who emphasizes healing (e.g., Healing Light, Healing Word, Cure Wounds, Spare the Dying) radiant/fire/lightning damage (e.g., Sacred Flame, Guiding Bolt, Word of Radiance, Burning Hands, Shocking Grasp), and utility (e.g., Mage Hand, Message, Mending, Prestidigitation). I might also include a couple of enchantment spells (e.g., Friends, Bless, Charm Person, Command, Suggestion, Charm Monster) to play up the warlock's high charisma. I might take Mask of Many Faces as an early invocation. To avoid getting caught in melee situations, the character will likely have an owl familiar to delivery touch-based healing and lightning damage (Shocking Grasp).
Because I'm relatively new to D&D, I'm eager for feedback on what I've come up with so far. I've read that it can be hard to justify multiclassing warlock/cleric in terms of character arc. Does what I have so far make sense? Could a NG half-drow have a LG celestial patron sent by a NG god (whom the warlock also serves)?
I'm starting a campaign with a Celestial Warlock/Life Cleric mix. We'll see how it goes.....
I think your character concept is wonderful. And I think crafting a character that allows you to - play a character - is far superior to attempting to min/max stats for effectiveness. The fun of this game is the mutual story you create. And every character in your party should bring something interesting to the table. I also don't see why the NG and LG pantheon powers wouldn't work together if it was to their mutual benefit. Alignment in D&D is a fluid thing and subject to change as actions (and the DM) dictate. What your DM agrees with is the key.
My concept is a younger noble daughter sent to the clergy to represent her family in the clerical ranks or be forced into an unwanted marriage for influence & power. And while she's mastered most of the basic roles of a clerical acolyte, she for some reason has a block on her healing powers. Knowing she'll be sent back to her family if she can't pass the test for her robes, she winds up in a pact with a Celestial who unlocks her healing powers. But the clergy, sensing the hint of warlock in her awakened healing powers, rejects her and tosses her out of their ranks. But their decision doesn't affect her connection to her deity or her patron. So she sets off on a career of adventuring to avoid the unwanted marriage.
I'm a huge fan of celestial warlocks. I don't see any problems with your backstory. enjoy it!
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
This seems cool, though I've never played a celestial. The backstory is compelling RP flavor, so kudos.
If you want to go celestial / healer, what you say is perfect.
If you want to go celestial / rescue people from the Underdark, like slaves... or your dad ... then I might suggest adding a Gloomstalker Ranger. 3 levels gets you Umbral sight and Dread Ambusher, and you don't sacrifice the 9th level Arcanum. Gives you a bit of combat savvy, too.
From a magic standpoint, in addition to charm and heal, you may want some form of teleport, like Fey Ancestry or similar. "Get out of Range" is important if you're a primary healer. Although I'm a Warlock, the party I'm in has no cleric and I'm the primary healer (very long story).
As you progress, what you take on for a multiclassing effort will also depend on your party's composition. I assume from your description that you're the party healer? Are you the only one? Are you looking to expand utility? Shore up a glaring weakness? I like where you're going with this, but don't overly plan out your character path too soon.
Either way, I like this. Much success to you!
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May the gentle moonlinght guide you to greater wisdom
If you want you could mix the Divine Soul Sorcerer with your Celestial Warlock to give access to the Cleric spells while still being a Charisma caster.
The Armor of Shadows invocation (Mage Armor on demand) combined with the Shield of Faith spell and Shield will allow you to spike to AC25 with max dex without any visible armor.
Yes, I've been looking at Divine Soul Sorcerer (possibly 3 levels to get Metamagic) ... it definitely would be nice to use Charisma for all of my spellcasting. Currently, my Wisdom modifier is only +1 but could bump to +2 at Level 4 (while my Charisma modifier is +3 and will bump to +4 at Level 4). If I dipped sorcerer (rather than cleric), I'd need to come up with a good story/reason that's acceptable to my DM. How does a character all of a sudden realize they have innate magic? Perhaps my character's innate magic was suppressed because she was raised in the Underdark and it starts to make an appearance after a period of good deeds (thanks to her celestial patron) on the surface? She's all about light, healing, and utility with some social skills (and of course EB).
I've also been looking at other cleric domains ... specifically Knowledge and Arcana. Both would provide proficiency in Arcana (which I don't currently have) and thus could help me use high-level spell scrolls (if found). Knowledge cleric isn't too much of a stretch (character-wise) because Milil (light domain) is a lesser deity under Oghma (knowledge domain). Arcana cleric would be harder to justify for my character.
Thanks for the AC tips! I was actually leaning toward Fiendish Vigor (8 temporary HP) rather than Armor or Shadows as a first Invocation (along with Agonizing Blast). My Dexterity modifier is +2 so AC=13 with leather armor (AC=14 with upgrade to studded leather). Armor of Shadows would boost my AC to 15. As a fairly new player with a non-melee character, I'm unsure if it's best to boost AC or boost temporary HP or just stay out of range.
One of my favourite characters is a Half-Elf Hexblade Warlock. At level 3 he has Pact of the Blade, Armor of Shadows, and Eldritch Blast/Agonizing Blast.
He can be thrown into a dungeon naked and still have his armor, weapons, and pretty fair ranged damage at his disposal.
Just explain the Divine Soul as Oghma paying special attention to the client of his servant Milil. Not so much that she becomes an actual cleric, but enough that she begins to manifest cleric like powers.
I'm currently level 5 life cleric 1/celestial warlock 4. He was born the bastard son of a noble and raised in an orphanage that prayed to Corellon. He became a Cleric and helped to heal the sick, when war came he was devastated by all the death and tried to fight back and protect more people rather than just heal them. Corellon sent a unicorn to make a pact and grant him power to fight and support the front lines.
My current character is a Glamour Bard | Celestial warlock MC, and it rocks. The original plan was divine sorc|celestial lock, but it got changed because <reasons>.
I'd definitely recommend the divine sorc over the cleric. I'd fluff it as a divine gift from Milil when your father prayed for you to be watched over. Another character I had (and LOVED) was a half-drow divine soul|hexblade of Lolth. The character's father was sacrificed to Lolth during conception, and a bit of that magic stuck to the child. So, my character had a bit of Lolth stuck to him, even though he was good (long story there) and he was always fighting against her attempts to infuriate and corrupt him.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
If you do too much multi-classing and dipping into other classes, it will prevent you from getting high level spells. Taking 1-2 levels in another class is fine, but when you start taking 3+ levels in other classes, it starts to really hold you back in terms of the power of the spells that you can cast compared to the power of the spells a single class full caster can cast.
My advice is to not take more than 2 levels in other classes with your first D&D character.
Yes, I am aware of the limitations of MC. I've never taken more than 3 levels, and I do not intend to. With warlocks in particular, I like to MC to get some low level spell slots to play with. I'm fond of dipping /out/ of warlock (mystic arcanums are not exciting, I don't worry about spell progression as much because it's really an archer class), but I am not fond of dipping /into/ warlock (made that mistake with a divine sorc|hexblade)
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Speaking from my current Descent into Avernus campaign, College of Swords Bard with two levels of Hexblade is pretty nice. Certainly having a +2 magic longsword helps, but it's a good combination even without that. If I didn't have a magic sword already I'd probably take a third level for Pact of the Blade and trade Armor of Shadows for Improved Pact Weapon but 2 levels gives me everything I need.
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Just wondering if this makes sense as a character arc ... a young half-drow attempts to escape the Underdark (evil mother) with her human bard father (follower of Milil, god of poetry and song). The father (who is sadly re-captured) prays to Milil to help protect his daughter (who escapes successfully). Milil sends a hollyphant (celestial), who makes a pact with the half-drow. She agrees to bring light to dark/evil places in exchange for healing/protection/attack powers. I'm thinking my neutral good, half-drow celestial warlock will really impress the hollyphant (and thereby Milil) around level 3/4. I'll then dip light cleric for 1-2 levels as the young warlock is called upon by Milil (light domain). I like the idea of a character who emphasizes healing (e.g., Healing Light, Healing Word, Cure Wounds, Spare the Dying) radiant/fire/lightning damage (e.g., Sacred Flame, Guiding Bolt, Word of Radiance, Burning Hands, Shocking Grasp), and utility (e.g., Mage Hand, Message, Mending, Prestidigitation). I might also include a couple of enchantment spells (e.g., Friends, Bless, Charm Person, Command, Suggestion, Charm Monster) to play up the warlock's high charisma. I might take Mask of Many Faces as an early invocation. To avoid getting caught in melee situations, the character will likely have an owl familiar to delivery touch-based healing and lightning damage (Shocking Grasp).
Because I'm relatively new to D&D, I'm eager for feedback on what I've come up with so far. I've read that it can be hard to justify multiclassing warlock/cleric in terms of character arc. Does what I have so far make sense? Could a NG half-drow have a LG celestial patron sent by a NG god (whom the warlock also serves)?
I'm starting a campaign with a Celestial Warlock/Life Cleric mix. We'll see how it goes.....
I think your character concept is wonderful. And I think crafting a character that allows you to - play a character - is far superior to attempting to min/max stats for effectiveness. The fun of this game is the mutual story you create. And every character in your party should bring something interesting to the table. I also don't see why the NG and LG pantheon powers wouldn't work together if it was to their mutual benefit. Alignment in D&D is a fluid thing and subject to change as actions (and the DM) dictate. What your DM agrees with is the key.
My concept is a younger noble daughter sent to the clergy to represent her family in the clerical ranks or be forced into an unwanted marriage for influence & power. And while she's mastered most of the basic roles of a clerical acolyte, she for some reason has a block on her healing powers. Knowing she'll be sent back to her family if she can't pass the test for her robes, she winds up in a pact with a Celestial who unlocks her healing powers. But the clergy, sensing the hint of warlock in her awakened healing powers, rejects her and tosses her out of their ranks. But their decision doesn't affect her connection to her deity or her patron. So she sets off on a career of adventuring to avoid the unwanted marriage.
I'm a huge fan of celestial warlocks. I don't see any problems with your backstory. enjoy it!
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
This seems cool, though I've never played a celestial. The backstory is compelling RP flavor, so kudos.
If you want to go celestial / healer, what you say is perfect.
If you want to go celestial / rescue people from the Underdark, like slaves... or your dad ... then I might suggest adding a Gloomstalker Ranger. 3 levels gets you Umbral sight and Dread Ambusher, and you don't sacrifice the 9th level Arcanum. Gives you a bit of combat savvy, too.
From a magic standpoint, in addition to charm and heal, you may want some form of teleport, like Fey Ancestry or similar. "Get out of Range" is important if you're a primary healer. Although I'm a Warlock, the party I'm in has no cleric and I'm the primary healer (very long story).
As you progress, what you take on for a multiclassing effort will also depend on your party's composition. I assume from your description that you're the party healer? Are you the only one? Are you looking to expand utility? Shore up a glaring weakness? I like where you're going with this, but don't overly plan out your character path too soon.
Either way, I like this. Much success to you!
May the gentle moonlinght guide you to greater wisdom
If you want you could mix the Divine Soul Sorcerer with your Celestial Warlock to give access to the Cleric spells while still being a Charisma caster.
The Armor of Shadows invocation (Mage Armor on demand) combined with the Shield of Faith spell and Shield will allow you to spike to AC25 with max dex without any visible armor.
Yes, I've been looking at Divine Soul Sorcerer (possibly 3 levels to get Metamagic) ... it definitely would be nice to use Charisma for all of my spellcasting. Currently, my Wisdom modifier is only +1 but could bump to +2 at Level 4 (while my Charisma modifier is +3 and will bump to +4 at Level 4). If I dipped sorcerer (rather than cleric), I'd need to come up with a good story/reason that's acceptable to my DM. How does a character all of a sudden realize they have innate magic? Perhaps my character's innate magic was suppressed because she was raised in the Underdark and it starts to make an appearance after a period of good deeds (thanks to her celestial patron) on the surface? She's all about light, healing, and utility with some social skills (and of course EB).
I've also been looking at other cleric domains ... specifically Knowledge and Arcana. Both would provide proficiency in Arcana (which I don't currently have) and thus could help me use high-level spell scrolls (if found). Knowledge cleric isn't too much of a stretch (character-wise) because Milil (light domain) is a lesser deity under Oghma (knowledge domain). Arcana cleric would be harder to justify for my character.
Thanks for the AC tips! I was actually leaning toward Fiendish Vigor (8 temporary HP) rather than Armor or Shadows as a first Invocation (along with Agonizing Blast). My Dexterity modifier is +2 so AC=13 with leather armor (AC=14 with upgrade to studded leather). Armor of Shadows would boost my AC to 15. As a fairly new player with a non-melee character, I'm unsure if it's best to boost AC or boost temporary HP or just stay out of range.
One of my favourite characters is a Half-Elf Hexblade Warlock. At level 3 he has Pact of the Blade, Armor of Shadows, and Eldritch Blast/Agonizing Blast.
He can be thrown into a dungeon naked and still have his armor, weapons, and pretty fair ranged damage at his disposal.
Just explain the Divine Soul as Oghma paying special attention to the client of his servant Milil. Not so much that she becomes an actual cleric, but enough that she begins to manifest cleric like powers.
I'm currently level 5 life cleric 1/celestial warlock 4. He was born the bastard son of a noble and raised in an orphanage that prayed to Corellon. He became a Cleric and helped to heal the sick, when war came he was devastated by all the death and tried to fight back and protect more people rather than just heal them. Corellon sent a unicorn to make a pact and grant him power to fight and support the front lines.
My current character is a Glamour Bard | Celestial warlock MC, and it rocks. The original plan was divine sorc|celestial lock, but it got changed because <reasons>.
I'd definitely recommend the divine sorc over the cleric. I'd fluff it as a divine gift from Milil when your father prayed for you to be watched over. Another character I had (and LOVED) was a half-drow divine soul|hexblade of Lolth. The character's father was sacrificed to Lolth during conception, and a bit of that magic stuck to the child. So, my character had a bit of Lolth stuck to him, even though he was good (long story there) and he was always fighting against her attempts to infuriate and corrupt him.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
If you do too much multi-classing and dipping into other classes, it will prevent you from getting high level spells. Taking 1-2 levels in another class is fine, but when you start taking 3+ levels in other classes, it starts to really hold you back in terms of the power of the spells that you can cast compared to the power of the spells a single class full caster can cast.
My advice is to not take more than 2 levels in other classes with your first D&D character.
Yes, I am aware of the limitations of MC. I've never taken more than 3 levels, and I do not intend to. With warlocks in particular, I like to MC to get some low level spell slots to play with. I'm fond of dipping /out/ of warlock (mystic arcanums are not exciting, I don't worry about spell progression as much because it's really an archer class), but I am not fond of dipping /into/ warlock (made that mistake with a divine sorc|hexblade)
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
Speaking from my current Descent into Avernus campaign, College of Swords Bard with two levels of Hexblade is pretty nice. Certainly having a +2 magic longsword helps, but it's a good combination even without that. If I didn't have a magic sword already I'd probably take a third level for Pact of the Blade and trade Armor of Shadows for Improved Pact Weapon but 2 levels gives me everything I need.