I'm wanting to make a Half-Orc, Pact of the Blade Warlock with Great Old One as Patron, for thematic reasons, but I'd like it to be as close to optimal as possible. I intend to mostly do melee for combat, but with a solid ranged option. Any ideas on how to make it work?
First thing that bothers me is lack of AC. Light armor means low AC w/o investing in Dexterity, and investing in Dexterity means "wasting" the +2 Strength from Half-Orc (assuming I'd go for finesse weapons to take advantage of the Dexterity). Mage Armor from Armor of Shadows is an option, but that's only 1 AC higher than studded leather. Going Hexblade would give me medium armor, but I want to stick to GOO. Is using a Feat for Moderately Armored worth it?
Regarding weapon choices... I'm sure polearms are highest damage. Is going longsword/shield (assuming I pick Moderately Armored) worth the dps loss for the extra +2 AC?
Stats? Should I max out Strength, and mostly ignore Charisma, and stick to spells that don't need to-hit or saving throw (and use thrown weapons for ranged)? Split between both? Focus on Charisma, and accept my melee damage will mostly suck? (Again, Hexblade fixes this, sadly.)
You've hit on my challenge with Warlocks. The Pact of the Fiend Warlock screams Marvel's Ghost Rider to me for a back story, but the Warlock just can't do melee very effectively unless you're a Hexblade.
I'd "waste" the +2 in strength from being a Half-Orc and split between Dexterity for AC and finesse weapons and Charisma for spell saving throws. At least that way you'll get a higher AC, higher hits, and higher damage from your Dexterity and higher hits and higher spell saving throws from your Charisma. You'll only be focusing on 2 ability scores instead of 3.
You are trying to ask alot that has no synergy between each other at all.
Start level 1 fighter to get the armor/weapon/shield proficiency you need. If multiclassing out the option, the non hexblade warlock are simple to weak in melee with only simple weapon to fragile withouth better armor or shield. You don't send a pure wizard/sorcerer as melee fighter same for pure non hexblade warlock.
STR>CON>CHA>WIS>dump stats (INT/DEX) run around with heavy armor smashin people and 2 handed weapon or arcana staff and shield. Your eldritch blast will be you ranged option.
Wait a second. I just had an inspiration. You need to use the Devil’s Sight / Darkness combo! That will make your weakAC irrelevant. Rethink your warlock with that as your base melee strategy!
You are trying to ask alot that has no synergy between each other at all.
Start level 1 fighter to get the armor/weapon/shield proficiency you need. If multiclassing out the option, the non hexblade warlock are simple to weak in melee with only simple weapon to fragile withouth better armor or shield. You don't send a pure wizard/sorcerer as melee fighter same for pure non hexblade warlock.
STR>CON>CHA>WIS>dump stats (INT/DEX) run around with heavy armor smashin people and 2 handed weapon or arcana staff and shield. Your eldritch blast will be you ranged option.
Hm, I usually shy away from multiclassing (always feels like I'll end up missing out on something... more of a psychological thing), but in this case that actually fits the character concept even better than straight Warlock. Thanks!
Regarding "warlock will be weak in melee as would a sorcerer"... This would be a Pact of the Blade, which specifically gets added melee usefulness/power. I don't think a comparison between a Pact of the Blade Warlock (which can use light armor and just about any melee weapon they want, and gets Extra Attack) and a Sorcerer (no armor, only simple weapons, single attack) is fair.
Wait a second. I just had an inspiration. You need to use the Devil’s Sight / Darkness combo! That will make your weakAC irrelevant. Rethink your warlock with that as your base melee strategy!
Yeah, I've considered that, especially since Darkness doesn't care what my Charisma is, thanks for the suggestion!
Still not sure whether I want Orcish Fury or GWM (GWM is certainly better, but Orcish Fury rounds out my Strength). Also, not sure whether I want to invest future ASIs into raising Charisma, or stick with Strength/GWM.
Decided not to go with Devil's Sight/Darkness, because while it works, it's pretty annoying to the rest of the party. =/
Nice! I hadn't thought of the benefits to your concept of Lightning Lure. That's a perfect cantrip for you to take!
Devil's Sight/Darkness is only useful if you're able to move around so that you don't block the rest of the party. It has it's place, but like you I've never used it.
I'm wanting to make a Half-Orc, Pact of the Blade Warlock with Great Old One as Patron, for thematic reasons, but I'd like it to be as close to optimal as possible. I intend to mostly do melee for combat, but with a solid ranged option. Any ideas on how to make it work?
First thing that bothers me is lack of AC. Light armor means low AC w/o investing in Dexterity, and investing in Dexterity means "wasting" the +2 Strength from Half-Orc (assuming I'd go for finesse weapons to take advantage of the Dexterity). Mage Armor from Armor of Shadows is an option, but that's only 1 AC higher than studded leather. Going Hexblade would give me medium armor, but I want to stick to GOO. Is using a Feat for Moderately Armored worth it?
Regarding weapon choices... I'm sure polearms are highest damage. Is going longsword/shield (assuming I pick Moderately Armored) worth the dps loss for the extra +2 AC?
Stats? Should I max out Strength, and mostly ignore Charisma, and stick to spells that don't need to-hit or saving throw (and use thrown weapons for ranged)? Split between both? Focus on Charisma, and accept my melee damage will mostly suck? (Again, Hexblade fixes this, sadly.)
You've hit on my challenge with Warlocks. The Pact of the Fiend Warlock screams Marvel's Ghost Rider to me for a back story, but the Warlock just can't do melee very effectively unless you're a Hexblade.
I'd "waste" the +2 in strength from being a Half-Orc and split between Dexterity for AC and finesse weapons and Charisma for spell saving throws. At least that way you'll get a higher AC, higher hits, and higher damage from your Dexterity and higher hits and higher spell saving throws from your Charisma. You'll only be focusing on 2 ability scores instead of 3.
Professional computer geek
You are trying to ask alot that has no synergy between each other at all.
Start level 1 fighter to get the armor/weapon/shield proficiency you need. If multiclassing out the option, the non hexblade warlock are simple to weak in melee with only simple weapon to fragile withouth better armor or shield. You don't send a pure wizard/sorcerer as melee fighter same for pure non hexblade warlock.
STR>CON>CHA>WIS>dump stats (INT/DEX)
run around with heavy armor smashin people and 2 handed weapon or arcana staff and shield. Your eldritch blast will be you ranged option.
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Bunol - Grim Angel - The Floating Lands of Goriate
Wait a second. I just had an inspiration. You need to use the Devil’s Sight / Darkness combo! That will make your weakAC irrelevant. Rethink your warlock with that as your base melee strategy!
Professional computer geek
Hm, I usually shy away from multiclassing (always feels like I'll end up missing out on something... more of a psychological thing), but in this case that actually fits the character concept even better than straight Warlock. Thanks!
Regarding "warlock will be weak in melee as would a sorcerer"... This would be a Pact of the Blade, which specifically gets added melee usefulness/power. I don't think a comparison between a Pact of the Blade Warlock (which can use light armor and just about any melee weapon they want, and gets Extra Attack) and a Sorcerer (no armor, only simple weapons, single attack) is fair.
Yeah, I've considered that, especially since Darkness doesn't care what my Charisma is, thanks for the suggestion!
So in case anybody's curious, here's what I've come up with:
https://ddb.ac/characters/8717208/mbNVei
Still not sure whether I want Orcish Fury or GWM (GWM is certainly better, but Orcish Fury rounds out my Strength). Also, not sure whether I want to invest future ASIs into raising Charisma, or stick with Strength/GWM.
Decided not to go with Devil's Sight/Darkness, because while it works, it's pretty annoying to the rest of the party. =/
Nice! I hadn't thought of the benefits to your concept of Lightning Lure. That's a perfect cantrip for you to take!
Devil's Sight/Darkness is only useful if you're able to move around so that you don't block the rest of the party. It has it's place, but like you I've never used it.
Professional computer geek