I have a Facebook account that I use to look at other people's Facebook stuff, but I don't post anything and I'm not a member of any groups and haven't sent out any friend requests. Thus, I can look at stuff I want without all the drama. I just found 3 different groups of people in the Phoenix area who want to get a game together. I joined all three of them yesterday. Could be a good resource. All you have to do is Facebook search for "Dungeons & Dragons Phoenix". Hope that helps! I may have already found a group for this Sunday at 7:00 PM. Easy peasy. :)
I'm going to take 5 levels in Warlock, then multiclass over to Paladin the rest of the way. I'm trying to make a Pally that can employ stealth, thieves' tools, and sleight of hand. My short term equipment goal is something like a breastplate and shield, which will give me an AC of 18 without disadvantage on stealth. I'll probably take defense as my Pally's first fighting style choice, bringing that up to 19. And once I've pumped Charisma up to 20, I'm going to put any future points into Dexterity, further raising AC if I flip back to something like studded leather armor, which doesn't have a maximum your Dex mod can contribute to AC.
By mid game (level 9 or 10) I'll be able to DPS with divine smite, (even more effectively since I'll have level 3 Warlock spell slots that replenish after a short rest), and I can tank just fine with an AC of 19 (or higher) and damage avoidance spells like Shield. I'll also be able to heal per usual as a pally, and I'll have a respectable stealth/thieves' tools/sleight of hand modifier, (currently +4 at level 1), along with spells like invisible that make stealth even more effective.
I've always loved playing a Paladin, but it's hard in campaigns where stealth is needed and I'm wearing platemail. So, I'm gonna give this a shot. :)
Sure! Paladin is going to be my "main" class with this character, but there are so many benefits to taking Hexblade Warlock first. First, you get a solid ranged attack cantrip in Eldritch Blast, so my pally won't have to carry around a ranged weapon later on. And just like all cantrips, the power of Eldritch Blast (best one in the game, IMO) improves with total CHARACTER level, as opposed to class level, so even after I transfer from Warlock to Paladin at level 6, my Eldritch Blast will keep getting more powerful.
But the real benefit to taking levels in Warlock is that Warlock spell slots replenish after a short rest, (as opposed to a long rest). Those spell slots are super important later once I'm a pally, because the paladin's main "burst" damage attack is a melee strike with Divine Smite. Divine Smite uses spell slots, so having those replenish after a short rest is HUGE. A paladin using Divine Smite is one of (if not the) best melee damage dealers in the game. With my old level 12 Paladin I had in a previous campaign, I once attacked a Tarasque with Divine Smite using what I think was a 4th or 5th level spell slot and literally took it down. Granted, I got a nat 20 on the attack roll, and other party members had already damaged it quite a bit, but it was still a MASSIVE amount of damage in one hit. And it's radiant dmg, so not a lot of monsters can resist it.
The point is, what limits a Paladin's ability to whip unholy amounts of ass like that are his or her number of spell slots. They don't get a lot to begin with, (Paladin isn't a true caster class), and if you have to use those spell slots to heal a party member or remove diseases or something, before you know it you have none left. But If I can get at least some of those slots back after a short rest, I don't have to conserve them nearly as much.
Hexblade Warlock is also perfect for Paladin because they can use Charisma as their weapon modifier with Pact Weapon, (instead of strength or dexterity), so all I have to do is pump up Charisma and literally every warlock and paladin attack and ability is improved. In other words, with this build, all stats are "dump" stats except for Charisma. Now, that being said, obviously I have to put points in Constitution for hit points, and you have to have a minimum 13 strength to multi-class from Warlock to Paladin, but just having one single stat (Charisma) that really drives everything, is nice.
Originally I was only going to take 3 levels in Hexblade Warlock, but you get an ability score increase at level 4, and 3rd level Warlock spell slots at level 5, so it makes the most sense to take a full 5 levels of Hexblade Warlock before multiclassing to Paladin.
I'm choosing Variant Human as the race so I can get the Warcaster Feat right off the bat. Trying to be a caster and a tank is a bit problematic when trying to use concentration spells like Bless or Haste, but the Warcaster feat makes everything gel perfectly. Plus, you can get Warlock abilities like Devil's Sight, which allows you to see in magical darkness. I cannot overstate how powerful that is, especially since my Warlock will be able to cast the Darkness spell. In other words, I can cast Darkness, making me invisible and everyone else blind, and then just walk around smoking fools with advantage since I'm the only one who can see. There's more to it than that, obviously, but you get the idea. :)
That's all I can think of. I'm sure there are other reasons, but I've been experimenting with this build for a while, and this is the final version of it. Things have come and gone alone the way, but to recap, the main reasons for that dip is to be able to use your Charisma modifier for everything, (even attack and damage rolls), and having some of your spell slots replenish after a short rest.
In addition to all that, I'm trying something very eclectic with this Hexblade Warlock Paladin... he's going to also be the party's thief. Whaaaaa??? Yeah, I ain't playing. By taking Defense as the paladin's first fighting style, and wearing armor that doesn't impose disadvantage on stealth, AND gets a bonus from Dexterity, (Breastplate), I should have an AC of 19 if I use a shield. AC will probably go even higher than that, since I'm going to pump up my Dexterity score once I've gotten Charisma to 20.
Since I am to misbehave, I took the Criminal/Spy background so I could gain proficiency with Thieves' tools, and I took Sleight of Hand and Stealth. The only other proficiencies I have are the "face" ones, Persuasion, Intimidation, and Deception. So very quickly I'm going to be able to be the party's face, the party's tank, the party's main damage dealer, and I'll be super stealthy. If there were a downside to this build, it would be the low Intelligence and Wisdom scores, which could impact my saving throws. But then, the paladin's aura adds my Charisma modifier TO those saves, so again, it all works perfectly. Oh, and before I forget, I'm planning on the pally being a Vengeance Paladin, in case you were gonna give this build a try. I hope that helps! :)
Oh, also, the new game we just started on Sunday night is over Microsoft Teams, so it's not in person. At least not yet. Once this virus stuff goes away, I'd definitely like to host some in person games. But for now, just playing remotely is probably safer. :)
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I have a Facebook account that I use to look at other people's Facebook stuff, but I don't post anything and I'm not a member of any groups and haven't sent out any friend requests. Thus, I can look at stuff I want without all the drama. I just found 3 different groups of people in the Phoenix area who want to get a game together. I joined all three of them yesterday. Could be a good resource. All you have to do is Facebook search for "Dungeons & Dragons Phoenix". Hope that helps! I may have already found a group for this Sunday at 7:00 PM. Easy peasy. :)
is that the borne? one?
Yes, Borne is in one of those groups. I think he's the admin, going by the name, "Jason Borne."
yeah im in the group with travis we just formed i think a day before you guys.
let me know how that goes!!!
Check out my new Level 1 Hexblade Human Variant Warlock: https://ddb.ac/characters/32909658/NLXvZT
I'm going to take 5 levels in Warlock, then multiclass over to Paladin the rest of the way. I'm trying to make a Pally that can employ stealth, thieves' tools, and sleight of hand. My short term equipment goal is something like a breastplate and shield, which will give me an AC of 18 without disadvantage on stealth. I'll probably take defense as my Pally's first fighting style choice, bringing that up to 19. And once I've pumped Charisma up to 20, I'm going to put any future points into Dexterity, further raising AC if I flip back to something like studded leather armor, which doesn't have a maximum your Dex mod can contribute to AC.
By mid game (level 9 or 10) I'll be able to DPS with divine smite, (even more effectively since I'll have level 3 Warlock spell slots that replenish after a short rest), and I can tank just fine with an AC of 19 (or higher) and damage avoidance spells like Shield. I'll also be able to heal per usual as a pally, and I'll have a respectable stealth/thieves' tools/sleight of hand modifier, (currently +4 at level 1), along with spells like invisible that make stealth even more effective.
I've always loved playing a Paladin, but it's hard in campaigns where stealth is needed and I'm wearing platemail. So, I'm gonna give this a shot. :)
Looks cool
So ya lookin at doin a pbp thing or is this character for an in person game
And can you explain the multi classing level dip you were talking about?
Sure! Paladin is going to be my "main" class with this character, but there are so many benefits to taking Hexblade Warlock first. First, you get a solid ranged attack cantrip in Eldritch Blast, so my pally won't have to carry around a ranged weapon later on. And just like all cantrips, the power of Eldritch Blast (best one in the game, IMO) improves with total CHARACTER level, as opposed to class level, so even after I transfer from Warlock to Paladin at level 6, my Eldritch Blast will keep getting more powerful.
But the real benefit to taking levels in Warlock is that Warlock spell slots replenish after a short rest, (as opposed to a long rest). Those spell slots are super important later once I'm a pally, because the paladin's main "burst" damage attack is a melee strike with Divine Smite. Divine Smite uses spell slots, so having those replenish after a short rest is HUGE. A paladin using Divine Smite is one of (if not the) best melee damage dealers in the game. With my old level 12 Paladin I had in a previous campaign, I once attacked a Tarasque with Divine Smite using what I think was a 4th or 5th level spell slot and literally took it down. Granted, I got a nat 20 on the attack roll, and other party members had already damaged it quite a bit, but it was still a MASSIVE amount of damage in one hit. And it's radiant dmg, so not a lot of monsters can resist it.
The point is, what limits a Paladin's ability to whip unholy amounts of ass like that are his or her number of spell slots. They don't get a lot to begin with, (Paladin isn't a true caster class), and if you have to use those spell slots to heal a party member or remove diseases or something, before you know it you have none left. But If I can get at least some of those slots back after a short rest, I don't have to conserve them nearly as much.
Hexblade Warlock is also perfect for Paladin because they can use Charisma as their weapon modifier with Pact Weapon, (instead of strength or dexterity), so all I have to do is pump up Charisma and literally every warlock and paladin attack and ability is improved. In other words, with this build, all stats are "dump" stats except for Charisma. Now, that being said, obviously I have to put points in Constitution for hit points, and you have to have a minimum 13 strength to multi-class from Warlock to Paladin, but just having one single stat (Charisma) that really drives everything, is nice.
Originally I was only going to take 3 levels in Hexblade Warlock, but you get an ability score increase at level 4, and 3rd level Warlock spell slots at level 5, so it makes the most sense to take a full 5 levels of Hexblade Warlock before multiclassing to Paladin.
I'm choosing Variant Human as the race so I can get the Warcaster Feat right off the bat. Trying to be a caster and a tank is a bit problematic when trying to use concentration spells like Bless or Haste, but the Warcaster feat makes everything gel perfectly. Plus, you can get Warlock abilities like Devil's Sight, which allows you to see in magical darkness. I cannot overstate how powerful that is, especially since my Warlock will be able to cast the Darkness spell. In other words, I can cast Darkness, making me invisible and everyone else blind, and then just walk around smoking fools with advantage since I'm the only one who can see. There's more to it than that, obviously, but you get the idea. :)
That's all I can think of. I'm sure there are other reasons, but I've been experimenting with this build for a while, and this is the final version of it. Things have come and gone alone the way, but to recap, the main reasons for that dip is to be able to use your Charisma modifier for everything, (even attack and damage rolls), and having some of your spell slots replenish after a short rest.
In addition to all that, I'm trying something very eclectic with this Hexblade Warlock Paladin... he's going to also be the party's thief. Whaaaaa??? Yeah, I ain't playing. By taking Defense as the paladin's first fighting style, and wearing armor that doesn't impose disadvantage on stealth, AND gets a bonus from Dexterity, (Breastplate), I should have an AC of 19 if I use a shield. AC will probably go even higher than that, since I'm going to pump up my Dexterity score once I've gotten Charisma to 20.
Since I am to misbehave, I took the Criminal/Spy background so I could gain proficiency with Thieves' tools, and I took Sleight of Hand and Stealth. The only other proficiencies I have are the "face" ones, Persuasion, Intimidation, and Deception. So very quickly I'm going to be able to be the party's face, the party's tank, the party's main damage dealer, and I'll be super stealthy. If there were a downside to this build, it would be the low Intelligence and Wisdom scores, which could impact my saving throws. But then, the paladin's aura adds my Charisma modifier TO those saves, so again, it all works perfectly. Oh, and before I forget, I'm planning on the pally being a Vengeance Paladin, in case you were gonna give this build a try. I hope that helps! :)
Oh, also, the new game we just started on Sunday night is over Microsoft Teams, so it's not in person. At least not yet. Once this virus stuff goes away, I'd definitely like to host some in person games. But for now, just playing remotely is probably safer. :)