Hi im new to DnD and have a question about the combination of a Warlock and a Greatsword. My Idea is to play a Warlock which has a pact with a Gin. My idea is now that i would receive a Greatsword in exchange for my 3 starter weapon. Does this make sense, is it balanced or is there a better combination with the warlock?
If you really want to play a melee Warlock, there's a great subclass for that called Hexblade. Honestly, the flavor/story of Hexblade is pretty lame, so I very much recommend only using it mechanically, but using something else for flavor (including Djinn). Pay extra attention to Eldritch Invocations that are melee related, like Lifedrinker, Thirsting Blade, and others in the same book as Hexblade. Also, though this probably goes without saying, you should choose the Pact of the Blade feature when you reach 3rd level.
As for the starting greatsword, there's really no reason why you shouldn't be able to start with it. It's not like they're horribly expensive like plate armor, so it should be balanced.
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There is nothing mechanically incompatible about playing a hexblade warlock whose patron is a Djinn. Write your lore however you and your DM like it, then just use the subclass mechanics, and you can go to town with that greatsword. Pick up Great Weapon Master feat if you really want to swing for the fences.
Hexblade would give you martial weapon proficiencies so you could use the greatsword, if the DM doesn’t want to just give it out. Genie patron doesn’t but if you went pact of the blade any pact weapon you summon you are proficient with, so could go that route if you want the genie patron subclass features over the hexblade
Any Warlock, regardless of their patron, can become proficient with a Greatsword, although Hexblade Warlocks most easily get the most out of the weapon.
However, , the biggest problem you're going to face is attempting to start the game with a Great Sword. Once you reach 3rd level and gain the Pact of the Blade feature, you can use it to conjure a Greatsword and be proficient with it, no matter what your subclass is. But for those first two levels, unless your DM chooses to generously grant you proficiency with that specific weapon, you won't be able to wield a Greatsword with proficiency.
On the plus side, the "Genie's Wrath" feature of the Genie Warlock can apply to anything that has an attack roll, so you can combine it with your greatsword attacks. If this is the direction you want to go with this character, I'd recommend you grab the Armor of Shadows and Fiendish Vigor invocations at level 2 to make sure you're better at surviving in melee combat, since you normally only get light armor and you're not likely to have great HP.
Starting as a Hexblade, you also won't be able to attack with Charisma using a Greatsword unless you take Pact of the Blade at level 3 as Hex Warrior excludes 2-handed weapons.
Maybe you could us a Longsword for levels 1 and 2 (you can still attack using 2-hands as it is versatile) and just flavor it as a Greatsword until you hit level three and really up your Bankai when you can summon a Greatsword.
Hi im new to DnD and have a question about the combination of a Warlock and a Greatsword. My Idea is to play a Warlock which has a pact with a Gin. My idea is now that i would receive a Greatsword in exchange for my 3 starter weapon. Does this make sense, is it balanced or is there a better combination with the warlock?
I think maybe a better way to word this to a new player is that your warlock class/subclass features are the things you're getting from your patron. I would not houserule in your own mechanical benefits of the pact for your first character.
As others have mentioned, your idea of a pact-granted weapon is already a thing in the game. At level 3 you can choose Pact of the Blade and get exactly what you're looking for. You can do this as any subclass, but the two best options here look to be Hexblade (which makes a melee warlock more viable by allowing you to attack with Charisma) or Genie (which fits your flavor well).
As for "better combinations," well there very well may be. Even Hexblades often perform better by just using Eldritch Blast from a distance. You might be better off as a Paladin or Eldritch Knight fighter if you truly want to focus on swinging a weapon around with a little spellcasting added in (and either of these characters could also form a pact with a genie - warlocks don't get a monopoly on that backstory. Any class can say their powers come from some other being). But if you want to be a warlock with a giant sword, it can work just fine.
Any Warlock, regardless of their patron, can become proficient with a Greatsword, although Hexblade Warlocks most easily get the most out of the weapon.
However, , the biggest problem you're going to face is attempting to start the game with a Great Sword. Once you reach 3rd level and gain the Pact of the Blade feature, you can use it to conjure a Greatsword and be proficient with it, no matter what your subclass is. But for those first two levels, unless your DM chooses to generously grant you proficiency with that specific weapon, you won't be able to wield a Greatsword with proficiency.
On the plus side, the "Genie's Wrath" feature of the Genie Warlock can apply to anything that has an attack roll, so you can combine it with your greatsword attacks. If this is the direction you want to go with this character, I'd recommend you grab the Armor of Shadows and Fiendish Vigor invocations at level 2 to make sure you're better at surviving in melee combat, since you normally only get light armor and you're not likely to have great HP.
Just a quick correction. The hexblade warlock starts off with proficiency in all martial weapons so they can use a Great sword from level 1 if they like. The problem is that the hex warrior feature that allows a Hexblade to use charisma for attack and damage does not work with two handed weapons. As a result, although they are proficient, a hexblade must use strength to make attacks with a greatsword until they choose pact of the blade at level 3. The hex warrior feature works with any pact weapon so from level 3 onward, if the hexblade has a greatsword as their pact weapon, they can use it with charisma.
Bargain with your DM for a trade off (A cantrip might work here...)
If you go one of those three options, you will need to have Strength to bolster your attack and damage rolls. A good Charisma is still useful, but there are so many ways to play D&D you don't need to jump on the "Warlocks are only good with high Cha score" train. Sure its 'easier' but D&D can be super fun when its a cool concept, not just the 'best math'
Again, if you want the Genie patron for the class powers, try one of the above three options. A Human can get that feat from the start (or the optional D&D One rules). Otherwise a Hexblade patron can be a weapon, or a being that made a weapon...
"Legends speak of a great and power entity known as Djin Djarin, a mysterious air genie weaponsmith who is rumored to never reveal their face. It is said their most powerful weapon, the Dusksabre is gifted to a foundling who is bound to Djarin..."
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Remember there are Rules as Written (RAW), Rules as Intended (RAI), and Rules as Fun (RAF). There's some great RAW, RAI, and RAF here... please check in with your DM to determine how they want to adjudicate the RAW/RAI/RAF for your game.
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Hi im new to DnD and have a question about the combination of a Warlock and a Greatsword.
My Idea is to play a Warlock which has a pact with a Gin. My idea is now that i would receive a Greatsword in exchange for my 3 starter weapon. Does this make sense, is it balanced or is there a better combination with the warlock?
If you really want to play a melee Warlock, there's a great subclass for that called Hexblade. Honestly, the flavor/story of Hexblade is pretty lame, so I very much recommend only using it mechanically, but using something else for flavor (including Djinn). Pay extra attention to Eldritch Invocations that are melee related, like Lifedrinker, Thirsting Blade, and others in the same book as Hexblade. Also, though this probably goes without saying, you should choose the Pact of the Blade feature when you reach 3rd level.
As for the starting greatsword, there's really no reason why you shouldn't be able to start with it. It's not like they're horribly expensive like plate armor, so it should be balanced.
Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny.
Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat Off - Mod Hat Also Off (I'm not a mod)
There is nothing mechanically incompatible about playing a hexblade warlock whose patron is a Djinn. Write your lore however you and your DM like it, then just use the subclass mechanics, and you can go to town with that greatsword. Pick up Great Weapon Master feat if you really want to swing for the fences.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Hexblade would give you martial weapon proficiencies so you could use the greatsword, if the DM doesn’t want to just give it out. Genie patron doesn’t but if you went pact of the blade any pact weapon you summon you are proficient with, so could go that route if you want the genie patron subclass features over the hexblade
Any Warlock, regardless of their patron, can become proficient with a Greatsword, although Hexblade Warlocks most easily get the most out of the weapon.
However, , the biggest problem you're going to face is attempting to start the game with a Great Sword. Once you reach 3rd level and gain the Pact of the Blade feature, you can use it to conjure a Greatsword and be proficient with it, no matter what your subclass is. But for those first two levels, unless your DM chooses to generously grant you proficiency with that specific weapon, you won't be able to wield a Greatsword with proficiency.
On the plus side, the "Genie's Wrath" feature of the Genie Warlock can apply to anything that has an attack roll, so you can combine it with your greatsword attacks. If this is the direction you want to go with this character, I'd recommend you grab the Armor of Shadows and Fiendish Vigor invocations at level 2 to make sure you're better at surviving in melee combat, since you normally only get light armor and you're not likely to have great HP.
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Starting as a Hexblade, you also won't be able to attack with Charisma using a Greatsword unless you take Pact of the Blade at level 3 as Hex Warrior excludes 2-handed weapons.
Maybe you could us a Longsword for levels 1 and 2 (you can still attack using 2-hands as it is versatile) and just flavor it as a Greatsword until you hit level three and really up your Bankai when you can summon a Greatsword.
I think maybe a better way to word this to a new player is that your warlock class/subclass features are the things you're getting from your patron. I would not houserule in your own mechanical benefits of the pact for your first character.
As others have mentioned, your idea of a pact-granted weapon is already a thing in the game. At level 3 you can choose Pact of the Blade and get exactly what you're looking for. You can do this as any subclass, but the two best options here look to be Hexblade (which makes a melee warlock more viable by allowing you to attack with Charisma) or Genie (which fits your flavor well).
As for "better combinations," well there very well may be. Even Hexblades often perform better by just using Eldritch Blast from a distance. You might be better off as a Paladin or Eldritch Knight fighter if you truly want to focus on swinging a weapon around with a little spellcasting added in (and either of these characters could also form a pact with a genie - warlocks don't get a monopoly on that backstory. Any class can say their powers come from some other being). But if you want to be a warlock with a giant sword, it can work just fine.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
Just a quick correction. The hexblade warlock starts off with proficiency in all martial weapons so they can use a Great sword from level 1 if they like. The problem is that the hex warrior feature that allows a Hexblade to use charisma for attack and damage does not work with two handed weapons. As a result, although they are proficient, a hexblade must use strength to make attacks with a greatsword until they choose pact of the blade at level 3. The hex warrior feature works with any pact weapon so from level 3 onward, if the hexblade has a greatsword as their pact weapon, they can use it with charisma.
So getting a greatsword isn't the real issue. Even if you don't start with one, getting one should be fairly easy.
The real issue is being proficient with a Greatsword, and what ability score you want to use for it.
As mentioned a Hexblade warlock with Pact of the Blade gets all this with Cha as your melee and spellcasting stat, which it the obvious synergy.
Still, there is nothing stopping you from pursuing other options such as,
If you go one of those three options, you will need to have Strength to bolster your attack and damage rolls. A good Charisma is still useful, but there are so many ways to play D&D you don't need to jump on the "Warlocks are only good with high Cha score" train. Sure its 'easier' but D&D can be super fun when its a cool concept, not just the 'best math'
Again, if you want the Genie patron for the class powers, try one of the above three options. A Human can get that feat from the start (or the optional D&D One rules). Otherwise a Hexblade patron can be a weapon, or a being that made a weapon...
Remember there are Rules as Written (RAW), Rules as Intended (RAI), and Rules as Fun (RAF). There's some great RAW, RAI, and RAF here... please check in with your DM to determine how they want to adjudicate the RAW/RAI/RAF for your game.