Beware, wall of text:
I've never really warmed up to the Warlock class as it's always struck me as another unnecessary additional magic system on top of memorization (classic wizards and clerics) spontaneous casting (the charisma based classes) and bardic inspirations.
Well, I guess it's not strictly necessary (nothing is), but I personally hate memorisation and welcome a class that doesn't need to keep an eye on how many times it has cast this or that spell today. I'd much prefer a mana system for wizards.
Anyway, back on topic, I have played many warlocks, so I may be able to answer some of the questions:
- How should he be leveled up at 18 - 20?
The most important thing is to pick the right invocations. More on that later. Unfortunately, you don't have much room for maneouver unless you don't mind using the console to relevel him.
This build has some suggestions as to how to level him (I wouldn't necessarily pick the same invocations, though. Again, more on that later):
http://nwn2db.com/build/?99252
Warlocks don't have many buffs. The best self buff is Word of Change, although it prevents you from casting (unless you cheat; I can elaborate if you're interested) and its power diminishes in epic, if you ever get that far. The best party buff is Flee the Scene, but if you have a wizard/sorcerer who can cast Persistent Haste, it's a bit redundant by the time you get Amon. Walk Unseen is good, but I wouldn't bother with it for the OC. Same goes for Retributive Invisibility, which is also a pain in the ass due to its ridiculous duration. Dark Foresight is decent, but not a top priority. Dark One's Own Luck is good. Leaps and Bounds is good until you get a +4 DEX item. See the Unseen is useful if you tend to run into a lot of invisible people (probably not the OC's case), and Beguiling Influence is good if you're into conversation skills (not the case either, being an NPC).
- What are his best tactics against hordes of undead?
Well, the basic tactic against anything is using Eldritch Chain with an essence of your choice, which is usually Vitriolic Blast against spell-resistant enemies, and some kind of disabler against anything else, typically Noxious Blast. Since undead are immune to mind-affecting spells, though, you may want to use a different one against them, perhaps Beshadowed Blast.
A tactic that can be rather devastating, at least in pre-epic, is casting a bunch of Chilling Tentacles, then use Word of Change, lure enemies into the tentacles, and melee them to death (you'll be nearly immune to the tentacles once you're shifted). Undead are usually resistant to cold, though, so Wall of Perilous Flame may be a better option than the tentacles in this case. I've never used it, though, and I'm assuming that you can stack infinite "walls". Setting up this tactic may be a bit slow (and maybe easier when invisible at times, so you may consider to pick Walk Unseen as well... Maybe you can manage without it), but once it's on, everything should die in no time.
If you take tentacles or walls, you may want a way to dispel them once the battle is over, so take Voracious Dispelling or Devour Magic.
In any case, I'd want Eldritch Chain, Vitriolic if there are enemies with SR, Noxious or Beshadowed (the latter if most enemies are undead or immune to daze), and probably Wall of Perilous Flame and Word of Change. Maybe Eldritch Doom against big groups too, but keep in mind it has friendly fire.
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