Atomicwraith
2022-11-23, 08:10 PM
What, and when, should I round out the dips on a character who is mostly a Daolock in a campaign going to 20? My character started Bard 1, then went Daolock 7 (Pact of the Chain, Inspiring Leader) thus far. I want Wish at Warlock 17, so I have 2 more levels to dip something. My role has been buffer/utility/striker. The party consists of a Battlemaster Fighter 8, Bladesinger 8, Wild Magic Sorcerer 8, and Warlock 2/Eloquence Bard 6, so we are caster-heavy. The Bladesinger (Mark of Healing Halfling) and I (Mark of Hospitality Halfling) are the most experienced players and we’ve been splitting the classic cleric role (ie he takes Lesser Restoration, I take Remove Curse, etc). My stats are (8/16/14/8/10/18).
I’m buffing the party with Goodberry and Aid outside of combat, and using a big gun like Hypnotic Pattern and EB machinegunning (Agonizing, Repelling, Lance) otherwise. The setting is in Eberron but not a published adventure.
The biggest gaps I see my character having are that my defenses suck (AC 15 with studded leather, weak Wisdom of 10), and the warlock’s classic lack of spell slots (so getting to Bard 3 to get 4/2 spell slots would be nice). The opportunities are to be a better cleric-surrogate and buffer/debuffer. Here’s what I’m considering:
1) Daolock 17/Bard 1/Fighter 2: Two levels in Fighter fixes my AC (15-->19) and gives Action Surge. Forcecage + Sickening Radiance anyone? 😊 I might take Superior Technique/Ambush for the initiative bump, or Blind Fighting for utility.
2) Daolock 17/Valor Bard 3: Two more levels in Bard gets me the 4/2 spell slots, two level 2 slots (Locate Object, Detect Thoughts), fixes my AC (15--> 19), and gives a variety of other goodies (Expertise in 2 skills, Combat Inspiration (which is kinda better than basic inspiration), Jack of All Trades for the initiative bonus.
3) Daolock 17/Lore Bard 3: I get the 4/2 slots and the amazing Cutting Words for party defense, and minor goodies (Expertise, JOAT, 3 skills), but my AC stays weak.
4) Daolock 17/Bard 1/Fighter 1/Divine Soul Sorcerer 1: I fix my AC, get a fighting style, get 1 spell slot, gain Shield and Cure Wounds and say Bless, and Favored by the Gods for +2d4 of bonus.
I’ve not really noticed my weak AC being a terrible problem yet, but it seems like a bomb waiting to go off.
Which would the collective mind think is most optimal? One of these or something else? And WHEN to take it? Getting Wall of Stone at Warlock 9 (/character 10) is attractive, but then so is getting Sanctuary Vessel at the next level, and a 3rd spell slot at the next level… but then I’ll be squishy forever…
Thanks for any advice!
I’m buffing the party with Goodberry and Aid outside of combat, and using a big gun like Hypnotic Pattern and EB machinegunning (Agonizing, Repelling, Lance) otherwise. The setting is in Eberron but not a published adventure.
The biggest gaps I see my character having are that my defenses suck (AC 15 with studded leather, weak Wisdom of 10), and the warlock’s classic lack of spell slots (so getting to Bard 3 to get 4/2 spell slots would be nice). The opportunities are to be a better cleric-surrogate and buffer/debuffer. Here’s what I’m considering:
1) Daolock 17/Bard 1/Fighter 2: Two levels in Fighter fixes my AC (15-->19) and gives Action Surge. Forcecage + Sickening Radiance anyone? 😊 I might take Superior Technique/Ambush for the initiative bump, or Blind Fighting for utility.
2) Daolock 17/Valor Bard 3: Two more levels in Bard gets me the 4/2 spell slots, two level 2 slots (Locate Object, Detect Thoughts), fixes my AC (15--> 19), and gives a variety of other goodies (Expertise in 2 skills, Combat Inspiration (which is kinda better than basic inspiration), Jack of All Trades for the initiative bonus.
3) Daolock 17/Lore Bard 3: I get the 4/2 slots and the amazing Cutting Words for party defense, and minor goodies (Expertise, JOAT, 3 skills), but my AC stays weak.
4) Daolock 17/Bard 1/Fighter 1/Divine Soul Sorcerer 1: I fix my AC, get a fighting style, get 1 spell slot, gain Shield and Cure Wounds and say Bless, and Favored by the Gods for +2d4 of bonus.
I’ve not really noticed my weak AC being a terrible problem yet, but it seems like a bomb waiting to go off.
Which would the collective mind think is most optimal? One of these or something else? And WHEN to take it? Getting Wall of Stone at Warlock 9 (/character 10) is attractive, but then so is getting Sanctuary Vessel at the next level, and a 3rd spell slot at the next level… but then I’ll be squishy forever…
Thanks for any advice!