laserllama
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Alternate Warlock Prevew!
🕑 Added 2023-06-20 17:15:19 +0000 UTCHey all,
Been working away at the Alternate Warlock class and I feel like I finally have enough done to give you a preview! Included here are the first 10 levels of the Alternate Warlock, three Pact Focus options (Pact Boons), a few Invocations, and two options for your Eldritch Familiar.
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Intelligence-based. Sorry to anyone that was holding out hope for their Charisma-based Warlock! The flavor of this class (to me) was clearly built around Intelligence. I may include a variant rule for Charisma, but no guarantees!
Invocation Focused. Much like my Shaman Class, the Alt Warlock has a shifted focus on the Eldritch Invocations they discover/unearth/unlock, eventually building to them forming a Pact with an Otherworldly Patron.
Eldritch Blast. No surprises here - this is now a class feature (as part of your Eldritch Invocations). It scales with your Warlock level (Empowered Blast), and each Patron will modify their Warlock's Eldritch Blast (see The Fiend below).
Otherworldly Patron. Moved back to 2nd level (I've included The Fiend as an example). You now automatically learn your Patron Spells, and each Patron will modify their Warlock's Eldritch Blast differently.
Pact Magic. Other than moving it back to 2nd level, no changes here! I'm a big fan of how Pact Magic works. The only changes are to your number of Spells Known (which have gone down) to compensate for 10 "free" Patron Spells, and you automatically learning any spells you gain through Invocations.
Pact Focus. The three base Pact Boons have been adjusted here. The Eldritch Blade (Pact of the Blade) has some properties of the off-maligned Hexblade, the Eldritch Familiar comes with some unique pre-built stat blocks to choose from, and the Eldritch Tome allows you to change your Warlock spells on a short/long rest to give you some of the cursed Wizard flavor.
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As always, let me know what you think in the comments below, or on the #Atl-Warlock channel on my Discord server. Always open to (constructive) feedback!
~laserllama
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CHANGE LOG:
- General // The Warlock is now Intelligence-based (to match the lore).
- Proficiencies // Armor // Added medium armor
- Saving Throws // Replaced Charisma with Intelligence.
- Quick Build // Updated to reflect the changes to the class.
- Eldritch Invocations // Moved up to 1st level. Each Invocation must be bound inside a thematic Trinket (Tiny object). Includes your Spellcasting ability.
- Eldritch Blast // Now a sub feature of your Eldritch Invocations. Must be cast from a Trinket. Some Patrons modify/enhance your Eldritch Blast.
- Otherworldly Patron // Moved back to 2nd level.
- Patron Magic // You now automatically learn your Patron Spells. Will have Invocations that enhance/interact with your Patron Spells. Made sure all spells are worth casting up to 5th level. Your Patron Magic also modifies (empowers) your Eldritch Blast.
- Pact Magic // Moved back to 2nd level. Use your Invocation Spellcasting ability.
- Pact Focus // Renamed (Pact Boon).
- Pact Focus // Eldritch Blade // Renamed (Pact of the Blade). Now a bonus action to conjure. Uses your INT for attack/damage rolls. Can bond any magic weapons (including artifacts), but a sentient weapon must be willing.
- Pact Focus // Eldrtich Familiar // Renamed (Pact of the Chain). Reworked around new stat blocks. Now acts during your turn like a companion.
- Pact Focus // Eldritch Tome // Renamed (Pact of the Tome). Now allows you to replace one Warlock spell/cantrip at the end of each rest and ritual cast.
- Empowered Blast // NEW Feature - scales your Eldritch Blast on Warlock level.
- The Fiend // Fiendish Magic // EB deals Fire damage, you add your INT mod.
- The Fiend // Patron Spells // added hellish rebuke (burning hands), flaming whip (scorching ray), bestow curse (stinking cloud), blight (fire shield), cloudkill (hallow), immolation (flame strike).
- The Fiend // Dark One’s Luck // Now INT mod times per long rest.
- The Fiend // Fiendish Resilience // Lasts until a short/long rest.
- Eldritch Invocations // Any Invocation that allows you to cast a spell automatically adds it as one of your Warlock Spells Known.
- EI // Armor of Shadows // Now a mage armor type ability
- EI // Beast Speech // Now a speak with animals type ability
- EI // Eldritch Sight // Now a detect magic type ability
- EI // Eldritch Spear // Also doubles ranged spell attacks.
- EI // Eyes of the Rune Keeper // More specific/generous wording
- EI // Fiendish Vigor // Now a false life type ability.
- EI // Gaze of Two Minds // Clarified the wording
- EI // Mask of Many Faces // Changed to mimic the Changeling ability.
- EI // Misty Visions // Now a silent image type ability
- EI // Thief of Five Fates // Now a bane type ability
- EI // Eldritch Spear // Moved to 3rd level, doubles ranged spell attack range.
- EI // Piercing Blast // NEW Invocation.
- EI // Repelling Blast // Moved to 3rd level, limited to Large or smaller creatures.
- EI // Tome of Ancient Secrets // Renamed (Book of Ancient Secrets). Original Pact of the Tome features (cantrips) moved here.
- EI // Voice of the Master // Renamed (Voice of the Chain Master)
- EI // Blasphemous Prayer // NEW Invocation
- EI // Favored Servant // NEW Invocation
- EI // Favor of the Master // NEW Invocation
- EI // Lifedrinker // Reworked to heal you once per turn.
- Eldritch Familiars // Added Aberrant, Draconic, Faerie, and Infernal
- Spell List // 1st level // Added dissonant whispers, grasp of the void (reworked arms of Hadar), hideous laughter, inflict wounds, ray of sickness, sleep.
- Spell List // 2nd level // Added mind whip, phantasmal force
- Spell List // 3rd level // Added aberrant hunger (reworked hunger of Hadar), bestow curse. Removed thunder step.
- Spell List // 4th level // Added eldritch tentacles (reworked evard’s black tentacles), giant insect, greater invisibility, phantasmal killer,
- Spell List // 5th level // Added contagion, dominate person, geas, hallow, insect plague, legend lore
Comments
Not a fan of the patron aspect of the warlock becoming a secondary feature, which is one of the main reasons many people disliked the warlock in the one d&d playtest. As for the casting stat intelligence doesn't work thematically for every type of warlock. A patron could bestow powers to someone who has never studied magic in their lives. An example of this is The Outsider from the Dishonored franchise.
What happens if you loses your Eldritch Invocation Trinket? Do you just summon them back to yourself or do you have to make a new one like the Genie’s Vessel?
