Warlock/Rogue Damage build

[Vamphyr]

I've been trying to think up the most effective and simple way to be a ranged blaster type that isn't a wizard with maximized, empowered, such and such. Going straight warlock doesn't seem to work very well, so I was considering some other options.

One such option is warlock 1/rogue X. This allows me to still gain sneak attacks but with the added bonus that if I do land the sneak attack I'm rolling against a flat 10 ac since they wouldn't gain any dex bonus and Eldritch Blast is a touch attack, thus ignoring their armor.

Do you lovely people of the Playground have any tips on how to maximize the amount of sneak attack damage I could get with a build such as this? Any other classes that may help that? Any items or feat suggestions?

[BowStreetRunner]

You could take one level of swordsage and pick up the Assassin's Stance which will give you +2d6 sneak attack damage. This would have the added benefit of being able to pick up some of the other swordsage maneuvers that can help create opportunities to apply sneak attack damage.

[Urpriest]

Eldritch Blast is only once per round, one more with quicken. Even a very simple throwing build with Master Thrower can get touch attacks while still getting full attacks. You're handicapping yourself for essentially no reason.

[TuggyNE]

I don't get how this improves total damage at all; in fact, some of the time you'll do a lot less (undead, anyone?), and you won't do any extra unless you optimize a fair bit (e.g. Craven) which would also be effective if you just optimized EB itself (Hellfire Warlock, Mortalbane, Chasuble of Fell Power). Worse, now you have to figure out a reliable way to get sneak attack at range.

Finally, you don't get the handy utility features of Warlock, and Rogue isn't able to really make up the difference there.

[Vamphyr]

Thank you all for your input!

So I take it going straight warlock with some hellfire cheese is probably the best way to put my blasting through the roof?

I'm honestly just looking for something slightly broken and fun to play if my current character dies. The game I'm in is fairly bland and there is little to no roleplay benefits for the more serious characters I make, and frequently when I try to roleplay I get told a round about "No" and someone else is then selected to do it.

With that being said, Warlock always seemed like a fun blaster class with cool fluff, but the eldritch blast leveling is pretty slow. That's why I was trying to find a faster leveling damage ability like sneak attack.

Apologies if this kind of all over the place, I'm pretty tired.

[Kane0]

Are you able to use homebrew?
There are plenty of Warlock-eque classes that provide plenty of that tasty damage in nicely wrapped packages, with other abilities to boot!
EG: Some Warlock classes (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=12909996&postcount=1)
Some invocations (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=255160)

[Dusk Eclipse]

A clawlock or a Glaivelock are pretty good for damage and in the later debuffing, so you might want to consider it. Also remember if you go Hellfire lock, don't forget to dip binder for naberious, it will. save. your. life.

[ThiagoMartell]

Check the warlock handbook in my sig or google the melee warlock handbook, that might help.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

Yea, a Hellfire Warlock does way more damage than 'Lock/Rogue, and doesn't lose half his damage output if an opponent is immune to sneak attack, or isn't denied Dex bonus to AC.

But if you wanted to, it would be something like Warlock/Rogue/Nosmiac Chirgeon1/Arcane Trickster to cap.

Basically, NC is needed to be able to satisfy the condition: Able to cast an Arcane spell of 3rd or higher. Invocations don't count, so this hoop is necessary.

[Flickerdart]

A Warlock 1/Rogue 19 deals 11d6 damage on an EB, provided they can get a non-immune enemy flat-footed. A Warlock 20 deals 10d6 damage, all the time. How is the first one better at all?

[Psyren]

Seconding the Warlock/Rogue/NC/AT build, possibly with Assassin's Stance. Advancing both sneak attack and EB is the only way to make this concept viable.

[Ardantis]

Somebody Make This Build

[HunterColt22]

A Warlock 1/Rogue 19 deals 11d6 damage on an EB, provided they can get a non-immune enemy flat-footed. A Warlock 20 deals 10d6 damage, all the time. How is the first one better at all?

Dagger Spell Mage could work, but again, you are handicapping yourself. I know, I have gone down this road somewhat before. Both outside of combat seem to compliment each other fairly well fluff wise, mechanically, they just don't due to warlock's low prestige options, and the rogues need to spec for specifics. They do both have UMD so there is a plus, also if you were doing a changeling rouge/ warlock, you could come away with a neat build with warshaper/master of many forms I think is the name, if your dm was willing, and you explained yourself well. Again though, best option is to go with warlock straight. Otherwise you have hoops to jump through to get the good rouge/arcane prestige classes, unseen seer, I am looking at you.

[Socratov]

first, this:

Check the warlock handbook in my sig or google the melee warlock handbook, that might help.

regarding warlok/rogue
second, high level enemies won't be surprised anymore or just flat out immune to crits (and thus sneak), besides it would mean standing within 30 ft. (sneak attack range), blasting pain, with only d6 hd and not entirely great defence options. Your call mate.

other options include (not dps specialist, that's what clawlock and glaivelock are for) warlock+scout+improved skirmish feat
you actually want to move now and since you wont use a full round to attack (no iteratives), you can move, blast (std action), quicken blast (swift action). Now, crit immune is still annoying, but you'll have no problem letting extra damage trigger(even though it's not as much as rogue).

I'd homebrew a feat like daring outlaw for scout and warlock stacking levels for determining EB and skirmish damage, would be fair right?

[Urpriest]

Actually, wait a minute...your goal is to be the most effective blaster you can be, with minimal complexity/optimization?

Kineticist Psion. You need a grand total of one book, you have no weird PrC interactions, and you're dealing acceptable damage with almost no optimization at all.