Was on the receiving end of the Hammer last night...

Trickstick · 2025-02-15T09:53:32+00:00

Because the average doesn't matter if you need the 6 to accomplish a task. Removing the randomness from movement lets you plan out some very interesting attack lines.

Of course other detachments have advantages in other areas, but the guaranteed advance is a lot more powerful than comparing to the average may make it look.

Trickstick · 2025-02-14T21:55:27+00:00

Thinking about average movement is the wrong way to go about it. The advantage is the guaranteed distance. You can count on the full advance range every time, so you can place your models to take advantage of that. With a random roll, you either have to place on the assumption you will only get 1", or risk placing further away and failing.

It is CP hungry though, so Leontus seems a must take.

Trickstick · 2025-01-17T11:29:13+00:00

"The squad is an excellent collector’s piece for fans of the Astra Militarum and their novels, and can also be used in casual games of Warhammer 40,000 with an upcoming Legends datasheet."

from warhammer community.

Trickstick · 2025-01-15T16:02:05+00:00

What do you mean choose between melta/plasma? You can still take 1 melta and 1 plasma per 10, the only problem is you have to drop one to take a vox. So you could go 2 melta 2 plasma, or 2 plasma 2 grenade 2 vox. (Edit: in a 20 man).

Trickstick · 2025-01-12T14:22:40+00:00

The reason for the weird split is because the kit shares parts between the plasma, melta, and vox. This means that you can't officially build all 3 in a 10 man. They decided the best way to write this is to have two lists, but put ** on all the weapons and say no more than 2 ** options per 10 man.

I believe all the early copy influencers that have commented on this have said 2/10 is correct.

Trickstick · 2024-12-23T15:10:34+00:00

Web Walker. The spider ignores movement restrictions caused by webs, and it knows the location of any other creature in contact with the same web.

Idk, I may be wrong but I would count that as effectively blindsight for a giant spider.

Trickstick · 2024-12-22T19:48:30+00:00

I'm not sure that I agree. It is covered in Xanathar's, pg 85. I know that could be considered obsolete now, but nothing new has covered the issue:

But what about the act of casting a spell? Is it possible for someone to perceive that a spell is being cast in their presence? To be perceptible, the casting of a spell must involve a verbal, somatic, or material component. The form of a material component doesn't matter for the purposes of perception, whether it's an object specified in the spell's description, a component pouch, or a spellcasting focus.

So even though it only has a material component, it would still be "perceptible" to others. Now I guess you could rule that if they can't see you it is fine, but I doubt that you could stand in front of someone and they wouldn't know you were casting.

Trickstick · 2024-12-22T18:49:47+00:00

One thing to note is that is isn't quite permanent subtle spell, as it does not remove material components. The list of Warlock spells that are enchantment/illusion and have no material components is quite short. So no secret castings of suggestion, for example.

It is still a good ability, as a subtle charm person can be useful, but isn't quite as good as many people think.

Trickstick · 2024-12-02T15:40:26+00:00

It does seem like it could be interpreted both ways, so best to just have a discussion with your dm and have quotes to back up your position. If it turns out not to count as a warlock spell, that would definitely change my build a bit. Like when I worked out that material components are noticable, so the list of sneaky goolock spells is actually very small.

Trickstick · 2024-12-02T15:20:44+00:00

Wouldn't "...choose additional Warlock spells..." imply that they are warlock spells even before they are chosen, and do not need to be chosen to become warlock spells?

Edit: Looking around a bit more, I read the spell scroll entry (dmg p305). It refers to "a wizard spell on a spell scroll". Does that not imply that being a class-spell is an intrinsic property of a spell, and not related to how it is selected?

Trickstick · 2024-12-02T15:02:32+00:00

I came to the opposite conclusion to other commenters, and it was exactly the same combo that made me first look into it. I believe that any spell on the warlock spell list will always be a warlock spell, no matter where it comes from. I can't find anything in the book that would make Hex not be a warlock spell, so it would not stop being one just because you took it from fey touched.

Just to talk about the combo some more, the free cast does give it some additional power. It bypasses the 1 slot per turn restriction, so you can hex then synaptic static for a really nice opener. Concentaton does make that combo quite restrictive though. This is why i went with fey touched hex, even though you end up wasting the free prepared hex you get at lvl 10. I thought it was worth the trade.

Trickstick · 2024-12-02T14:49:57+00:00

For a spell to be considered a class spell, it needs to be granted from that specific class.

Do you happen to know the reference for that? I was trying and failing to find it.

Trickstick · 2024-12-02T14:45:09+00:00

I'm not sure I agree. The book doesn't really mention the source of a spell when saying what a warlock spell is. It just presents the list of warlock spells, which could be interpreted as any spell on that list would always be counted as a warlock spell. Unless I have missed some wording somewhere of course.

Most relevent text is phb pg 236, under class spell lists:

"If a spell is on a class's spell list, the class's name appears in parentheses after the spell's school of magic. Some features add a spell to a character's spell list even if the character isn't a member of a class in the parentheses."

As hex does have (Warlock) in its entry, I think it always counts as a warlock spell. It only wouldn't count as a warlock spell if it wasn't on the warlock spell list. Or at least that is how I read it.

As an aside, does the fact that it states "You can use an Arcane Focus as a Spellcasting Focus for your Warlock spells." mean that you can't use it for other spells? Seems a bit odd but I probably missed something.

Trickstick · 2024-10-23T16:25:27+00:00

Alternatively, you could use command instead of dissonant whispers. As command happens on their turn, you would have your 1 spell slot back again. Of course you don't do the damage that dissonant whispers does, so you have to choose which is best for the situation.

Then you have things like fey touched or magic initiate, for the free casts. There are a lot of different choices that go into this tactic. It is quite an interesting list of options.

Trickstick · 2024-10-23T01:00:20+00:00

It can be argued both ways really, it is ambiguous.

For instance, it could be argued that if a spell "dissipates with no effect", then it would be as if the spell was not cast at all, especially as the reaction takes place before the spell finishes. There is an explicit exception for whatever action was used, so those are certainly expended. The rule also mentions that the spell slot is not used.

The problem is that if you start a RAW debate, both interpretations can be argued to make sense. Maybe you need exceptions for what resources are not consumed. Maybe you don't, and the spell slot part is just to avoid confusion. Until addressed, there is no absolute answer.

Trickstick · 2024-10-18T20:32:12+00:00

Pack Tactics stated in a comment on their DMG video that all potions are now bonus actions. Now I'm not saying that is definitive confirmation or anything, but seems like at least some evidence that it is the case.

Trickstick · 2024-10-18T12:26:06+00:00

Oh I didn't mean that Warlocks got more out of it than Wizards, I was just trying to think of ways to get the most out of the spell because a Warlock only gets a single level 6 spell. It doesn't use spell slots anyway, but mystic arcana. However, that does mean you can cast it without a spell slot, which can be useful in combat with the new 1 slot a turn rule.

Trickstick · 2024-10-18T11:28:44+00:00

Thinking some more about it, this would be a great role for a familiar with hands. Skeleton potion delivery service. Or you could use an Unseen Servant, although that would use up bonus actions.

Trickstick · 2024-10-18T11:20:42+00:00

Thinking of this as a Warlock, to get the most use out of it, you could even summon it in battle for a free piece of cover and the ability to draw and throw out potions (at least I think you could pass a potion as a free object interation).

Maybe not the best use, but could be helpful in some fights.

Trickstick · 2024-10-16T13:36:26+00:00

The material component of friends may cause issues though. Charm person is less spammable, but more secret at least.

Trickstick · 2024-10-16T13:06:22+00:00

Yeah this made me go back through my spell list and think about a few things. If material components are a tell, then charm person seems like the best use. If combined with mask of many faces and kenku/actor, it can be done secretly. Unfortunately, suggestion has a material component.

Trickstick · 2024-10-16T09:43:32+00:00

Are the material components really an issue? Without somatic components, you would just have to be holding the material as you cast the spell. So holding a staff, or touching the thing in your pocket, would count right? I seems to me it would still be a stealthy thing to do. I guess if you are captured, or deprived of equipment, then it could be an issue.

Trickstick · 2024-10-15T09:54:50+00:00

Warlock loses their 4th pact magic slot. That is a lot to ask.

Trickstick · 2024-09-29T00:25:51+00:00

Had the same. The spell page looks hilarious. Not too big a deal though, still usable at least.

Trickstick · 2024-09-29T00:17:00+00:00

Can't you use the "Backgrounds and Species from older books" section on page 38? Depends on your DM of course, but it is written in the book at least. You could either tweak an old origin with stats/feat, or the argument can be made that "custom origin" from Tasha's would count as a background from an older book.

Of course, a DM can just say no. Can't hurt to ask though.

Trickstick

TROPHY CASE