Shadar-kai Warlock?

[Konvic]

Love the look of the Shadar-kai. Was curious is the 1 level of Rogue would be pointless for a warlock or would that splash of rogue even work with a warlock build?

[Memnir]

Been thinking of a 2-Rogue splash just for evasion. But... not sure how to manage the stats.
Bummer S-K have a Charisma penalty, but I don't think that's build breaking.

[Konvic]

Been thinking of a 2-Rogue splash just for evasion. But... not sure how to manage the stats.
Bummer S-K have a Charisma penalty, but I don't think that's build breaking.

Same here. Guess im hoping for one of these great builders we have on the forums could chime in. I think the SK have a good look for the warlock.

[Rhysem]

I was toying with a dwarf (-2 cha as well) warlock 18 / fvs 2 (for the aov tree light sp boosters) on llamalland. My conclusion was that it probably wasn't as good as going warlock 20 pure, but it worked just fine. There's no reason rogue wouldn't work instead. You don't get the light sp boosts, but you do get traps instead and evasion. If that's a trade you want to make its fine. Is it maximally powerful? Probably not. Does it add utility? Certainly (if you have enough int to actually keep up trapping, that may be a bit of a stretch).

I have a warforged 20 fvs that I'm looking at shifting to warlock. I'm not intending to keep any fvs, though I might end up having to sub in 2 monk (or fighter) if I need more feats than I can get otherwise. If it were human it'd go pure, and to be honest I should maybe roll a 20 artie into warlock instead and leave the fvs gimp as a fvs.

No claims to be a great builder. Just calling it as I see it.

[Konvic]

I was toying with a dwarf (-2 cha as well) warlock 18 / fvs 2 (for the aov tree light sp boosters) on llamalland. My conclusion was that it probably wasn't as good as going warlock 20 pure, but it worked just fine. There's no reason rogue wouldn't work instead. You don't get the light sp boosts, but you do get traps instead and evasion. If that's a trade you want to make its fine. Is it maximally powerful? Probably not. Does it add utility? Certainly (if you have enough int to actually keep up trapping, that may be a bit of a stretch).

I have a warforged 20 fvs that I'm looking at shifting to warlock. I'm not intending to keep any fvs, though I might end up having to sub in 2 monk (or fighter) if I need more feats than I can get otherwise. If it were human it'd go pure, and to be honest I should maybe roll a 20 artie into warlock instead and leave the fvs gimp as a fvs.

No claims to be a great builder. Just calling it as I see it.

Can def see what your saying here. Sorta figured it would be better to stay pure. Might just end up starting a human warlock. just seems so standard with everything now (human that is)

[Steve_Howe]

Instead of Shadar-kai, couldn't they just come up with some sort of "Emo" cosmetic skin for your toon similar to a cosmetic you make with a mirror of glamering? I'm sure it would sell to certain segments of the DDO player population pretty well.

[Rhysem]

Can def see what your saying here. Sorta figured it would be better to stay pure. Might just end up starting a human warlock. just seems so standard with everything now (human that is)

Given the importance of hamp, the feat, and the skill points, its sort of a no brainer. Oh and the opportunity for ddoor if you aren't on a caster.

[ThomasHunter]

I simply don't see that there are enough skill points to do this. Warlocks only receive 2 (+modifier)/level. This is like a fighter where it seems just about impossible.

Anyone tried this?

[Memnir]

With more Int for Skill Points, it's not impossible.

I admit to being disappointed with my experiments in a 2 Rogue/14 'Lock split earlier today. it seemed to just be "Okay" in all regards... nothing was "Good" or better. Seemed like I hardly hit any DC spells/abilities I had on hand (Phantasmal Killer & Confusion, mostly), so I was not thrilled in that regard. Traps were not a problem in NH, but I did have to retry a few. The Evasion was handy, but not sure if I liked the trade-offs.

It might get better as the build evolves - but I have a few other test Warlocks that I'm enjoying more. Might plumb the possibilities of those and revisit an S-K 'Lock later. I mean, it's not bad... might just be how I decided to split my stats. But, I can't say I was enthused enough to press forward at the moment.

[Steve_Howe]

Eventually, I expect people will figure out pure Warlocks are better than any multiclassing with them, Memnir. It took me awhile to see that with Mechanics but I wound up seeing the light.

[Memnir]

Oh, absolutely. :)
The aforementioned test 'Locks are all pure built. Just trying out different Pact/Tree combos. :)

[Krelar]

I'm leveling up a shadar-kai 2/7/11 rogue/bard/warlock. Currently banking level 19.

Int based with know the angle so lots of skill points for trap skills. I've been able to find and disable everything so far. This is very much a melee build with swashbuckler though.

[Alternative]

I'm running a shadar-kai warlock now, because I also happened to be missing shadar kai lives. The cha penalty doesn't matter in heroics, but in EEs you want all DC you can get so ultimately there's no point making shada-kai warlock as a final build. So unless people abandon DC casting, the optimal choice will be a pure drow, and the drow "are just that cool!"

[Steve_Howe]

Oh, absolutely. :)
The aforementioned test 'Locks are all pure built. Just trying out different Pact/Tree combos. :)

Understood.

On pure Warlock builds, it seems like a lot of folks are either putting their main emphasis on ether their Eldritch Blast (Easy Button imho) or on Necromancy even though Pale Masters are still better the Necrolocks.

For me, I'm going to emphasize CC first and Eldritch Blast second. My pact choice is Great Old One and Tainted Scholar will be where I spend the majority of my APs.

The basic idea is to build up my Enchantment DCs (can reach 73-75 with Bard past lives) and Mass Hold Monster large crowds of mobs. Then Eldritch Blast the Held mobs with the Chain shaped, piercing blast. Since they're Held, they take even more damage than they normally would.

I took the Great Old One pact because the pact damage is Acid (resisted less than Fire but more than Sonic) that requires a Will save. Since I'm already emphasizing Will saves by being Enchantment-based, it seemed only natural to take a pact which will be as hard to resist. The synergy between the two just leaped out at me while I was messing with Warlock on Lamannia.

With about 350 spellpower in both Acid and Force, I was easily doing 1,000 points of combined damage with my Eldritch Blast as long as one of the EB components was critically hitting. With the Chain shape allowing my EB to hit lots of Held mobs, it was doing considerably more. Of course, party members ALSO appreciate smacking the **** out of Held mobs. :)