5e Cleric/Warlock bladelock build advice

[Redeemer of Ogar]

Stats: We rolled, I have one 17, three 14s and two 12s to play with. Pretty solid.
Intent: I plan to play a human gish blade-wielder and abuse the Hex spell. I'm having trouble with the mid-level planning though. I'm looking at minimums of Cleric 1 (probably Tempest for campaign reasons, though War would be more optimized) and Warlock 3, with at least one Warlock level taken at 5th to get Thirsting Blade.

The questions:
1) Should I go Cleric 1/Warlock X, or Warlock 3/Cleric X? I'd planned on the former, but the more I look at the book, the less certain I am that leveling up in Warlock works well. Anyone want to throw out an argument (maybe particular spell access) one way or the other?
2) Dual-wield, sword & board, or just plan to take Polearm Master?
3) High stat: Str for blade attacks, Cha for spell attacks, or Wis for spells prepared and uses of the 1st-lvl domain ability?
4) lvl 1 Feat choice is probably: War Caster (for concentration and spell AoO), Polearm Master (for the extra attacks), or Heavy Armor Master (for the Str bump and DR).

Any advice appreciated - other than "don't play a warlock," of course. I'm committed to trying it out, which probably answers #1 anyway unless a strong argument is presented for advancing as a primary cleric.

[awaken_D_M_golem]

  ... Don't play a "Warlock playing my kitty avatar's Tail" ?!

_{that's a low charisma build , regardless}

There is a Warlock handbook back at wotc, though
it's so early that I doubt it's long term providence.

Cha 17 ... Wis, Dex, Con 14 ... Str, Int 12
Warlock 4 / dip Cleric 1 / Warlock 5+
Actor feat at level 4, for the +1 with smidge of out of combat.
+2 Cha at level 8.
Yeah I can see War Caster at level 1.

Maybe switch this up with Actor at level 1
Warlock 3 / Cleric 1 / Warlock 4+
War Caster at warlock level 4, since you'd have a shield by then.

Aim for the fancier Medium Armors during mid levels.
+2 Cha at level 8 ... (this has turned into virtually stock advice).
Spell Sniper is a good idea.  As is Alert.
idk if the Polearm Master combo is as good an idea as so far advertised.

iirc - the short section before the phb backgrounds,
has a short blurb on customizing your background.

[Redeemer of Ogar]

Cha 17 ... Wis, Dex, Con 14 ... Str, Int 12

So you recommend against polearms and great weapons, eh? It's an option, as Tempest Cleric gets heavy armors, so other than the obvious concern about saves, I don't NEED a high dex...

Maybe switch this up with Actor at level 1
Warlock 3 / Cleric 1 / Warlock 4+
War Caster at warlock level 4, since you'd have a shield by then.

Hmm, I missed Actor.. would go nicely with Misty Visions out of combat. *ponders*

Spell Sniper is a good idea.  As is Alert.
idk if the Polearm Master combo is as good an idea as so far advertised.

Yeah, the feat choice is giving me fits...

[awaken_D_M_golem]

That's the thing, it's early and I'm not convinced of certain ideas.
iirc - the Polearm combo has a debate point about using a Staff
instead of the other polearms, and you need staff for the M Focus.
However, the other usual flip claim, is Expect Table Variation.

Dex can be a near dump stat, with Heavy Armor, Alert feat and Resilient-Dex (if needed).
Otherwise I haven't really investigated Warlocks much beyond 2 for a dip.

[Redeemer of Ogar]

That's the thing, it's early and I'm not convinced of certain ideas....
Otherwise I haven't really investigated Warlocks much beyond 2 for a dip.

Yeah, the more I look at them, the more I worry that they're going to turn out to be better as a dip than as a class. I'm almost certain that they are going to fizzle out around lvl 10 when their spell slots stop raising in level (seriously, WHY do they not keep going up for casting purposes????), but I think they might make a really fascinating 10/10 with a full caster.

[awaken_D_M_golem]

I think they're happy with how intentionally complicated is the Warlock.
Mystic Arcanum (sp?) is for all intents the 6+ level spells/slots.
But you can't use the pact magic slot recharge on those.
Lots of other wiggle room interpretations available anyways ...



late edit --- Arz' post below is interesting, single stat Cleric.

[Redeemer of Ogar]

I think they're happy with how intentionally complicated is the Warlock.
Mystic Arcanum (sp?) is for all intents the 6+ level spells/slots.
But you can't use the pact magic slot recharge on those.
Lots of other wiggle room interpretations available anyways ...

It isn't the lack of recharge that is the concern, it is the lack of power. An 18th-level warlock will have exactly the same magical power, including dice thrown, as a 10th-level warlock, but with a Staff of "1/day, choose a 6th to cast at 6th, a 7th to cast at 7th, and an 8th to cast at 8th, and 9th to cast at 9th." I am pretty sure it's going to be fun at low-mid levels, which is why I'm going to play it in this level 2-starting campaign. I'm not sure they have the Oomph to participate in a campaign above about level 12.

...but sorry, I'm drifting off topic. Let's focus on levels 1-12...

[Arz]

I'd go Clr X/ Wiz 2. Nature allows you to grab shillelagh, so you become single ability. Great for hill dwarf.