Blade pact warlock fun

[Mandragola]

I’m currently playing a single-class blade pact warlock in SKT. It’s a class that gets looked down on quite a bit, so I thought I’d report my experiences - which have been very positive.

We’re limited to using only PHB content, which is not ideal for optimising a tricky build, and we also don’t allow multiclassing. The build is a variant human. I took moderately-armoured as my first level feat, adding +1 to strength. Starting stats were 17, 8, 14, 10, 8, 16. Took heavily armoured at 4th, making my strength 18. Fiend pact with agonising blast, devil’s sight and thirsting blade (or is it life drinker? The one for two attacks).

It’s a good thing to be a spellcaster with AC20 (plate and shield) and a pool of temporary hit points. It’s a very versatile character. I’ve found that I can do something useful in any situation, whether that’s fireballing a room, tanking, zapping people at range or fireballing a room.

In last night’s session we got jumped in a confined corridor, leading into a room full of monsters. I got webbed in the doorway, squeezed. But I had some temporary hp and was able to refresh them with two consecutive fireballs, and there was a cleric with spirit guardians up stood behind me, so we beat the encounter. The only downside was that the people stuck further down the corridor were bored, as nobody could move past me and I couldn’t move myself!

The downside is that other characters can do their specialist jobs better than I can. But the upside is that I’m always playing. The only thing I can’t do is scout. On paper it’s a pretty sub-optimal build but I’m finding it a fun character to play.

[Jerrykhor]

Its not the class that gets looked down, its the Pact. And that Pact is crap.

[JakOfAllTirades]

I’m currently playing a single-class blade pact warlock in SKT. It’s a class that gets looked down on quite a bit, so I thought I’d report my experiences - which have been very positive.

We’re limited to using only PHB content, which is not ideal for optimising a tricky build, and we also don’t allow multiclassing. The build is a variant human. I took moderately-armoured as my first level feat, adding +1 to strength. Starting stats were 17, 8, 14, 10, 8, 16. Took heavily armoured at 4th, making my strength 18. Fiend pact with agonising blast, devil’s sight and thirsting blade (or is it life drinker? The one for two attacks).

It’s a good thing to be a spellcaster with AC20 (plate and shield) and a pool of temporary hit points. It’s a very versatile character. I’ve found that I can do something useful in any situation, whether that’s fireballing a room, tanking, zapping people at range or fireballing a room.

In last night’s session we got jumped in a confined corridor, leading into a room full of monsters. I got webbed in the doorway, squeezed. But I had some temporary hp and was able to refresh them with two consecutive fireballs, and there was a cleric with spirit guardians up stood behind me, so we beat the encounter. The only downside was that the people stuck further down the corridor were bored, as nobody could move past me and I couldn’t move myself!

The downside is that other characters can do their specialist jobs better than I can. But the upside is that I’m always playing. The only thing I can’t do is scout. On paper it’s a pretty sub-optimal build but I’m finding it a fun character to play.

If you're limited to PHB only and single classing (which is fine) that's an excellent way to make the Blade Pact work for you.

My experiences playing a single classed Blade Pact Warlock were similar, although I used a different approach: mine was a Dex-based build instead. I played a Fey-Pact Tiefling, taking Moderately Armored at 4th level. The result was an extremely versatile character that was loads of fun to play, but basically second best at lots of different things. Except for social skills; he was pretty much the best with those. Say what you like about BladeLocks, this character fit my play style and I had a great time with it. And no, he wasn't a burden to the rest of the group. I've heard it all before, thank you so much.

[bid]

Its not the class that gets looked down, its the Pact. And that Pact is crap.
Is... with PHB-only.
Was... with Xan's blade-on-blade.

Needing a double-feat tax is proof enough for me.
OTOH, it's hard not to have fun with whatever 5e build you try.

[Oms]

Part of the problem with PHB bladelocks is the fact that they straight up do more damage using EB, and becomes somewhat mad at that. The Hexblade gets a bit of flak for being unbalanced, but that's mostly because of how much benefit a level or two can give when multiclassing and that they are the best EB only warlock, but played as a bladelock, using a blade, they are only as good as bladelocks should always have been.

[Dr. Cliché]

I had an amusing idea with Pact of the Blade (though it would probably work even better with Improved Blade Pact):

Step 1: Use Disguise Self (or Mask of Many Faces) to change your appearance.
Step 2: When no one is looking, conjure your Pact Weapon. Make it a sword and make sure it looks suitably expensive/exotic.
Step 3: See if someone wants to buy your 'family heirloom weapon'. Spin them a sob story about you being desperate for money and this being all you have to sell.
Step 4: Sell it to them. Hopefully for a decent amount (this is where Improved Blade Pact really helps, as you can tell them it's an enchanted weapon).
Step 5: Thank them and run off, using whatever excuse fits your earlier sob-story.
Step 6: Once out of sight, use Disguise Self again to change your appearance once more.
Step 7: After 1 minute, your blade will vanish and person will realise they've been scammed. Of course, by then, you'll be far away and thanks to Disguise Self they'll be looking for the wrong person.
Step 8: Repeat.

An important thing to remember is that your Pact Weapon will only disappear if it remains more than 5ft from you for over a minute. So you're free to let the mark hold the weapon and try it out, without risking it vanishing (so long as you stay nearby).

[PopeLinus1]

Its not the class that gets looked down, its the Pact. And that Pact is crap.

Nah Jerry, it’s the best Warlock Pact their is. I mean, SURE if your that interested, you could use the familiar that’s barely better than the spell version, or the book, which lets you get cantrips. Or, you could suck out peoples souls with a magic sword.

I believe I just won the argument.

[Mandragola]

Is... with PHB-only.
Was... with Xan's blade-on-blade.

Needing a double-feat tax is proof enough for me.
OTOH, it's hard not to have fun with whatever 5e build you try.

The feat tax isn't as much of an issue as it first seems to be honest. I get 2 points of strength from the feats, one of which is free. At 4th level I had 18 strength and 16 charisima, which means I'm not behind on my stat progression.

Instead, the downside is that I don't have great stats otherwise. My dump stats have been dumped hard.

Also, it's a build that only works as a vuman. A mountain dwarf could kind of do it, but with a lower charisma he'd inevitably be a worse spellcaster. And anyway devil's sight removes the main disadvantage humans have.

I do find that the playstyle is very different to a normal warlock. I tend to be stood on the front rank quite a lot, tanking with my AC20 and temporary hp. I don't cast hex in every fight because I'm not great at concentration, and a fireball is often a better option. I cast fireball a lot!

I do hit stuff with my pact blade. I also sometimes give it to other people to use, if they need to hit something that needs a magic weapon to hurt it. I expect I'll do this less often if our rogue finds a magic weapon, though that hasn't happened yet.

Something that's probably common to all warlocks is that my effectiveness really depends on where we are. In our adventure we often travel for days between encounters, meaning that when we do meet something the party can unload all of their spells on it, and my two spell slots look pretty weak. But in our last two sessions we've been bashing through a traditional dungeon where short rests are easy to take and I've been at the top of my game.

[the_brazenburn]

I had an amusing idea with Pact of the Blade (though it would probably work even better with Improved Blade Pact):

Step 1: Use Disguise Self (or Mask of Many Faces) to change your appearance.
Step 2: When no one is looking, conjure your Pact Weapon. Make it a sword and make sure it looks suitably expensive/exotic.
Step 3: See if someone wants to buy your 'family heirloom weapon'. Spin them a sob story about you being desperate for money and this being all you have to sell.
Step 4: Sell it to them. Hopefully for a decent amount (this is where Improved Blade Pact really helps, as you can tell them it's an enchanted weapon).
Step 5: Thank them and run off, using whatever excuse fits your earlier sob-story.
Step 6: Once out of sight, use Disguise Self again to change your appearance once more.
Step 7: After 1 minute, your blade will vanish and person will realise they've been scammed. Of course, by then, you'll be far away and thanks to Disguise Self they'll be looking for the wrong person.
Step 8: Repeat.

An important thing to remember is that your Pact Weapon will only disappear if it remains more than 5ft from you for over a minute. So you're free to let the mark hold the weapon and try it out, without risking it vanishing (so long as you stay nearby).

Don't you see what you've done? You'll depreciate the market value of magic swords! Now NOBODY will be able to buy or sell magic weapons anywhere on the economy! Aaaaargh! My market values!

[KorvinStarmast]

Its not the class that gets looked down, its the Pact. And that Pact is crap. Not sure how that contributes to this discussion of having fun in D&D 5e. I once got a mod warning for thread crapping. I wasn't quite sure what that means, but I think it's something like this.

For the OP:

Love your post, love your approach, thanks for sharing your story.

[BigONotation]

I think OP did a good job for a single-class warlock using only PHB. It definitely points out the problems with the Pact, but I'm glad they made it work for them given the limitations.

At my table, Pact of the Blade get martial weapons, medium armor, and shields at 3rd level and Extra Attack at 6th (removing Thirsting Blade invocation altogether). I feel this adequately sets their power level in line with similar archetypes (Valor Bard).

[Jerrykhor]

Not sure how that contributes to this discussion of having fun in D&D 5e. I once got a mod warning for thread crapping. I wasn't quite sure what that means, but I think it's something like this.

For the OP:

Love your post, love your approach, thanks for sharing your story.

Yeah, so, I'm blunt and straight to the point. Its not that I like to crap on people's fun, its just... I speak the truth and people don't like it.

The things he did wasn't because of Pact of the Blade, so his point is not proven. If anything, it only highlights how good the Fiend patron is, and the importance of high AC. But he needed 2 feat taxes to do that.

[bid]

Something that's probably common to all warlocks is that my effectiveness really depends on where we are. In our adventure we often travel for days between encounters, meaning that when we do meet something the party can unload all of their spells on it, and my two spell slots look pretty weak. But in our last two sessions we've been bashing through a traditional dungeon where short rests are easy to take and I've been at the top of my game.
Yeah, I would use the alternate system for travel. With a short rest every night and a long rest once in a while, it makes it more balanced and interesting.