Warlock vs. Sorcerer, up to and including Level 12: Which is the better Damage Dealer, which has better CC?

[Homer Morisson]

Usually in cRPGs I always play as a Sorcerer, as I love spontaneous casting and hate preparing spells, and as normally, my Sorc isn't heavily gimped and nerfed to hell and back, like it really does seem to be with BG3.

Just 3 Bloodlines, and no Undead BL among them, only Level 12, i.e. only Tier 6 Spells, and for T6 only 1 Slot per Day... that's not powerful, that's boring AF only being able to cast Chain Lightning once per day (I know, you can use the new thingy for creating more slots, but still).

So:

Would I possibly be happier with a Warlock, which I have never once before played outside of for a bit in Early Access of BG3?

First rough impression was that it kinda felt like a Kineticist to some degree, with the focus on one specific upgradeable Blast... so it would be real nice if some experienced Warlock players could chime in, especially regarding using a Warlock instead of a Sorcerer, i.e. mainly heavy DD, some CC.

[Deadpaanda]

you can multiclass and respec your character. none of us will have a solid answer for you until the game gets its full release especially since some sub classes aren't available in EA. sorry we cant be of much help right now but that's the unfortunate truth right now.

[katzenkrimis]

Originally posted by Deadpaanda:

None of us will have a solid answer for you.

The Amazing Kreskin is still alive.

He's 88 years old.

He might be able to answer this question.

I'll get on the horn, see if I can make it happen.

[Homer Morisson]

Originally posted by Deadpaanda:

you can multiclass and respec your character. none of us will have a solid answer for you until the game gets its full release especially since some sub classes aren't available in EA. sorry we cant be of much help right now but that's the unfortunate truth right now.

I'm asking about the class in general, in 5e, not specifically for BG3... obviously we don't know BG3 yet up to Level 12, but we know that everything in the PHB will be in the game, so PnP veterans will definitely be able to give valuable advice.

[Recjawjind]

You get disintegrate as a sorcerer, and can twin it :) That's far from boring, and up until very high levels, one of the highest damage options.

Warlock is extremely fun for a variety of reasons. Keep in mind this is a larian game, so environmental interaction, and esp verticality plays a huge role in this game, and being able to knock enemies back as a cantrip is just crazy powerful.

[Homer Morisson]

Originally posted by Recjawjind:

You get disintegrate as a sorcerer, and can twin it :) That's far from boring, and up until very high levels, one of the highest damage options.

Warlock is extremely fun for a variety of reasons. Keep in mind this is a larian game, so environmental interaction, and esp verticality plays a huge role in this game, and being able to knock enemies back as a cantrip is just crazy powerful.

Yeah, Disintegrate is a good point, though I really hate that in BG3 as a Sorc you pretty much get zero cool Necromancy spells, and so I'd kinda be forced to play Wizard (which I hate, stupid micromanagement having to prepare spells), and if I can't play Sorc, I might as well try the Warlock was my thinking.

So the Cantrip Eldritch Blast can actually get Knockback?
That is indeed pretty cool, to get a ranged knockback and push guys off a cliff from far away, heh.

[ck_masamune]

You can twin cast Haste as a sorcerer, you can't cast Haste as a Warlock. That tells you all you need to know.

[Indure]

I'm not sure how you can defend a lvl 12 warlock vs a sorcerer if the sorcerer is dumping everything they have. It shouldn't be that close.

Warlock might have better longevity if you're not long resting though.

[Recjawjind]

Originally posted by Homer Morisson:

So the Cantrip Eldritch Blast can actually get Knockback?
That is indeed pretty cool, to get a ranged knockback and push guys off a cliff from far away, heh.

You get it at level 2, repelling blast invocation :>
Grab that alongside agonizing blast, and your eldritch blasts are going to be exceptionally effective. It's not even a short knockback, its a full 4.5 meters, or 15 feet if you prefer imperial units.

Also as a fiend warlock, you still get fun spells like fireball, though you can only cast them twice per combat for the majority of the game, 3 times at very high levels. They will always be upcast to the highest level you can though, because of how warlock spellslots work, so they are going to *hurt*.

Eldritch blast is always a super viable fallback option though.

[Homer Morisson]

Originally posted by Recjawjind:

Originally posted by Homer Morisson:

So the Cantrip Eldritch Blast can actually get Knockback?
That is indeed pretty cool, to get a ranged knockback and push guys off a cliff from far away, heh.

You get it at level 2, repelling blast invocation :>
Grab that alongside agonizing blast, and your eldritch blasts are going to be exceptionally effective. It's not even a short knockback, its a full 4.5 meters, or 15 feet if you prefer imperial units.

Also as a fiend warlock, you still get fun spells like fireball, though you can only cast them twice per combat for the majority of the game, 3 times at very high levels. They will always be upcast to the highest level you can though, because of how warlock spellslots work, so they are going to *hurt*.

Eldritch blast is always a super viable fallback option though.

Also @Indure:

Yeah, the longevity might be a point in favor of the Warlock over Sorc, as Warlock can get their Slots back from Short Rests, while Sorc can only do so via Long Rests.

The Fallback with the special Cantrip, especially as it's upgradeable/customizable is also a major advantage, as Sorcerer Cantrips are just so ♥♥♥♥♥♥ boring, that's kid's party "magic" to my mind... Oh look, I can make a ball of light appear...

4.5 meters is indeed quite significant, and as I said, that from range no less.

Gonna look into what specific spells Warlocks will get up to Level 12, and go from there... Warlock of course also has the added bonus of getting to interact with your Patron throughout the game, which sounds pretty cool.

[Agent Chieftain]

You could do both. I'm already entertaining the idea of a Draconic Bloodline (Red) sorc, multi-classed with Fiend Warlock.

[Tomatokek]

locks reset spells on short rest, they get a summon to harass, eldritch blast is the ♥♥♥♥ and can push enemies of ledges, they can get fireball which (from what I hear) is one of the best aoes, they also are charisma based, so they are good in dialogue choices. Theres some good reasons for warlock from what we know from the beta.

[Gaius]

I like Sorcs better, metamagic is just awesome.

Yeah, warlocks are more consistent, but twinned casted haste or quick casted fireballs just end encounters in 1 turn (yeah, it doesn't work in tabletop, it does here).

[Recjawjind]

Originally posted by Tomatokek:

locks reset spells on short rest, they get a summon to harass, eldritch blast is the ♥♥♥♥ and can push enemies of ledges, they can get fireball which (from what I hear) is one of the best aoes, they also are charisma based, so they are good in dialogue choices. Theres some good reasons for warlock from what we know from the beta.

At 5th level, fiendlocks get fireball, which is indeed incredible, it's intentionally made more powerful than comparable spells because of how iconic it is, they also get hunger of hadar, which is a vvvvvery potent lingering damage zone that's difficult terrain and blinds. Overall, they have stupidly good options.

[Homer Morisson]

Originally posted by Tomatokek:

locks reset spells on short rest, they get a summon to harass, eldritch blast is the ♥♥♥♥ and can push enemies of ledges, they can get fireball which (from what I hear) is one of the best aoes, they also are charisma based, so they are good in dialogue choices. Theres some good reasons for warlock from what we know from the beta.

A summon? Really? When, how what, all the Paths, or just a specific path?

Summon could be a proper dealmaker for me, as I said, I really hate that Sorc doesn't get Necromancy spells I want, especially Animate Dead... so if all Warlocks can get a summon, I'm pretty much sold!

Chieftain:

I won't multiclass, due to the bloody Level 12 cap... Level 12 is already way too low for my tastes, why should I further gimp my character by only getting 6 levels in a class... that's half again as weak.^^

[Homer Morisson]

Originally posted by Gaius:

I like Sorcs better, metamagic is just awesome.

Yeah, warlocks are more consistent, but twinned casted haste or quick casted fireballs just end encounters in 1 turn (yeah, it doesn't work in tabletop, it does here).

Metamagic is awesome, but the nerfed BS we get with 5e/in BG3... I want proper Metamagic, like you get in Pathfinder WotR, that would be amazing... but no.