Start as Warlock or as Fighter?

Originally, I started as a fighter, but could not decide on a Constitution-boosting stat that fit the character I was going for. Then I figured, what if I didn’t start as a fighter and took Resilient - Constitution?

My plan is to start Warlock from levels 1-5 and then take Fighter at level 6 once I’ve earned the major spells and abilities from being a Warlock.

Pros: 

Free weapon (pact of the blade)

Stealth enabled

Less delay on spells and warlock features up to level 5

Extra save proficiency

Cons:

”Waste” money on Studded Leather

Can’t use scale mail or shield until level 6

Delayed fighting style

No constitution save proficiency until level 13

Am I making a mistake switching proficiencies around unnecessarily, or is there something to not delaying my first warlock stuff by one level.

If you could, please let me know!

www.dndbeyond.com/sheet-pdfs/Actionsparda_165040730.pdf

I mean, just don’t buy studded armor if you think it will be a waste- an extra point of AC is nice but not really essential.

About the only reason to start as Fighter is for Heavy Armor, but anything that will actually outperform Medium/Armor of Shadows requires an STR investment as well, so it’s a question of if you think the stat spread is worth it.

I think it’s actually 2 AC, taking me from 12 to 14, but I see your point.

I forgot to mention too that I didn’t want a strength-based or heavy armor character, so that works. I‘m not positive whether or not it’s worth it to dump strength in favor of a dexterity build, but it’s what I feel my character would be like, so as long as it “works” well enough.

Thanks for your comment!

Can you take Armor of Shadows for a AC of 13 plus and dex?

If you're going for a melee character, which pact of the blade suggests, then I think starting with one level in fighter is better. You get so much from just a single level (con save proficiency, medium/heavy armor, weapon mastery, fighting style). On the other hand, if you intend to stay at range, then starting with warlock should be fine.

I could try armor of shadows, sure. I honestly forgot about it. Thanks!

As far as melee vs range goes, I’d prefer to stay at range, but would like the ability to fight up-close of need be. Plus War Caster is such a great feat and I would hate to replace it with Spell Sniper. I may want to consider switching back to better optimize. Thank you for your opinion.

Why would you want to delay the benefits of Fighter? lvl 1 to lvl 2 is virtually 1 to 2 encounters. You can get on with your Warlock life hardly missing a beat.

You get Martial Weapons and Armor 

Fighting Style

Weapon Masteries

CON save

Just a tad more hp.

IMO just on principle you should start as the class you intend to put the majority of your levels in, rather than one you're dipping for perks. That's what your character is, not the 1-2 levels of Fighter you're taking for some side perks.

Quote from The_Ace_of_Rogues >>

IMO just on principle you should start as the class you intend to put the majority of your levels in, rather than one you're dipping for perks. That's what your character is, not the 1-2 levels of Fighter you're taking for some side perks.

Perhaps. Are you what you wanted to be when you were a kid? Did you maintain that dream while you went through high school? Are you in the profession you went to college for?

I'm not. People change their minds about the direction of their lives all the time. The same could be said for PCs. And really the OP is looking at the Fighter dip for the advantages anyway.

It is a good principle to hold, but not everybody will agree.

You both bring up some good points

From a story narrative, I feel like it makes more sense to take the dip later because it is something so different than what my character is based on. Doing it this way does give me 3 stat save proficiencies at level 13 and keeps all my stats even in the end.

Gameplay-wise though, I’m starting to think I should just take two asi feats to bring my Con up to 20 and end up with an odd score when I take my level 19 Boon. Doing this gets my stats up faster and gets my con saving throws up at the beginning.

The more I think about it, i could make it work in the story. His dreams of becoming something more never came to pass at first, so he had to basically learn how to be a fighter. Nothing against fighters; it’s just not the path he envisioned himself taking with how he is physically (his stats). Then he saves the imp (his future Pact of the Chain familiar) from those paladin rivals of his and obtains his Background, which ultimately gets the attention of the Celestials not wanting him as an enemy. He is even reluctant to become a Celestial Warlock at this point because at least the fiends seemed to help him, but he ultimately wants to help people more directly, and so he takes the path of light.

Taking the fighter dip later makes more sense with my current campaign where I figured my current character would have found him after those events and offered to train him physically at a slower pace to accommodate his lack of strength. His friends would have continued this during my campaign character’s adventures. Eventually, he would prove himself as a fighter. If my current character were to die, I figure this one would get a vision from his patron and the young hero would go on a quest far from home to help his mentor… only to have gotten the message too late, further giving him doubts about the Celestials.

Anyway, hope you all don’t mind that bit of story telling. It just helps me to write stuff out to think about it and get feedback. As much as I hate ending on an ofd number, it won’t make w difference if I never reach it due to a bad build, so I think I’ll start fighter and go War Caster at level 5, ASI +2 Cha at 9, ASI +2 Con at 13, again at level 17, and finally Boon of Recovery +1 Cha at level 20.

My other question is whether or not to take the Epic Boon +1 in Cha or Con. Con is the skill I would like to build on to get more health out of Searing Vengeance and the Boon of Recovery, but apparently it is harder to boost Con in game than other stats, and I would like an even stat ASAP.

So, what do you all think?

I think you should play and have fun. Look forward to your PCs advancement as it comes.

Don't be disappointed when you don't reach 10 or 15 or 20.