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Author Topic: Warlock - Charisma  (Read 8312 times)

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January 18, 2012, 12:39:36 PM

I'm toying with a warlock build, using warlock as the spellcasting element to a sort of spellsword build.

What I'm interested in, is knowing how EXACTLY charisma Affects a warlock.

I know for other arcanists, it governs spell levels castable-extra spells/day and such, aswell as DC, but on warlock it is much less clear

Can a warlock use non DC-related abilities with sucess with minimal charisma?

thats what i'm looking at, for the most part.

so basically, do they NEED charisma for thier' invocations?


January 18, 2012, 12:53:42 PM
Reply #1
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AFAIK warlocks need only charisma for invocation DCs. If you don't use invocations that allow saving throws, you don't need charisma at all.


January 18, 2012, 07:36:30 PM
Reply #2

A good ref:
http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19871406/Warlock_Information_Compilation.
PnP stuff, but still applies. Covers Cha v. lo Cha, ranged v. melee.

If you are going with no SR no save stuff like Vit Blast, dump Cha, if not, make it reasonably high. The Cha stat MAD is against Dex, because almost all attack invoke is Dex based. If you play the high (Cha) DC game, you have to weigh that against a lower chance to hit (lower Dex). Since they are mostly touch attacks, miss should be less of an issue.

The added pro (beyond better hit chance) of a high Dex build is the ability to Wep Finesse in melee.
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January 19, 2012, 01:51:33 AM
Reply #3
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Aye. It is a matter of preference which path you'll be heading. Sad thing is, with low charisma AoE shapes (eldritch doom, line and cone) become pretty much useless because the reflex saves are so low. And low charisma makes benefits from choosing to take Hellfire Warlock class diminish. His abilities are in fact charisma based (hellfire infusion usable cha mod times per day, hellfire shield blasts are reflex saves with DC equal to 10+1/2 character level+cha mod).

You need to choose your focus. It is indeed possible to play for example a dexer warlock, but it will limit your possibilites, while increasing your defences - later you'll probably run around in padded armor, and even some cool monk/wizard robes when your dex bonus exceeds 8. The downside is lack of uncanny dodge, which makes it easy for enemies to ignore your dex AC bonus.

On the other hand, if what you play is a hybrid of a warlock and a divine or arcane caster heading towards eldritch disciple/theurge, dumping cha might actually be a good option. For example, warlock side focuses on no-save invocations and eldritch blasts, and you pump that int or wis, have considerable scores in dex and con, and leave cha low. Or you could choose to take battlecaster feat, which with a level of cleric (good because of eldritch disciple) or any fighting class (just for a dip) gives you an option to wear medium armors and still not suffer from ASF. Sadly in NWN mithral armors do not change their category to lighter... Believe me, it is kind of awesome to run around as a warlock in mithral full plate (which is then a medium armor), not having any arcane spell failure ^^

This option is especially good if you want to fight in melee. That way you can keep good strength score and still have considerable AC to fight in melee.
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January 26, 2012, 05:58:38 AM
Reply #4

The PC in question is going for 6 levels of warlock, with mixed levels of scout and bowman (though possibly just scout) Using Primarily Devil's Sight, Darkness, Flee the Scene and All seeing eyes(or the Dead walk, if I need fodder.)

The idea is to keep spawns in the dark, whilst keeping him at the range to use his bow. eventually he'll have HIPS, but that won't be a priority. since Darkness works as a poor-man's HIPS


January 26, 2012, 07:13:34 AM
Reply #5
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You can't have both the Dead Walk and Flee the Scene with just 6 levels of warlock ;)
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