D&D 5E Interesting Warlocks, particularly blade pact with an emphasis on INTERESTING

[doctorbadwolf]

To add an actual response:

I've used the Fey lock as an assassin, using Invocations to be invisible and to disguise myself, and get into places (misty step).

I made a hunter of necromancers using the Undying Patron and Bard, basically good at countering undead and the mage controlling them. That one we had a custom boon that interfered with controlled creatures, making the caster make concentration checks when I hit their monsters, or risk losing control.

I'm working on a Half-Orc Raven Queen Tome warlock for an Eberron campaign. The Raven Queen is being reflavored into a primal spirit of sorts.

 

[TwoSix]

1) Mask of many faces + friends cantrip is never not fun.
2) Misty visions is probably my favorite warlock invocation. Making an image of a door in a blank wall, a wall where a door is, hiding holes in the floor, punctuating your conversation with stage curtains or fireworks displays, conjuring up giant middle fingers at people who make you mad...and that's before you even use it on enemies.

 

[Warpiglet]

The concepts so far really have my creative juices flowing!

(I am really tempted to try a hexblade though admittedly, I am frustrated that curse bringer requires a greatsword. I love greatswords and like great weapon master but it does not fit my concept. If anyone has ideas of how to add some punch, to this concept, I am all ears. It entails use of mace and shield).

I want to play an acolyte of a good cult dedicated to saving some "fallen" angels; focus is on promoting ethical purity in the world. But are these angels “fallen” in combat or in spirit and purity? We do not know for sure.
One such cultist, a self-styled "Reverend" Invictan is rigid in thinking and a bit zealous (see some of the flaws, bonds etc. of the acolyte background). Well-intended and with a bad haircut (see the cleric from the red box of old) he begins to rattle on about the mace of one of these angels that has been recovered and meant to bring purity to the world; wielded by his hand, of course.

Mechanically this is his hexblade weapon and it means to "inspire" him. His "holy" powers are ostensibly divine in nature but we have a sense something is “off” and that the good Reverend could be mistaken. Perhaps one of these “fallen” angels has let the weapon come to someone with enough devotion to bring its plans to fruition!

Over time, the cult is more and more confused by the Reverend’s behavior. Anyone from beyond his cult is obviously confused. His admonitions about purity and faith lack real detail (psychotic delusion often is lacking in clarity this way). Who does this guy worship, anyway?! He is vague and evasive and not very exacting in his thinking about the matter. However, he is usually pretty certain he is “right.”

---I want some of his spells to be presented as priestly. Curses, protection spells and so forth are good candidates. His “holy” mace could give the appearance of a cleric’s weapon. I was thinking about using his intuition skill (acolyte background) to try and discern what people want. Subsequently, he could use this information to tailor worst fears and desires to his use of Misty Visions invocation. After all, he is only showing them what is in their soul! He is no conjurer of cheap tricks!

But after than I am sort of stuck. I thought about warcaster feat so he can use his “holy” mace to shoot eldritch blasts from the gods. I toyed with the idea of magic initiate feat to include some low level priestly ability as well. Even a bless or curse spell would be of use for flavor and background.

I am just not sure how to make a mace deliver real punch. I would rather be melee focused rather than eldritch blasting. It is fine as an opening routine, of course. So I am still left with some confusion about feats and invocations as I want to really meld competence with flavor and flavor with utility…also I want a mace and shield for old school cleric appearance but want to make sure it lands with a thump! as well...could eventually get lifedrinker, I suppose...

 

[doctorbadwolf]

That's a fine approach to have.

But IMO, given (1) the relatively low limits that Warlocks have, (2) the number of interesting options, and (3) the utility of maxing EB, then you are better off either maxing it (if you're into that sort of thing), or just not playing it and going for a different build.

YMMV.

Fair enough. In our games, long range comes up more than in a lot of other games, I think, because we tend to avoid dungeons. So, Eldritch Spear makes EB a stronger backup, but other cantrips are more interesting in most situations. I probably will take repelling Blast on my new warlock, though.

 

[Lanliss]

The concepts so far really have my creative juices flowing!

(I am really tempted to try a hexblade though admittedly, I am frustrated that curse bringer requires a greatsword. I love greatswords and like great weapon master but it does not fit my concept. If anyone has ideas of how to add some punch, to this concept, I am all ears. It entails use of mace and shield).

I want to play an acolyte of a good cult dedicated to saving some "fallen" angels; focus is on promoting ethical purity in the world. But are these angels “fallen” in combat or in spirit and purity? We do not know for sure.
One such cultist, a self-styled "Reverend" Invictan is rigid in thinking and a bit zealous (see some of the flaws, bonds etc. of the acolyte background). Well-intended and with a bad haircut (see the cleric from the red box of old) he begins to rattle on about the mace of one of these angels that has been recovered and meant to bring purity to the world; wielded by his hand, of course.

Mechanically this is his hexblade weapon and it means to "inspire" him. His "holy" powers are ostensibly divine in nature but we have a sense something is “off” and that the good Reverend could be mistaken. Perhaps one of these “fallen” angels has let the weapon come to someone with enough devotion to bring its plans to fruition!

Over time, the cult is more and more confused by the Reverend’s behavior. Anyone from beyond his cult is obviously confused. His admonitions about purity and faith lack real detail (psychotic delusion often is lacking in clarity this way). Who does this guy worship, anyway?! He is vague and evasive and not very exacting in his thinking about the matter. However, he is usually pretty certain he is “right.”

---I want some of his spells to be presented as priestly. Curses, protection spells and so forth are good candidates. His “holy” mace could give the appearance of a cleric’s weapon. I was thinking about using his intuition skill (acolyte background) to try and discern what people want. Subsequently, he could use this information to tailor worst fears and desires to his use of Misty Visions invocation. After all, he is only showing them what is in their soul! He is no conjurer of cheap tricks!

But after than I am sort of stuck. I thought about warcaster feat so he can use his “holy” mace to shoot eldritch blasts from the gods. I toyed with the idea of magic initiate feat to include some low level priestly ability as well. Even a bless or curse spell would be of use for flavor and background.

I am just not sure how to make a mace deliver real punch. I would rather be melee focused rather than eldritch blasting. It is fine as an opening routine, of course. So I am still left with some confusion about feats and invocations as I want to really meld competence with flavor and flavor with utility…also I want a mace and shield for old school cleric appearance but want to make sure it lands with a thump! as well...could eventually get lifedrinker, I suppose...

Lucky thing you chose Mace. If you go Fiend Patron, the smite invocation is Mace of Dispater. That is a good bit of power right there, and at 5th you can get either Improved Pact weapon, or Thirsting Blade, to add a bit more damage (or both over time). Those both seem reasonable for a little bit to keep you dealing damage. At a glance, the Smite invocations are the EB for a bladelock, almost a must-have, but at the least a good fall-back when you need something reliable. Other than that, maybe multiclass Paladin (for real smites, and a bit of armor IIRC), or cleric for some magic back up, and either will fit your story.

 

[Warpiglet]

Lucky thing you chose Mace. If you go Fiend Patron, the smite invocation is Mace of Dispater. That is a good bit of power right there, and at 5th you can get either Improved Pact weapon, or Thirsting Blade, to add a bit more damage (or both over time). Those both seem reasonable for a little bit to keep you dealing damage. At a glance, the Smite invocations are the EB for a bladelock, almost a must-have, but at the least a good fall-back when you need something reliable. Other than that, maybe multiclass Paladin (for real smites, and a bit of armor IIRC), or cleric for some magic back up, and either will fit your story.

Yes. I like the mace of Dispater. The problem is that I also really want to try hexblade and this is only consistent with
the fiend pact. I suppose I could go that direction, though. And would not have to be an EB spammer to boot.

 

[Lanliss]

Yes. I like the mace of Dispater. The problem is that I also really want to try hexblade and this is only consistent with
the fiend pact. I suppose I could go that direction, though. And would not have to be an EB spammer to boot.

Since your DM is open to trying UA, you might be able to talk him/her into making an exception on the Invocation restriction, and allow the Mace smite with Hexblade (maybe a simple restriction of only getting to have 1 smite-style invocation at a time?)

 

[jrowland]

Well, given that you want to save fallen angels, perhaps you could be a "fallen" (risen?) devil? Fiendish pact and all, but you serve good. Lots of intrigue and morally ambiguous goodies for a DM to play with there. You could have a pact with an Archdevil. Asmodeus would certainly not mind a warlock doing good...only to use them for some nefarious plot at some point. Or your pact could be the abyss (or the pit) itself...

 

[mellored]

Arch fey 7 (greater invisibility) + rogue 2 (cunning action) + booming blade + Warcaster. Hide right next to someone, and bring the pain if they move.

 

[Warpiglet]

Since your DM is open to trying UA, you might be able to talk him/her into making an exception on the Invocation restriction, and allow the Mace smite with Hexblade (maybe a simple restriction ofhttp://www.enworld.org/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=7038172 only getting to have 1 smite-style invocation at a time?)

Yes. In no way is this unbalancing compared to cursebringer with a greatsword!