D&D 5E New to D&D. Warlock - Sorcerer Multiclass

[Lethol]

Hello!
I am planning to play a tiefling warlock/sorcerer (3 warlock levels in the beginning.. I am new to D&D. It's a challenge to create a valid multiclass character! I am trying to understand how to get the classes to work together according to the multiclass rules. One problem I have with the combination of classes is the difference between the sorcerer and the walock's spellslotts per spelllevel. Here you can see how I interpret the rules: Warlock/Sorcer. It is possible to edit the excel document. What do I have to change to get a balanced and enjoyable character?

I am unsure if I should choose pact of the fiend or the old one. I am also considering to use pact of the chain. But Pact of the book is also good.
Truly thankful for the help I may get.

 

[CapnZapp]

My recommendation is to not play a multiclassed character for your first game of D&D.

Then, for your next character, if you want to try out the multiclassing rules, I suggest you play a martial character, one that fights with weapons.

Multiclassing spellcasters is difficult and complex in many ways, and it is hard to gain any real benefits out of it.

I really recommend you stay singleclassed for your first spellcaster character, Lethol.

Good luck with your game

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

You don't use the multiclass spell slot table for a warlock/sorcerer, since warlocks don't have the "spellcasting" feature, they have "pact magic" instead. You only use the table if you have multiple classes with "spellcasting".

I second CapnZapp's advice to start with a single class character if you're new to the game. Multiclassing is complex with benefits and tradeoffs and you need experience to make good choices.

 

[Lethol]

Thanks for the answers! I respect your opinion that it's easier to begin with a single class character... But I do like the challenge and I have a lot of time to learn the mechanics. we will begin the campaign in the middle of January and I use the time I have to read tutorials and the players handbook. And there is a few good tutorials on Youtube. I have some basic understanding about D&D and the class mechanics.

At first, I did separate the sorcerer spellcasting feature and the warlocks pactmagic. But then I read about this in the Players handbook, page 164:
"Pact Magie. If you have both the Spellcasting class feature and the Pact Magic class feature from the warlock class, you can use the spell slots you gain from the Pact Magic feature to cast spells you know or have prepared from classes with the Spellcasting class feature, and you can use the spell slots you gain from the Spellcastingclass feature to cast warlock spells you know."

My understanding of this, is that you can use the spellcasting feature for the warlockspells (if you are multiclassing with a class that has this feature, and use the spellpact if you are multiclassing with a warlock). How do you interpret this? If I do understand this right, can I use the spell slot table as suggested in the excel?

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

Thanks for the answers! I respect your opinion that it's easier to begin with a single class character... But I do like the challenge and I have a lot of time to learn the mechanics. we will begin the campaign in the middle of January and I use the time I have to read tutorials and the players handbook. And there is a few good tutorials on Youtube. I have some basic understanding about D&D and the class mechanics.

At first, I did separate the sorcerer spellcasting feature and the warlocks pactmagic. But then I read about this in the Players handbook, page 164:
"Pact Magie. If you have both the Spellcasting class feature and the Pact Magic class feature from the warlock class, you can use the spell slots you gain from the Pact Magic feature to cast spells you know or have prepared from classes with the Spellcasting class feature, and you can use the spell slots you gain from the Spellcastingclass feature to cast warlock spells you know."
My understanding of this, is that you can use the spellcasting feature for the warlockspells (if you are multiclassing with a class that has this feature, and use the spellpact if you are multiclassing with a warlock). How do you interpret this? If I do understand this right, can I use the spell slot table as suggested in the excel?

It means you can use warlock slots to cast sorcerer spells and vice versa, it does not mean you use the multiclass spell slot table. Read the rules for multiclass spellcasting closely, and it tells you exactly which class levels to add up when using the multiclass spell slot table, and warlock is not included.

 

[Lethol]

Ok! Thanks Sorceres Apprentice... Then I have to use the warlock spell pact mechanics for it's spells. And I use the sorcerers spell slot table for the sorcerers spells.I also have to use the sorcerers slots to cast warlock spells. Which means that I can't use more spells per day than a ordinary sorcerer... Is that correct?

Like this?

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Wepwawet]

First, for the reasons everyone mentioned, I too advise you not to play a multiclass sorcerer/warlock in your first D&D game.

Second and more importantly: Why do you want this particular concept? What is it that you want specifically from this character? I'm asking because 5e is brilliant at emulating any kind of fantasy concepts, without even having to change the rules.

For example, I had a player that wanted a blacksmith soldier that could make magic weapons (from a book he read). I suggested a Fighter, Soldier background, Magic Initiate Feat (so he can have magic at 1st level), and later took the Eldritch Knight path. His character would infuse his weapon with magic, and then cast his spells from the weapon. Same Fighter from the book, only difference is that he needed his weapon to do magic, and he could change his spells if he needed to (he never did)

Third, your actual question:
You can use your Warlock spell slots to cast Sorcerer spells, and you can use Sorcerer spell slots to cast Warlock spells.
BUT, when you use a Warlock spell slot, whatever spell you cast is cast at a higher level, as defined in the column "Spell Level". Sorcerer slots are never higher level.
...and that's as far as I venture, I don't know that much about multiclassing really.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

That looks right. You just look at your warlock table for warlock spell slots and spell slot level, and just look at sorcerer table for sorcerer slots and level. Just remember that how many slots you have and of what level is determined separately, and you should be fine.

Can I ask why you want to mix the two, btw? Warlock is a great class on its own!

Anyway, for Patron, they are pretty evenly matched. I'd look especially at the *low level* benefits of each, as they will be part of you character early, and thus have a bigger impact on how you end up seeing your character and how it plays.

Pact: Tome is the best one, IMO. But if you want a familiar, as a goal in itself, chain is the thing. If you want greater utility, it's all about Tome. As around and I'm sure that the folks here will have all manner of advice on the best spells to yoink from other classes.

also, I haven't seen noobs have any trouble with playing warlocks, and as long as they have some guidance to avoid common multiclassing pitfalls, I've not seen new players have much trouble with multiclassing characters. Just make what you want and enjoy it.

Note: Eldritch Blast is powerful, and has more than one Invokation related to adding to it, but it can get boring. So...use other cantrips too.

edit: if sorcerer isn't actually important to the character concept, melee tome or blade warlocks that MC rogue and use the weapon cantrips from Sword Coast Adventure Guide are really fun to play.

Last thing: how into character optimization is your group?

 

[MechaTarrasque]

If you can use the magic initiate feat, that is a good way to get a little warlock into the sorcerer without having all the multiclass issues. If your goal is to add some added spell casting to the warlock, you might think about bard instead--it is a mechanically more straightforward class than sorcerer (and still uses charisma as a stat like warlocks/sorcerers), although its spells are more utility focused than the sorcerers.