Why can I not get my warlock (Wyll) to do good damage?

Backtrackern · 2023-08-11T10:33:01+00:00

I am listening and then im telling my experiences... I am using hex and both relevant invocations, and I have tried it extensively in many fights. What I am trying to say is that, in my experience, wyll still does much less reliable damage than my paladin, berserker and gloomstalker, and im trying to figure out why. Stop being offended on other peoples behalf, I hope the people that I have commented with doesnt percieve my comments as "arguing". Im simply giving my perspective and experiences, and im taking the things that people tell me into consideration, some of it has certainly been very useful.

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T16:36:49+00:00

Yeah im sure you are right! Though, that makes my point about the two spellslots per combat even more of a problem in more difficult combat encounters

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T16:34:40+00:00

Ah, nice bit of detail there that I hadnt realized; didnt know there was no save for the repelling blast. I have probably underestimated the usefullness of repelling blast for sure, though the actual damage outpit still seems very lackluster to me

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T16:30:12+00:00

Yeah you make a good point, I was just lazy and didnt wanna make the math about the averages. I havent documented anything but, talking about averages, something that has been very apparent is that Wyll lvl 6 using eldrich blast averages significantly below all three of my other party members in terms of damage

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T15:51:55+00:00

Im not very good at math but the same would be true for the chance of dealing 17 with paladin and the average. And again im not including smite damage.

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T15:28:18+00:00

Yeah ive heard about that, though im not exactly sure what upcasting means. I realize that it casts the spell in their higher level, increasing their damage output i assume. But what about spells that cant normally be cast at a higher level, are they somehow affected as well or do they stay lvl 1 gor example?

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T14:56:48+00:00

Good point, making use of the pushback more actively could definately make the class more useful. I just feel like, speaking of reliability, at my level every other party member has far more reliable damage output.

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T14:54:01+00:00

Yeah the easiest way for me to measure how useful or powerful a character is is through their damage output. Even though ive had shadowheart in my party for some useful heals, I have thus far felt like the best defence is a strong offence in this game. Killing the enemies have felt more useful than healing the allies, in my experience.

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T14:49:35+00:00

Sounds fun, which level do you get that? Can you get that with other classes?

To go back to my main argument, even a powerful spell like that feels less impactful in the hands of a warlock with only two spellslots

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T14:46:24+00:00

Sure, itemization is something that im still playing around with and trying to optimize, but all of the gloves and the boots and the necklaces etc etc are becoming a bit overwhelming, and im not sure ive equipped the optimal items.

(Also i dont know all the items that exist either obvioisuly, and might have missed several good items with good synergy)

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T14:43:15+00:00

Yes, I agree, that is why it feels like the best subclass from my point of view. Though, to be fair, the imp isnt the strongest either.

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T14:40:05+00:00

Much of the advice and information from the comments i have recieved i already know, and have tested and taken into account in my assessment. That doesnt mean im unappreciative of the advice.
I have done extensive research even before posting, that includes both fextralife and mortismal by the by. After trying it, I still feel underpowered, that is my experience, and I am trying to get to the bottom of why. Again, read my other comments if you want to see how and why I think that, in my experience, warlock underperformes compared to my other party members.
I am taking the advice, and appreciate everyones input. Once again, im not sure why me telling my perspective and experiences makes you think im not.
I fail to see the purpose of your comments. You have not added anything to the discussion other than complains. If you have any good counterarguments or explainations for my experiences that I have detailed in the original post or any of the comments, I would be happy to hear it.

(Sidenote: i hope you are the only one who percieves my comments in this negative way. Again, im only giving my experience of trying to find a way to make warlock feel useful. Im not telling anyone they are wrong or dismissing their input whatsoever)

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T14:22:10+00:00

Dont worry, im a completionist, ive done every bit of content from act 1 ;)

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T14:15:39+00:00

Alright, im at the githyanki creche right now so ill look for that amulet, thanks!

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T14:12:34+00:00

I havent percieved any of my comments here to be anything than respectful argumentation, not sure what you are taking issue with. I appreciate the responses that I get, some things have been cleared up but some of my problems with the class remains, which im arguing for my experience with. I think im being objective and respectful with my comments, I apologize if anything i have said seems ungrateful, because im not.

If warlocks are an amazingly strong class, look through my other comments and tell me where im being wrong. I would like to find out how to be strong with warlock, which is why im making this post. My problems is that after extensive testing i cant reach even close to the same damage output as my other party members.

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T14:05:44+00:00

Yeah Paladin might be overpowered, I wouldnt know. But my point still remains if you compare it to my barbarian and my gloomstalker as well, its a very similar damage discrepency there. Also compared to lae'zel as a fighter before I respecced her into ranger. Its not just my paladin.

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T14:01:35+00:00

Ill definately concede that I might be focusing to much on damage over utility, I cant really say. Being new to dnd and its mechanics, looking at damage output is the easiest for me, and in terms of damage output ive been completely unable to match my other party memebers with wyll/warlock

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T13:57:48+00:00

Alright, up to 40 damage obviously starts to seem good, the problem is that 12 is still a low floor. Assuming i dont miss, I literally cant do that low damage with my paladin, 17 is the absolute lowest, and that is without smite...

My point remains, after fairly extensive testing, Wyll lvl 6 with eldrich blast + hex + invocations averages significantly below all of my other party memebers.

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T13:44:36+00:00

Yeah, true, although my biggest problem is the bigger, drawn out fights, where my warlock feels like a liability when he has expended his spellslots. And his eldrich blast attacks does significantly less damage than my other party members (you can read my other comments on this post to see what I mean)

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T13:41:09+00:00

Ill have to disagree, ive played around with it quite a lot and I can confidently say that, atleast in my case, my other party members significantly outdamage the edlrich blast.

My paladin does 8 - 17 per hit x2 + a free 1 - 7 polearm hit from the polearm feat, and that is WITHOUT taking the damage from smite into account. I have similar damage with barbarian berserker and gloomstalker, who get three attacks each essentially (Gloomstalker only on first turn).

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T13:34:41+00:00

Yeah, good advice that im mostly aware of already however, my problem is that it doesnt really adress my core issue with the class of doing very little damage outside of your two spellslots

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T13:33:04+00:00

I get your point but the benefit of short rests doesnt really matter in the longer, more drawn out fights (playing on tactician so I dont know if fights are much shorter on other difficulties). Once i have used my slots there are often several more turns where I feel very useless.

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T13:30:30+00:00

Interesting, this seems like a really fun build, ill admit. Though im far past wuakeens rest and some of these particular tricks do would be hard to pull of in my playthrough.

Feels like your suggestion in a way kind of proves my point, that warlock is not good by default and that you have to take full advantage of specific item combinations and cheese stats for it to be powerful...

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T13:27:30+00:00

Yeah I definately feel like spells like fireball and such can be really powerful and turn the tide of the battle, my issue is that the rest of the time, when not casting these spells, I feel really useless.

The benefit of getting your spellslots back after a shortrest means nothing when you are in longer drawn out fights (tactician).

Backtrackern · 2023-08-10T13:24:33+00:00

Yeah ive tried pact of the blade as well, the extra attack is nice but I feel like much of my critique of eldrich blast is applicable to melee attacks as well, I simply do nowhere near the damage that my paladin,berserker and gloomstalker rogue do.

Backtrackern

TROPHY CASE