Just a thought exercise, but what effect on the class would changing eldritch blast to an invocation and having it scale with only warlock levels have. Perhaps with and additional invocation known to ease the 'tax' of the change?
Requiring 4 Invocations just to do what Eldritch Blast currently does now seems extreme. Either EB Warlocks are completely starved for other invocations, or you increase the number of invocations and Warlocks that forego EB can go nuts with all of the other invocations.
Honestly I don't think Eldritch Blast is even that good without Agonizing Blast, and that already requires an invocation. A d10 damage die isn't much better than the damage of other cantrips. Getting Eldritch Blast as a non-Warlock comes at a large cost: you either multiclass and fall behind on spell levels, or you miss out on an ASI to take Magic Initiate or Spell Sniper.
It's not even a clear win even if you do decide to multiclass or take a feat. It's competing with:
Sacred Flame's radiant damage is just as reliable as force damage and is a better choice against high AC enemies, whenever you'd have disadvantage on attack rolls or the enemy would have cover. (Plus if you multiclass into cleric, you can pick up heavy armor proficiency from Life/Nature/Tempest/War domains.)
Shocking Grasp is great for retreating without wasting your action on Disengage, and shuts down enemy spellcaster's ability to Counterspell.
Magic Stone is a magic attack you can give to your friends. That's awesome at low levels, and it's also a magical ranged sneak attack if a Rogue throws it with a sling.
Chill Touch's necrotic damage works on everything except undead, and shuts down monster regeneration (even for monsters like death slaadi whose regeneration is always on.)
The problem I have with Eldritch Blast is that Agonizing Blast is too good for Warlocks; it doesn't make sense not to take it, and it's hard for Pact of the Blade Warlocks to compete. Bladelocks can't add their CHA to damage until level 12, but still need STR or DEX for the attack roll, and they still need yet another invocation for Extra Attack.
Blade Warlocks can, and should, have Eldritch Blast too. It's hard for them to compete anyway. Eldritch Blast adds an extra attack at levels 5th, 11th, and 17th levels. There isn't anything other than other cantrips that gives Warlocks more than one attack when they take an attack action. All of the other attack cantrips scale as characters level up, but they are all "all or nothing" spells. The caster either makes one attack roll or the target makes a saving throw and the spells do either no damage or full damage. Eldritch Blast gives the Warlock multiple attack rolls and each blast can be targeted against a different opponent if the Warlock wants to.
I'd play a Pact of the Blade Warlock in a heartbeat, but I'd never play one who didn't also have and use Eldritch Blast. I can't think of any reason to play a Warlock who doesn't use Eldritch Blast.
Blade Warlocks can, and should, have Eldritch Blast too. It's hard for them to compete anyway. Eldritch Blast adds an extra attack at levels 5th, 11th, and 17th levels. There isn't anything other than Feats that gives Warlocks more than one attack when they take an attack action. All of the other attack cantrips scale as characters level up, but they are all "all or nothing" spells. The caster either makes one attack roll or the target makes a saving throw and the spells do either no damage or full damage. Eldritch Blast gives the Warlock multiple attack rolls and each blast can be targeted against a different opponent if the Warlock wants to.
I'd play a Pact of the Blade Warlock in a heartbeat, but I'd never play one who didn't also have and use Eldritch Blast. I can't think of any reason to play a Warlock who doesn't use Eldritch Blast.
Make the Eldritch Blast a class feature like the martial arts dice for monk instead of a cantrip - scaling on appropriate levels and such. The plan was even give the option of a Eldritch Strike instead the EB (much like the 4th edition warlock), but I don't know how to balance it.
This way pure warlocks get even a slightly buff, getting +1 cantrip (that can be an utility cantrip instead of the bread and butter of EB), and warlock dips get destroyed, so we won't see the pesky sorlock doing like 6x(1d10+8+1d6) at level 11 with hexblade curse and quicken double EB.
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Just a thought exercise, but what effect on the class would changing eldritch blast to an invocation and having it scale with only warlock levels have. Perhaps with and additional invocation known to ease the 'tax' of the change?
It would kill a certain amount of the multiclass abuse that Warlock is favoured for. What is your purpose for the change?
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.
If I planned to use it it would be to both limit the 'abuse'. Also to make Eldritch Blast more of a class option than the control of choice.
But mostly it is a thought exercise.
Reduce the number of cantrips by one, increase the number of Invocations by one, and give the warlock one Invocation at 1st level.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
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How would the scaling work, +1 damage every second level or what? And would it start out weaker, for example with a d8 instead of the d10?
Prerequisites: 5th level, Eldritch Blast Eldritch Invocation
You can create two beams with your Eldritch Blast.
Prerequisites: 11th level, Greater Eldritch Blast Eldritch Invocation
You can create three beams with your Eldritch Blast.
Prerequisites: 17th level, Superior Eldritch Blast Eldritch Invocation
You can create four beams with your Eldritch Blast.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
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Requiring 4 Invocations just to do what Eldritch Blast currently does now seems extreme. Either EB Warlocks are completely starved for other invocations, or you increase the number of invocations and Warlocks that forego EB can go nuts with all of the other invocations.
Honestly I don't think Eldritch Blast is even that good without Agonizing Blast, and that already requires an invocation. A d10 damage die isn't much better than the damage of other cantrips. Getting Eldritch Blast as a non-Warlock comes at a large cost: you either multiclass and fall behind on spell levels, or you miss out on an ASI to take Magic Initiate or Spell Sniper.
It's not even a clear win even if you do decide to multiclass or take a feat. It's competing with:
The problem I have with Eldritch Blast is that Agonizing Blast is too good for Warlocks; it doesn't make sense not to take it, and it's hard for Pact of the Blade Warlocks to compete. Bladelocks can't add their CHA to damage until level 12, but still need STR or DEX for the attack roll, and they still need yet another invocation for Extra Attack.
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Blade Warlocks can, and should, have Eldritch Blast too. It's hard for them to compete anyway. Eldritch Blast adds an extra attack at levels 5th, 11th, and 17th levels. There isn't anything other than other cantrips that gives Warlocks more than one attack when they take an attack action. All of the other attack cantrips scale as characters level up, but they are all "all or nothing" spells. The caster either makes one attack roll or the target makes a saving throw and the spells do either no damage or full damage. Eldritch Blast gives the Warlock multiple attack rolls and each blast can be targeted against a different opponent if the Warlock wants to.
I'd play a Pact of the Blade Warlock in a heartbeat, but I'd never play one who didn't also have and use Eldritch Blast. I can't think of any reason to play a Warlock who doesn't use Eldritch Blast.
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Blade Warlocks can, and should, have Eldritch Blast too. It's hard for them to compete anyway. Eldritch Blast adds an extra attack at levels 5th, 11th, and 17th levels. There isn't anything other than Feats that gives Warlocks more than one attack when they take an attack action. All of the other attack cantrips scale as characters level up, but they are all "all or nothing" spells. The caster either makes one attack roll or the target makes a saving throw and the spells do either no damage or full damage. Eldritch Blast gives the Warlock multiple attack rolls and each blast can be targeted against a different opponent if the Warlock wants to.
I'd play a Pact of the Blade Warlock in a heartbeat, but I'd never play one who didn't also have and use Eldritch Blast. I can't think of any reason to play a Warlock who doesn't use Eldritch Blast.
Professional computer geek
My solution was far more simple:
Make the Eldritch Blast a class feature like the martial arts dice for monk instead of a cantrip - scaling on appropriate levels and such. The plan was even give the option of a Eldritch Strike instead the EB (much like the 4th edition warlock), but I don't know how to balance it.
This way pure warlocks get even a slightly buff, getting +1 cantrip (that can be an utility cantrip instead of the bread and butter of EB), and warlock dips get destroyed, so we won't see the pesky sorlock doing like 6x(1d10+8+1d6) at level 11 with hexblade curse and quicken double EB.