I mean I'm glad you like the class and everything but in terms of DPS? Nearly everything you mentioned is better done by another class. Astarian with two daggers will do more damage with a sneak attack at level 2 than a Warlock will do at level 5.
Uhmm... No?
A level 2 Rogue will do at best 3d6+5 which is less than 2d10+8 from a level 5 Warlock. You mentioned "With 2 daggers" so that would actually be 1d6+2d4+5 from the Rogue...
Even a level 11 Rogue with its 6d6 with 2d8 weapons with 20 Dex will do only 6d6+2d8+14 (40 average damage) while the Warlock is there doing 3d10+30 (45 average damage). Not accounting for any bonus damage like Warlock using Hex for an additional 3d6 damage or aforementioned Cloud of Dagger/Wall of Fire.
Throw in Haste and Warlock will take a giant steaming dump on the Rogue who'll only get a bonus 1d8+7 damage while the Warlock will get another 3d10+30.
The only things that really out DPS Warlock are the crazy Tavern Brawler builds that spam 3+ attacks per turn with Fighter, Monk or Berzerker.
Originally Posted by KillerRabbit
And if you aren't using that charisma for roleplay purposes dexterity is the one stat that rules them all. Initiative, trap disarming etc.
And unless you're playing Solo run you don't really care about this. You only need 1 person to disarm things. You can pump up Dex because besides CHR there's nothing you really need besides Dex for AC/Init. Or you can cheat and just slap on Gloves of Dexterity.
Originally Posted by KillerRabbit
But Lae'zel gets bonus round push at level 1 that succeeds more often than a Warlock hits at level 4 and you at higher levels you can combine that with pushing attack to try twice.
1) If your Warlock can't hit then step out of melee of enemies before you use your ranged attacks
2) Warlock gets to push AND do their damage. Lae'zel (I assume you mean fighter) has to trade damage to push (Be it by using a Bonus Action on Shoving or by using a Maneuver Die on Push attack). Warlock can also push multiple targets because each beam of Eldritch Blast will push a target.
3) Warlock push doesn't roll a save. If you hit with Eldritch Blast, the target gets pushed. Doesn't matter how big they are. They get pushed. Shove requires a failed Athletics save (And large targets simply cannot be shoved). Pushing Attack requires both a hit AND failed Athletics save.
Originally Posted by KillerRabbit
And, of course, thunderwave from a sorcerer or wizard . . .
And again, those take resources. You use your action and a spell slot to not deal damage, but to push. Warlock does both damage and push. Also... Athletics saves need to fail to push.
Originally Posted by KillerRabbit
And by the time you get the potent robe you are at least level six which makes the favorable comparison to a sorcerer problematic.
Not really. When Sorcerer finally catches up to Warlock... Warlock is pulling ahead because they've got their 2 beams meaning they double dip their CHR modifier. Sorc will only get their CHR modifier once on their Fire Bolt/Ray of Frost AND has to deal with resistances (While Eldritch Blast does the rarely resisted Force damage type) the only time Sorc can really compete with Warlock is Cold Dragon consistently attacking Wet targets to get their double damage.
Originally Posted by KillerRabbit
Now I will grant that Warlock could be better if there was time pressure in the game and you needed use cantrips instead of spells. But truth be told my evo wizard rarely uses cantrips. On balanced there are no penalties for sleeping to restore spells. Indeed I need to remind myself to sleep to advance the story.
The thing is for Warlock, Eldritch Blast ends up just being better than most spells. Which is where Warlock's power shines. It doesn't care about resting because Eldritch Blast does more than most spells and the times when big spells matter... Warlock can still cast them too.
Originally Posted by KillerRabbit
but there's no comparing the party support of cleric to a Warlock.
Honestly, as someone who only plays on Tactician/Honour mode... I'd rather have a Warlock in my party than a Cleric.
Cleric is just a one trick where you either abuse Sanctuary shenans or your 1 good spell Spirit Guardians and deals no damage otherwise since they get crap cantrips and no extra attacks.
Warlock provides great damage and multiple useful spells.
