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Baron Corm
2007-04-02, 12:33 PM
Eldritch duelists are simply warlocks who train in channeling their demonic magic through a melee weapon, sacrificing some of their ranged capabilities and ending up with a lower pool of invocations. Eldritch duelists tend to disguise themselves often and use their invocations less or choose less flashy invocations, as it is relatively easy for them to pass as a normal soldier. Woe to the one who provokes an eldritch duelist into displaying his full compliment of powers!

Eldritch Duelist

Table:

Level 1: Eldritch vigor, surprise blast
Level 2: Eldritch resilience
Level 3: Toil and trouble
Level 4: Wicked blow
Level 5: Eldritch strength, imbue item
Level 6: Eldritch reflexes
Level 7: Eldritch resilience
Level 8: Eldritch reach
Level 9: Eldritch resilience
Level 10: Double, double toil and trouble, sudden surprise blast

Hit Die: d8
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Base Attack Bonus: 4/4
Base Saves: Low Fortitude, High Reflex, High Will
Class Skills: Bluff, Concentration, Craft, Disguise, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (arcane), Knowledge (the planes), Knowledge (religion), Profession, Sense Motive, Spellcraft, Tumble, Use Magic Device

Requirements

To qualify to become an eldritch duelist, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.

Feat: Combat Reflexes
Base Attack Bonus: +6
Skills: Use Magic Item 6 ranks, Spellcraft 6 ranks, Bluff or Intimidate 6 ranks
Warlock Invocation: Must know hideous blow


Class Features

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

An eldritch duelist is proficient with all Simple and Martial weapons.

Invoking

At each level except first, third, and tenth, you gain new invocations known, increased damage with eldritch blast, and an increase in invoker level as if you had also gained a level in the warlock class. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained.

Eldritch Vigor

The eldritch duelist may add his Dexterity bonus to attack rolls instead of his Strength bonus any time he uses the invocation hideous blow.

Surprise Blast (Sp)

Whenever you use your eldritch blast ability, you can change your eldritch blast into a surprise blast. A surprise blast changes your eldritch blast damage dice into d8's. A surprise blast may only be used against a creature with an Intelligence of 3+ who believes you to have no supernatural power.

After being hit with a surprise blast, the usually becomes aware of your powers (because they can see it). A surprise blast does not necessarily warn the creatures around the one struck; even if it is not channeled through a hideous blow, it is invisible to all but the one targeted.

A creature who is flat-footed or being flanked takes the damage dice in d10's.

Eldritch Resilience

At levels 2, 7, and 9, the eldritch duelist gains damage reduction 1/cold iron, which stacks with the damage reduction from his warlock class.

Toil and Trouble

Starting at level 3, the eldritch duelist may use a full-round action to attack twice when using the invocation hideous blow. He may still use the standard action option.

Wicked Blow (Sp)

At level 4, the warlock gains a blast shape invocation which acts as hideous blow, except it allows him to apply his melee weapon's critical threat range and multiplier to his eldritch blast. Wicked blow replaces hideous blow.

Imbue Item

At level 5, the eldritch duelist gains imbue item. This functions as the warlock class feature of the same name.

Eldritch Strength (Su)

From level 5 onwards, the eldritch duelist adds +1 to damage for each damage dice of his eldritch blast when using his wicked blow invocation.

Eldritch Reflexes

Starting at level 6, any attack of opportunity the eldritch duelist is allowed may be made as if he were using the standard action option of his wicked blow invocation.

Eldritch Reach

At level 8, the wicked blow invocation gains a range of 5 ft. It still requires a melee attack roll and is treated as a melee attack.

Sudden Surprise Blast (Sp)

At level 10, you gain a new eldritch essence invocation. Whenever you use your eldritch blast ability, you can change your eldritch blast into a sudden surprise blast. Sudden surprise blasts function as and replace surprise blasts, but the damage dice are increased one extra step (to d10's or d12's if the creature is flat-footed or being flanked).

Double, Double Toil and Trouble

Starting at level 10, the eldritch duelist may make as many attacks in a full-round action with his wicked blow invocation as he is allowed by his base attack bonus. This does not include attacks granted from wielding a second weapon.

Quellian-dyrae
2007-04-02, 01:25 PM
I'd remove the ability to pinpoint precisely on a surprise blast. The limit that it can only be used once per battle per foe (at best) should be sufficient.

I'm looking at Double Double Toil and Trouble and I'm seeing two weapon carnage. Your Eldritch Blast will probably average 2d6 behind a rogue's sneak attack, and with +1 damage per die you'll make up for it. So you're basically looking at a full attack action, all attacks equivalent to sneak attacks without restriction by sneak attack immunity and without requiring the foe be flanked/flat footed. From 30' away if it stacks with Eldritch Reach. If you limit it to just three attacks per round, it might work better.

Other than that, looks good.