In a PBP server I've been playing an Eldritch Knight Fighter but due to storyline reasons, after he gets level 8 I'm going to be giving him a few levels in Undead Warlock. The tentative split at the moment is Fighter 8/Warlock 3 (for Book of Shadows and extra cantrips,) but beyond that I'm not sure whether to take more levels in Fighter or Warlock. I play him as a tank/front line DPS right now, if that makes a difference. I'm tempted by the Grave Touch feature for Warlock because I do run into enemies resistant to melee often enough that the necrotic would be handy, but most of my levels are in Fighter already so I'm conflicted.
What's the better place to invest levels beyond 11, and to what degree?
That's a bit of a rough split between Intelligence and Charisma. Normally a Paladin/Warlock combo would be preferable. Since Fighters get several ASI/Feat opportunities, you might be better served picking up Ritual Caster/Magic Initiate if the BoS and cantrips are all you're after. However, if you're locked into this path, I'd go back to Eldritch Knight for Eldritch Strike at level 10 and the additional extra attack at level 11.
Locked in, fortunate/unfortunately (Paladin wouldn't make sense for the character anyway, and the 'Undead' part of the Warlock is intertwined with his storyline, along with the abilities it comes with. Longer explanation > His best friend is a cleric who serves the god of the dead and has vowed to remove all the undead (drama factor,) and on a personal level he feels his magic isn't strong enough and is growing frustrated with it, so this is a kind of corruption arc for him where the Undead patron slides in to 'help.')
My INT and CHA will be 16/16 respectively and my STR also sits at a 16, so I can do everything solidly but not amazingly. Somewhat limited by Point Buy being used. (CON is 10 but I've readjusted that with the Tough feat and am picking up an Amulet of Health to compensate.) I'm not going for the most perfect optimised build, as you can probably tell, just something that fits the story/character but doesn't kneecap me entirely. Good point on the extra attack!
It is actually quite tempting to go more levels in Undead Warlock. Another level nets you a ASI, 5 level gets another invocation and 3rd level spells, 6 level gets you Grave Touched which is almost like another weapon attack. 7 levels gets you the powerful Shadows of Moil spell on top of another invocation while 8 levels nets another ASI.
And more Warlock levels also increase the amount of temp hp from Form of Dread. Really its quite hard to stop taking more levels but 8 might be a good point if your campaign goes to level 20 and you want to go Fighter 12 for 3 attacks and another ASI.
Grave Touch was also tempting me a lot. I hadn't looked at Shadows of Moil, though - that looks good, and the Form of Dread HP compliments the front line/tank style I have going on. (There are so many squishy wizards in this campaign! Why! Haha.) I think I find the 12/8 split overall to be quite attractive. I'll be keeping the character to 20 unless he dies (and then I'm going to bother the DM about bringing him back as a Reborn possessed by the aforementioned Undead patron,) so I might keep taking Warlock and then fill up the extra Fighter levels at the end like 8F > 8W > 4F.
Interesting! I was focused on keeping the INT/CHA the same so it was less of a headache to calculate lmao. But it makes sense for the character as well - he's smart with a complete lack of impulse control, so it fits him to be low WIS. I definitely have Hex under my belt - don't think I have Shadow Blade unlocked. It does look handy for those times that there's melee resistance, though (that being said, I should probably buy a magical sword at some point anyway.) Thanks for the advice!
Absorb Elements, Shield, Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Mirror Image, Shadow Blade, Darkness, Warding Wind, none of these spells care for your INT and are great choices for EKs.
Got Absorb Elements! And use it frequently. Magic Missile, yes. Will have to look at trading Alarm for Shield - I was hoping there'd be some niche use for that one but frankly, it is terrible. And I hate it. Mage Armour, no need - my AC is 18 currently. I'll look into the others! Handy.
I'm definitely leaning towards F12/W8 overall. My weapon attacks are far more damaging than my cantrips - I tend to use those as a ranged attack if I can't get to the enemy right away.
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Hi folks,
In a PBP server I've been playing an Eldritch Knight Fighter but due to storyline reasons, after he gets level 8 I'm going to be giving him a few levels in Undead Warlock. The tentative split at the moment is Fighter 8/Warlock 3 (for Book of Shadows and extra cantrips,) but beyond that I'm not sure whether to take more levels in Fighter or Warlock. I play him as a tank/front line DPS right now, if that makes a difference. I'm tempted by the Grave Touch feature for Warlock because I do run into enemies resistant to melee often enough that the necrotic would be handy, but most of my levels are in Fighter already so I'm conflicted.
What's the better place to invest levels beyond 11, and to what degree?
That's a bit of a rough split between Intelligence and Charisma. Normally a Paladin/Warlock combo would be preferable. Since Fighters get several ASI/Feat opportunities, you might be better served picking up Ritual Caster/Magic Initiate if the BoS and cantrips are all you're after. However, if you're locked into this path, I'd go back to Eldritch Knight for Eldritch Strike at level 10 and the additional extra attack at level 11.
Locked in, fortunate/unfortunately (Paladin wouldn't make sense for the character anyway, and the 'Undead' part of the Warlock is intertwined with his storyline, along with the abilities it comes with. Longer explanation > His best friend is a cleric who serves the god of the dead and has vowed to remove all the undead (drama factor,) and on a personal level he feels his magic isn't strong enough and is growing frustrated with it, so this is a kind of corruption arc for him where the Undead patron slides in to 'help.')
My INT and CHA will be 16/16 respectively and my STR also sits at a 16, so I can do everything solidly but not amazingly. Somewhat limited by Point Buy being used. (CON is 10 but I've readjusted that with the Tough feat and am picking up an Amulet of Health to compensate.) I'm not going for the most perfect optimised build, as you can probably tell, just something that fits the story/character but doesn't kneecap me entirely. Good point on the extra attack!
It is actually quite tempting to go more levels in Undead Warlock. Another level nets you a ASI, 5 level gets another invocation and 3rd level spells, 6 level gets you Grave Touched which is almost like another weapon attack. 7 levels gets you the powerful Shadows of Moil spell on top of another invocation while 8 levels nets another ASI.
And more Warlock levels also increase the amount of temp hp from Form of Dread. Really its quite hard to stop taking more levels but 8 might be a good point if your campaign goes to level 20 and you want to go Fighter 12 for 3 attacks and another ASI.
Grave Touch was also tempting me a lot. I hadn't looked at Shadows of Moil, though - that looks good, and the Form of Dread HP compliments the front line/tank style I have going on. (There are so many squishy wizards in this campaign! Why! Haha.) I think I find the 12/8 split overall to be quite attractive. I'll be keeping the character to 20 unless he dies (and then I'm going to bother the DM about bringing him back as a Reborn possessed by the aforementioned Undead patron,) so I might keep taking Warlock and then fill up the extra Fighter levels at the end like 8F > 8W > 4F.
Strangely enough, EKs don’t need INT at all. My EK builds usually invest more in Wisdom than Intelligence.
Hex is a very good spell to have in the pocket since you attack so many times with Action Surge, although Shadow Blade is amazing
Interesting! I was focused on keeping the INT/CHA the same so it was less of a headache to calculate lmao. But it makes sense for the character as well - he's smart with a complete lack of impulse control, so it fits him to be low WIS. I definitely have Hex under my belt - don't think I have Shadow Blade unlocked. It does look handy for those times that there's melee resistance, though (that being said, I should probably buy a magical sword at some point anyway.) Thanks for the advice!
You're gonna want to run your Fighter level up to 11 for the 2nd stage Extra Attack unless you're fully shifting from weapon attacks to cantrips.
Absorb Elements, Shield, Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Mirror Image, Shadow Blade, Darkness, Warding Wind, none of these spells care for your INT and are great choices for EKs.
Got Absorb Elements! And use it frequently. Magic Missile, yes. Will have to look at trading Alarm for Shield - I was hoping there'd be some niche use for that one but frankly, it is terrible. And I hate it. Mage Armour, no need - my AC is 18 currently. I'll look into the others! Handy.
I'm definitely leaning towards F12/W8 overall. My weapon attacks are far more damaging than my cantrips - I tend to use those as a ranged attack if I can't get to the enemy right away.