Warlock Feat : Ability focus (Eldritch Blast)

[Tekill]

So I hit level 29 today. And was going to pick the feat: Ability Focus Eldritch Blast. Problem, it would not give me the option to take it. The feat, Ability focus Invocations was there but not Eldritch Blast. I checked and I had not already taken it so what is the deal?

Is Ability focus (Eldritch Blast) not an available feat?

*edit*
Looks like I asked the same question back in February but got no response then...I must have forgotten about it. This is a pretty important feat for my Chr-lock. My DC are too low and even with that feat the dc's would only be so-so.

Can I get feedback asap...not much time left to RCR as an option.

[wangxiuming]

I don't believe it is available on this server. Not sure why.

[mrm3ntalist]

Why are your DCs low? What DCs you get?

[mrm3ntalist]

BTW we only have ability focus ( invocations ). We dont have the eldritch Blast

[Tekill]

At level 28 the DC was 26.
So I think by level 30 its going to be 27?

Ability Focus (EB) would have bumped it to 29.
30 would have been better, perhaps if I had min/maxed a bit more- but 29 was what I was hoping for...didnt want to dump too much into chr stat and sacrifice blast damage.

CHR is 26 -
I use repelling and noxious Blasts.
CL 30.

[mrm3ntalist]

At level 28 the DC was 26.
So I think by level 30 its going to be 27?

Ability Focus (EB) would have bumped it to 29.
30 would have been better, perhaps if I had min/maxed a bit more- but 29 was what I was hoping for...didnt want to dump too much into chr stat and sacrifice blast damage.

CHR is 26 -
I use repelling and noxious Blasts.
CL 30.

I think there is something wrong with your calculation. I think that all blasts are counted as lvl9 at 30 ( or is it 14d6 blast dice?). So the DCs can get very high - 30+ - if a warlock build aims for that.

I can test it and make certain later or tomorrow, unless a more experienced warlock player can add to this discussion.

[wangxiuming]

This isn't true anymore, at least not from my experience over the last 5 months. DCs are calculated based on the effective spell level of the invocation now, not based on eldritch blast dice. My DCs are similar to Tekill's, with similar CHA and a CL 30 warlock.

[Tekill]

To get 30+ dc, I would have to have a starting chr of 20 (Aasimar). Then I would have to dump feats into CHR. 2-4 chr points at least. This would be taking away from blast dice damage. And even then, that would only get me to low 30's- my calculation would be 30-31. Its Enough to crowd control an equal level mobs a lot of the time...but not against bosses or other players.

Sure its true that I have unlimited uses- but its one use per round and they still have to hit. Also, the effects are fairly minor. The noxious blast daze can be blocked by spell resistance, mind effects immunity or just a high fort save. The knockdown, is a one round affect after a refex save. A fighters knockdown would be much better.

I have always liked my build - it has a bit of flavor, instead of always just blasting with vitriolic. But the dc's are too low. This is why most warlock players shy away from the CHR-Locks. Now at 29th level I realize there are going to be lower than I planned for.

We don't get focus feats. There is no special prestige class to increase DC's. Our invocations are not save vs. death or anything like an I win button.

I just do not understand why this feat has been excluded. Does not make any sense to me. Were the DC's higher for warlocks once upon a time? Is that it?

Can we look into adding this feat and giving more flavor to warlocks. Another option to dex and con?

[mrm3ntalist]

We are looking into it, but dont expect to get full blast damage and high DCs. Something will have to go when building such. DCs in the low 30s are not considered low for infinite amount of castings, even when they last for a couple of rounds.

DC warlocks have the same issues with DC wizards/sorcerers regarding DCs. Contrary to the rest, a warlock can still blast like a boss

[Tekill]

Thanks for reviewing it.
Keep in mind when I say low 30s, I mean 31, basically. It would be nice to have, but...
Its obtaind after min maxing stats, picking optimal race, then dumping feats into chr. (at the cost of blast damage).
A 31 would be pretty good but its way to much of a sacrifice. I would be happy with a 29...with my build its going to be 27 (I think) without the ability focus feat (if my calculations are correct).

We discussed the caculations in previous threads. I think its 10 plus CHR bonus plus spell level of invocation used plus bonus dc for epic levels.

So if thats correct and I used Eldritch Doom I could increase the dc 2 pts...they would also get a refex save for half damage and I would be using up a Dark invocation slot. Again for me too much of a sacrifice.

So if I could get the dc up to 33, then with the Ability focus feat 35. Thats with that power build above. Sounds fairly high, but for a very small selection (2 or 3) of not very effective spell affects while sacrificing too many other stats, abilities and damage.

It is an easy class to balance- and in my opinion the DC is just too low atm.
A balance warlock would reach 30 dc with effort (and the ability focus feat).

[Nemni]

This isn't true anymore, at least not from my experience over the last 5 months. DCs are calculated based on the effective spell level of the invocation now, not based on eldritch blast dice. My DCs are similar to Tekill's, with similar CHA and a CL 30 warlock.

This has been my experience as well.

[AC81]

If npc's keep failing saves then they definitely are 'i win' buttons. The benefit with warlocks is they can target an opponents weak save, and then spam high damage area of effect spells that disable. If you're stunned for 3 rounds against a warlock, you're dead.

[Steve]

Shouldn't this Ability Focus only add to the CL of the Warlock in order for Eldritch Blasts to overcome Spell Resistance?

Custom BGTSCC changed state that Eldritch Blast bug of bypassing SR at 10d6 dice was fixed. So EB should be tied to CL now, and Blast Essences tied to DC of the Warlock (which is where Ability Focus: Invocation comes in).

[wangxiuming]

Eldritch Blast damage is already tied to caster level (aka invoker level). Blast Essences do not count as invocations for the purposes of Ability Focus: Invocation, for whatever reason (at least, when I tested it a few months ago, it did not).

I'm not sure why spell resistance would come in? - warlocks can take the spell penetration line of feats already if they want to improve their chances to beat spell resistance.

[Steve]

I'm not sure why spell resistance would come in? - warlocks can take the spell penetration line of feats already if they want to improve their chances to beat spell resistance.

Yes, but they could also take Ability Focus: Eldritch Blast—as it was designed by Kadrin...correct me if I'm wrong—to overcome even higher SR. Like, Drow and Svirfs, for example.

I mean, the limit now is: CL 30 + 6 Epic Spell Penetration = 36. Adding AF: EB would bring that possibility to 38.

Event the divine Spell Resistance is set to 12 +1 per caster level. A Hierophant-cleric can therefore get 45 SR, if they really went for it.

Okay, I was assuming that AB: EB was in order to raise the CL of the Blast to overcome Spell Resistance. After looking at the Feat on NWN2db, I guess I'm not really understanding it correctly.

There are Blasts (which have a DC), and there are actual Invocations (like Charm...that also have a DC), so I'm myself curious as to what Ability Focus: Invocations actually affects? All Warlock Invocations that are not blasts, I'm guessing?!?