In my current campaign I’m playing a wood elf shadow Monk(5 lvl)/Rogue(1 lvl). Until recently we didn’t really have a dedicated healer class with us so to help mitigate this my DM gave me some awesome hand wraps that gave me a leach effect (After Every successful hit with my fist, it allows me to take 1d4 damage to heal himself or any one other willing living creature within 60ft for 1d6 health.). Well in the background he was tracking how much life I was giving and once a hit 100hp given I found out the wraps were cursed and they started to talk to me when I was meditating and only in whispers. After a few sessions talking with them and defeating a simulacrum of our current BBEG the DM gave me a hint that if I wanted my powers to grow I would need to use the other ability more (you may spend 2 ki points as a free action to sheathe your fists in a necrotic energy. Until the start of your next turn, your unarmed strikes deal a bonus 1d6 necrotic damage.) and pump more life into the wraps. So while taking a long rest I asked if I could use the leach on myself and just cycle health back in and just repeat the process while everyone slept. He got this gleam in his eye and said sure so I end up dumping about 70ish points into it while also healing myself. This is where I way have f***ed up or made something really cool happen I don’t know. Now the Wraps have become fully sentient and can talk to me in full. DM asks me as the wraps “What do I want out of out “partnership””. And I say jokingly “Give me power become my patron”. DM froze for a moment and asked outside of game if I was serious because if that’s what I want we can work it out (He only likes multi-classing if it makes since. that way no one makes broken builds). So I just wanted to know what some other people think is it worth it.
TLDR: Magic hand wraps are giving me the chance to go into a 3 class for warlock. Is it worth it? And thoughts on multi-classing in general.
First thing I want to say is that "making sense" and "broken builds" are not mutually exclusive at all. Yes, there are lazy munchkin players that don't really bother to explain their multi-classed character, but it's also fully possible to create a min-max build that you think is awesome and then retroactively build a really cool, engaging character around it. So try not to look at "cool story" and "mechanically beneficial" as opposing forces.
I also want to point out that warlocks do not have a monopoly on dark deals. In fact, I kind of prefer alternatives because if a warlock's patron is displeased and decides to take away its gifts, the warlock is no longer a capable adventurer, which is kind of a game-stopper.
As it is, unless you have pretty good charisma a few levels in warlock will give you less than what you're already getting from a powerful magic item. It's not really going to feel like you're unlocking some amazing power through a deal when you already got the best part for free. Personally I'd work within the classes you have. At monk 6 you get Shadow Step, which honestly is cooler and spookier than what you'd get from Warlock 1. You can still flavor it like that ability came from your wraps and maybe they can upgrade it over time. Another good choice that would still work story-wise is to take 2 more levels in Rogue and go Phantom for more edgy benefits.
That's fair the broken builds thing came about because we had a friend that built a cleric/wiz that at like lvl 4 somehow had proficiency's in about 12 of the skills and like 4 expertise so it put a bad taste in the DMs mouth and and a whole list of other reasons but that's a whole other thing. But you make a really great point in just sticking with what i got. I was already planing on going a couple more into rogue so maybe sticking with my original plan if for the best. Thank you very much!
Also consider you can rely on spells that don't utilize your charisma stat if it is relatively low. Self buffs and things like Shadow blade come to mind. Maybe if you go that route ask if the shadow blade spell can still benefit from the wraps.
Most of the bonus spells from Hexblade (which this scenario would definitely be) are non reliant on having a strong charisma stat so that is a plus. The armor proficiency and such isn't so useful but meh, still fun. I would avoid the pact of the blade at 3rd level and grab one of the other two. Definitely doable to say the least. Maybe see if you can get a skill or something instead of the proficiencies, depending on how nice your DM is.
ANYWAY I could see it working decently well for you.
"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
In my current campaign I’m playing a wood elf shadow Monk(5 lvl)/Rogue(1 lvl). Until recently we didn’t really have a dedicated healer class with us so to help mitigate this my DM gave me some awesome hand wraps that gave me a leach effect (After Every successful hit with my fist, it allows me to take 1d4 damage to heal himself or any one other willing living creature within 60ft for 1d6 health.). Well in the background he was tracking how much life I was giving and once a hit 100hp given I found out the wraps were cursed and they started to talk to me when I was meditating and only in whispers. After a few sessions talking with them and defeating a simulacrum of our current BBEG the DM gave me a hint that if I wanted my powers to grow I would need to use the other ability more (you may spend 2 ki points as a free action to sheathe your fists in a necrotic energy. Until the start of your next turn, your unarmed strikes deal a bonus 1d6 necrotic damage.) and pump more life into the wraps. So while taking a long rest I asked if I could use the leach on myself and just cycle health back in and just repeat the process while everyone slept. He got this gleam in his eye and said sure so I end up dumping about 70ish points into it while also healing myself. This is where I way have f***ed up or made something really cool happen I don’t know. Now the Wraps have become fully sentient and can talk to me in full. DM asks me as the wraps “What do I want out of out “partnership””. And I say jokingly “Give me power become my patron”. DM froze for a moment and asked outside of game if I was serious because if that’s what I want we can work it out (He only likes multi-classing if it makes since. that way no one makes broken builds). So I just wanted to know what some other people think is it worth it.
TLDR: Magic hand wraps are giving me the chance to go into a 3 class for warlock. Is it worth it? And thoughts on multi-classing in general.
First thing I want to say is that "making sense" and "broken builds" are not mutually exclusive at all. Yes, there are lazy munchkin players that don't really bother to explain their multi-classed character, but it's also fully possible to create a min-max build that you think is awesome and then retroactively build a really cool, engaging character around it. So try not to look at "cool story" and "mechanically beneficial" as opposing forces.
I also want to point out that warlocks do not have a monopoly on dark deals. In fact, I kind of prefer alternatives because if a warlock's patron is displeased and decides to take away its gifts, the warlock is no longer a capable adventurer, which is kind of a game-stopper.
As it is, unless you have pretty good charisma a few levels in warlock will give you less than what you're already getting from a powerful magic item. It's not really going to feel like you're unlocking some amazing power through a deal when you already got the best part for free. Personally I'd work within the classes you have. At monk 6 you get Shadow Step, which honestly is cooler and spookier than what you'd get from Warlock 1. You can still flavor it like that ability came from your wraps and maybe they can upgrade it over time. Another good choice that would still work story-wise is to take 2 more levels in Rogue and go Phantom for more edgy benefits.
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
That's fair the broken builds thing came about because we had a friend that built a cleric/wiz that at like lvl 4 somehow had proficiency's in about 12 of the skills and like 4 expertise so it put a bad taste in the DMs mouth and and a whole list of other reasons but that's a whole other thing. But you make a really great point in just sticking with what i got. I was already planing on going a couple more into rogue so maybe sticking with my original plan if for the best. Thank you very much!
Also consider you can rely on spells that don't utilize your charisma stat if it is relatively low. Self buffs and things like Shadow blade come to mind. Maybe if you go that route ask if the shadow blade spell can still benefit from the wraps.
Most of the bonus spells from Hexblade (which this scenario would definitely be) are non reliant on having a strong charisma stat so that is a plus. The armor proficiency and such isn't so useful but meh, still fun. I would avoid the pact of the blade at 3rd level and grab one of the other two. Definitely doable to say the least. Maybe see if you can get a skill or something instead of the proficiencies, depending on how nice your DM is.
ANYWAY I could see it working decently well for you.
"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."