i dont think that is a great way to look at it. Sure in a pinch it may save you and warlocks have fewer defensive options. but if shield were a 9th level spell it being able to save you in a pinch doesn't make it balanced at 9th level. Anything above 2nd level and you are starting to compete with heavy hitter spells. sure its a rare reduce dmg do dmg spell, but is it in the same ballpark of balance as even fireball. nope. wall of fire, nope. it having a narrow niche where it may be the best option doesn't make it balanced no matter what level spell it is. drop the damage a die and its a 2nd level spell. drop it to 2d6 and its a 1st level spell. which would still be a bad option to upcast past 2nd level for most casters, and probably something you will unlearn as a warlock.
The lack of alternatives is irrelevant to whether a spell is balanced. The response to "this class does not have a spell that fills this niche like the Warlock has and we want them to have it" is not "let's make a similar spell then make it a few levels higher than comparative spells".
Let's say I created a spell that automatically hits its target. Then, every turn, it auto hits two more targets within range of your choice, for the duration of 1 minute. The catch? It does 1 damage each hit. If I then made it level 9, who'd line up for it? That there isn't another spell that works like that is irrelevant - it's a very poor return for resources invested.
The lack of competition is irrelevant.
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i dont think that is a great way to look at it. Sure in a pinch it may save you and warlocks have fewer defensive options. but if shield were a 9th level spell it being able to save you in a pinch doesn't make it balanced at 9th level. Anything above 2nd level and you are starting to compete with heavy hitter spells. sure its a rare reduce dmg do dmg spell, but is it in the same ballpark of balance as even fireball. nope. wall of fire, nope. it having a narrow niche where it may be the best option doesn't make it balanced no matter what level spell it is. drop the damage a die and its a 2nd level spell. drop it to 2d6 and its a 1st level spell. which would still be a bad option to upcast past 2nd level for most casters, and probably something you will unlearn as a warlock.
The lack of alternatives is irrelevant to whether a spell is balanced. The response to "this class does not have a spell that fills this niche like the Warlock has and we want them to have it" is not "let's make a similar spell then make it a few levels higher than comparative spells".
Let's say I created a spell that automatically hits its target. Then, every turn, it auto hits two more targets within range of your choice, for the duration of 1 minute. The catch? It does 1 damage each hit. If I then made it level 9, who'd line up for it? That there isn't another spell that works like that is irrelevant - it's a very poor return for resources invested.
The lack of competition is irrelevant.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.