I am a new player doing research on a potential first character. I have been having thoughts about a Great Old One with Pact of the Blade. Really wanted to focus on the mind-like powers and psychic damage, with the Blade pact for more attack options then just spamming Eldritch Blast. I have so many thematic ideas, but my main hang up with Warlocks is there limited spell slots. I know those slots all go to a higher strength as you level up and you get them all back after a short rest, but only having 2 spell slots until Level 11 seems a bit greedy of the patron (perhaps that's the idea).
Any who, I wanted to get some feedback from other players who have used Warlocks to see how they hold up in the lower levels and if my combination of subclass choices sounds interesting/effective.
Unless you use almost all of your Invocations to enhance the Pact of the Blade you’ll be very underpowered with your pact to the point where you’ll never end up using it. I personally prefer the other two pacts because with them you can take a wide variety of Eldritch invocations and those combines with your Pact make up for the limited spell slots. Not to mention your abilities at 2nd, 6th, and 10th level that are granted to you by the patron that you pick.
You are mechanically more like a martial class so expect to attack with your pact weapon or eldritch blast mostly. Invocations will define your character so ensure that you will enjoy using them frequently. Avoid the "uses a spell slot" ones unless you are going to get mileage out of them. Note you can swap them out as you level so that keeps it interesting and reduces likelihood fo a mistake. Look at spell slots as once per day abilities that need to either be up for meaningful periods of time (i.e. Hex, Fly, Invisibility, Hunger of Hadar, Darkness) or powerful in a single use (i.e. Suggestion, Charm, Hypnotic Pattern). The class is RP heavy with lots of flexibility. You give up dedicated bonuses as a result - you won't deal the most damage or be the best utility class but you can do what YOU want to do.
If your goal is straight up spell slots with epic results then Sorcerer or Wizard might be more your speed.
I definitely recommend multiclassing with a full caster to get more slots. Sorcerer is a popular one because you can burn unused pact slots to get sorcerer points back on short rest.
It is MAD, but cleric is also a good multiclass, you can get armor and weapon proficiencies you didn't have as warlock, and healing spells to keep yourself healthy.
For me the question is less about which class or how many levels, and more about when to multiclass, because there is always going to be a good feature 1 level away in warlock. So I usually start with the non-warlock class...
Does your DM allow plenty of short rests? This is really a fundamental question when deciding to play a warlock. If so, you will have plenty of spell slots throughout the adventuring day. If you play a bunch of one-shots or long dungeon crawls w/o short rests, Warlock may not be as fun to play if you are consistently lagging behind other full casters.
I think most folks who play a Bladelock always appreciate having "something to do other than spamming EB". However, EB is very powerful on it’s own, so I prefer to take one of the other pacts to increase my character’s overall versatility.
I have personally run single class Warlocks for about two years now, and running out of slots has never been an issue for me, either in Adventurers League (highest is L9, melee focused Hexblade/Bladepact) or in homebrew (highest is L5 EB focused Hexblade/Tomelock).
In my experience (including playing with other Warlocks), other casters use cantrips for utility and spell slots for attacks, while Warlocks use spell slots for utility and cantrips for attacks. It's a good model - if it matches your desired style of play.
You will probably not enjoy playing a Warlock if you expect to use spell slots like other casters.
Just an idea, roll up the character you want to play. Then use an encounter generator to get some bad guys and roll some fights against them. See how you can handle the character in battle and see if you like it!
I'm currently RP'ing a GOO Warlock, Pact of the Blade. Just made it to level 10. I haven't had any issues. I didn't take Eldritch Blast (I feel it's counter intuitive w/ PotB). I don't deal big damage compared to my group(I team w/ a fighter & a ranger). Unless I opt for Eldritch Smite(especially on crits). I took a bunch of utility & field control spells (counter spell is a life saver). Basically, I support whomever needs supporting switching between a bow and a sword (it helps to anticipate this before a battle due to the weapon summoning time).
If you want to play a full caster, I recommend going w/ a different class (disregarding multiclassing). Warlocks are a unique class. They aren't martial or full casters. They aren't 1/2 or, even, 3rd casters. That being said...
They are fun to play. They always cast at the highest spell slot level (up to 5th & if the spell scales). A lot of the good in playing a Warlock is in using the different invocations available to you. Yes, if you go Blade Pact you may want to choose those that bolster your martial abilities. I did. That doesn't use ALL of them, though. (making a Dragon Turtle fear you w/ Cloak of Flies is very satisfying).
Ask your DM if you'll have a session 0 to test out your characters in and out of combat. See if you like the feel of it.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM: Are you sure?
Wizard: Yes. I cast the Wish spell and I wish that everybody loves me!
DM: You transform into an irresistible, magnificent feast. It was so great, all who participated in devouring you tell of the joy they felt with tears in their eyes and all who hear the tale only feel sorrow that they weren't there to eat.
I'm currently RP'ing a GOO Warlock, Pact of the Blade. Just made it to level 10. I haven't had any issues. I didn't take Eldritch Blast (I feel it's counter intuitive w/ PotB). I don't deal big damage compared to my group(I team w/ a fighter & a ranger). Unless I opt for Eldritch Smite(especially on crits). I took a bunch of utility & field control spells (counter spell is a life saver). Basically, I support whomever needs supporting switching between a bow and a sword (it helps to anticipate this before a battle due to the weapon summoning time).
If you want to play a full caster, I recommend going w/ a different class (disregarding multiclassing). Warlocks are a unique class. They aren't martial or full casters. They aren't 1/2 or, even, 3rd casters. That being said...
They are fun to play. They always cast at the highest spell slot level (up to 5th & if the spell scales). A lot of the good in playing a Warlock is in using the different invocations available to you. Yes, if you go Blade Pact you may want to choose those that bolster your martial abilities. I did. That doesn't use ALL of them, though. (making a Dragon Turtle fear you w/ Cloak of Flies is very satisfying).
Ask your DM if you'll have a session 0 to test out your characters in and out of combat. See if you like the feel of it.
Awesome stuff.
Getting a much better picture of a Goolock's role and play style. I'm such there are much better casters, but for some reason this subclass seems so interesting and full of potential for roleplaying.
Unfortunately, it is all speculation at this point. I will still have to search for a game and DM. I've scrolled thru the threads in the other forums, so it should not be hard to find something fitting for this noob.
Unfortunately, it is all speculation at this point. I will still have to search for a game and DM. I've scrolled thru the threads in the other forums, so it should not be hard to find something fitting for this noob.
If you're in Tampa, The Strange Realms has people constantly running new games. If not, try looking around the local game shops with tables set up and ask if people play there. Good luck.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM: Are you sure?
Wizard: Yes. I cast the Wish spell and I wish that everybody loves me!
DM: You transform into an irresistible, magnificent feast. It was so great, all who participated in devouring you tell of the joy they felt with tears in their eyes and all who hear the tale only feel sorrow that they weren't there to eat.
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Greetings.
I am a new player doing research on a potential first character. I have been having thoughts about a Great Old One with Pact of the Blade. Really wanted to focus on the mind-like powers and psychic damage, with the Blade pact for more attack options then just spamming Eldritch Blast. I have so many thematic ideas, but my main hang up with Warlocks is there limited spell slots. I know those slots all go to a higher strength as you level up and you get them all back after a short rest, but only having 2 spell slots until Level 11 seems a bit greedy of the patron (perhaps that's the idea).
Any who, I wanted to get some feedback from other players who have used Warlocks to see how they hold up in the lower levels and if my combination of subclass choices sounds interesting/effective.
All thoughts welcome. Thanks.
Unless you use almost all of your Invocations to enhance the Pact of the Blade you’ll be very underpowered with your pact to the point where you’ll never end up using it. I personally prefer the other two pacts because with them you can take a wide variety of Eldritch invocations and those combines with your Pact make up for the limited spell slots. Not to mention your abilities at 2nd, 6th, and 10th level that are granted to you by the patron that you pick.
Great Old Ones are fun!
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You are mechanically more like a martial class so expect to attack with your pact weapon or eldritch blast mostly. Invocations will define your character so ensure that you will enjoy using them frequently. Avoid the "uses a spell slot" ones unless you are going to get mileage out of them. Note you can swap them out as you level so that keeps it interesting and reduces likelihood fo a mistake. Look at spell slots as once per day abilities that need to either be up for meaningful periods of time (i.e. Hex, Fly, Invisibility, Hunger of Hadar, Darkness) or powerful in a single use (i.e. Suggestion, Charm, Hypnotic Pattern). The class is RP heavy with lots of flexibility. You give up dedicated bonuses as a result - you won't deal the most damage or be the best utility class but you can do what YOU want to do.
If your goal is straight up spell slots with epic results then Sorcerer or Wizard might be more your speed.
I definitely recommend multiclassing with a full caster to get more slots. Sorcerer is a popular one because you can burn unused pact slots to get sorcerer points back on short rest.
It is MAD, but cleric is also a good multiclass, you can get armor and weapon proficiencies you didn't have as warlock, and healing spells to keep yourself healthy.
For me the question is less about which class or how many levels, and more about when to multiclass, because there is always going to be a good feature 1 level away in warlock. So I usually start with the non-warlock class...
Does your DM allow plenty of short rests? This is really a fundamental question when deciding to play a warlock. If so, you will have plenty of spell slots throughout the adventuring day. If you play a bunch of one-shots or long dungeon crawls w/o short rests, Warlock may not be as fun to play if you are consistently lagging behind other full casters.
I think most folks who play a Bladelock always appreciate having "something to do other than spamming EB". However, EB is very powerful on it’s own, so I prefer to take one of the other pacts to increase my character’s overall versatility.
I have personally run single class Warlocks for about two years now, and running out of slots has never been an issue for me, either in Adventurers League (highest is L9, melee focused Hexblade/Bladepact) or in homebrew (highest is L5 EB focused Hexblade/Tomelock).
In my experience (including playing with other Warlocks), other casters use cantrips for utility and spell slots for attacks, while Warlocks use spell slots for utility and cantrips for attacks. It's a good model - if it matches your desired style of play.
You will probably not enjoy playing a Warlock if you expect to use spell slots like other casters.
You make a lot of good points. I guess I will need to get more of a feel for how the potential campaign will play before I make a final decision.
I was just really digging the flavor of the Goolock and it got me thinking of lots RP ideas.
Thanks for the input.
Just an idea, roll up the character you want to play. Then use an encounter generator to get some bad guys and roll some fights against them. See how you can handle the character in battle and see if you like it!
From Within Chaos Comes Order!
I'm currently RP'ing a GOO Warlock, Pact of the Blade. Just made it to level 10. I haven't had any issues. I didn't take Eldritch Blast (I feel it's counter intuitive w/ PotB). I don't deal big damage compared to my group(I team w/ a fighter & a ranger). Unless I opt for Eldritch Smite(especially on crits). I took a bunch of utility & field control spells (counter spell is a life saver). Basically, I support whomever needs supporting switching between a bow and a sword (it helps to anticipate this before a battle due to the weapon summoning time).
If you want to play a full caster, I recommend going w/ a different class (disregarding multiclassing). Warlocks are a unique class. They aren't martial or full casters. They aren't 1/2 or, even, 3rd casters. That being said...
They are fun to play. They always cast at the highest spell slot level (up to 5th & if the spell scales). A lot of the good in playing a Warlock is in using the different invocations available to you. Yes, if you go Blade Pact you may want to choose those that bolster your martial abilities. I did. That doesn't use ALL of them, though. (making a Dragon Turtle fear you w/ Cloak of Flies is very satisfying).
Ask your DM if you'll have a session 0 to test out your characters in and out of combat. See if you like the feel of it.
DM: Are you sure?
Wizard: Yes. I cast the Wish spell and I wish that everybody loves me!
DM: You transform into an irresistible, magnificent feast. It was so great, all who participated in devouring you tell of the joy they felt with tears in their eyes and all who hear the tale only feel sorrow that they weren't there to eat.
Awesome stuff.
Getting a much better picture of a Goolock's role and play style. I'm such there are much better casters, but for some reason this subclass seems so interesting and full of potential for roleplaying.
Unfortunately, it is all speculation at this point. I will still have to search for a game and DM. I've scrolled thru the threads in the other forums, so it should not be hard to find something fitting for this noob.
Thanks again to everyone that posted.
Meet nearly half a million people LFG at https://www.meetup.com/topics/dnd/
If you're in Tampa, The Strange Realms has people constantly running new games. If not, try looking around the local game shops with tables set up and ask if people play there. Good luck.
DM: Are you sure?
Wizard: Yes. I cast the Wish spell and I wish that everybody loves me!
DM: You transform into an irresistible, magnificent feast. It was so great, all who participated in devouring you tell of the joy they felt with tears in their eyes and all who hear the tale only feel sorrow that they weren't there to eat.