Warlock: Eldritch Armor update

An area to facilitate free-form feedback on systems (in-game or out) related to Arelith.

Moderators: Forum Moderators, Active DMs, Contributors

Post Reply
Aelryn Bloodmoon
Arelith Supporter
Arelith Supporter
Posts: 2028
Joined: Thu Sep 11, 2014 4:57 pm

Warlock: Eldritch Armor update

Post by Aelryn Bloodmoon » Tue Sep 14, 2021 7:29 pm

Eldritch Armor: No longer grants 5% physical DI. Instead, this feat now lets warlocks cast Eldritch Blasts without deactivating Expertise or Improved Expertise. The usual -5/-10 AB penalty will apply to the touch attack roll.
Pre-emptively, I seem to recall one of the blast shapes (eldritch doom?) functions as an area of effect that does not require an attack roll. I can see the argument for allowing a warlock to cast with these modes on since most of their eldritch blasts use touch attacks unlike a fireball, but isn't this just encouraging every warlock to run blast shapes with no attack roll full time in exchange for +10 AC?

Tangentially, has any consideration been given to allowing other casters to stay in Expertise/Improved Expertise if the spell they're casting has an attack roll? Say, for example, inflict wounds, or a healing spell on an undead, which require both attack rolls AND saving throws?

Edit: Perhaps, if this is a perk desired only for warlock casters, it shouldn't work with blast shapes that don't require an attack roll?
Bane's tyranny is known throughout the continent, and his is the image most seen as the face of evil.
-Faiths and Pantheons (c)2002

xanrael
Posts: 507
Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2019 5:13 pm

Re: Warlock: Eldritch Armor update

Post by xanrael » Tue Sep 14, 2021 8:00 pm

Not quite sure how it will all stack up given the stat requirements, for example Greater Eldritch Doom requires 20 charisma and deals d4s, Armor requires 24 strength, and boosting blast damage requires dex.*

So going the expertise and Doom route is probably a significant drop in DPS just due to stat requirements spreading things thin. You'd probably get better results not taking epic pact and using Divine Shield instead of Armor and Doom (or just normal Blast) as it would free up 10 strength to be placed elsewhere.

*May be off on some of the requirements, having trouble keeping track of all the changes.
Last edited by xanrael on Tue Sep 14, 2021 8:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Kalopsia
General Admin
General Admin
Posts: 1445
Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2017 10:34 am
Location: Concourse Capaneus
Contact:

Re: Warlock: Eldritch Armor update

Post by Kalopsia » Tue Sep 14, 2021 8:03 pm

Eldritch Armor wrote:Type of Feat: Class
Prerequisite: Epic Pact (Any), Strength 24+
Specifics: This feat grants the ability to make effective use of and rest in heavy armor. Additionally, the warlock's Eldritch Blasts no longer disable the Expertise and Improved Expertise combat modes, and the -20% arcane spell failure on his equipment improves to -50%.
Use: automatic
It's true that the feat equals a +10AC bonus, but it's definitely not free, nor a feat spell-focused warlocks would select.

Let's take a look at the total sacrifices made to select this feat:
  • On top of an 18+CHA requirement to fulfil the Epic Pact prerequisite, 24+STR and 13+INT are required to unlock the AC perk. With this stat spread it is pretty much impossible to take all Eldritch Mastery feats and/or Agonizing Blast to boost Eldritch Doom damage by a significant amount. So, yes, you'll be able to cast AoE blasts with roughly 60AC without attack rolls. You'd however lose a significant chunk of damage, ending up with around 40 damage per blast.
  • Additionally, two feats need to be spent on Expertise and Improved Expertise. These could and would most likely otherwise be spell foci, if the warlock is focusing on spells.
  • Due to the Epic Pact prerequisite, it's impossible to combine the bonus with Divine Shield, resulting in the aforementioned peak AC of 60-62.
The feat is meant for warlocks focusing on Hideous Blow, and even they are forced to give up Agonizing Blast (so around 13 damage per blast) and two feats to take it - as well as a solid chunk of stat points that could otherwise be invested in CON to compensate their d6 Hit Dice.

Post Reply