As well as trying to create a new long term character, I am also trying to Homebrew a slightly altered Warlock class.
With my brew, I want to give all Warlocks, Eldritch Blast for free, since that was the original intent of the Warlock class. I also want to provide Warlocks with their patron specific spells (the spells related their patron, fiend, achfey etc.), plus their standard number spells (the ones they choose), while keeping the same number of spell slots. The idea is that a Warlock gets Eldritch Blast, just for being a Warlock. They also get the spells related to their patron, for merely being a Warlock of that specific type of entity.
For example; a level 1, Warlock of the Archfey, would get the following: Eldritch Blast (free class feature), Faerie Fire and Sleep (free additional spells for being a Warlock of the Archfey), plus two other cantrips and two 1st level spells of their choice from the Warlock spell list.
Also, they would still get any spells or cantrips that they might get from their choice of race. For example, choosing to be a Half Drow Variant with Drow Magic, would also get them the Dancing Lights, cantrip for free at 1st level.
That would mean using my homebrew a level 1, Half Drow Variant, Warlock with Drow Magic, would get: Dancing Lights, Eldritch Blast, Faerie Fire and Sleep. Plus two cantrips and two 1st level spells of their choice from the Warlock spell list.
They would still only have 2 spell slots, although in my worlds we now use the variant spell point system instead of spell slots.
What do you all think of this. Does this break the class?
I would love to have your thoughts.
Thanks
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A caffeinated nerd who has played TTRPGs or a number of years and is very much a fantasy adventure geek.
Might be a better question for the Warlock Forum...but since its here.
The closest comparison caster wise, is that some of the sorcerer subclasses, do give out a bonus spells (Shadow, divine soul), but it is limited to one spell. Excluding cantrips, the Sorcerer's known spell progress is the same as Warlocks, and I would be disinclined to give them more than say one.
Why? Invocations make up for a lot; unlimited Mage Armor, unlimited false life, that you can ditch later, etc.
So if you gave them Eldritch Blast for free, I doubt it would break anything; but expanding the other parts of the list downgrades the Sorcerer in terms of spell breath. Forcing either class to make hard choices about spells, is part of the challenge for both. Otherwise, play a wizard :).
I don't think it breaks the class. EB is something just about every warlock is going to take anyway, so you're basically giving them a free cantrip slot. It's a nice perk and maybe a little out of balance, but nothing outrageous.
1) The major problem with this is that Warlocks are intentionally not very good mages, and you are trying to make them that way. It goes like this:
Mainly Caster: Bard/Cleric/Druid/Sorceror/Wizard
1/2 Casters: Paladin/Ranger/Warlock/Artificers AND subclasses that grant spellcasting abilities
Non-Casters: Barbarian/Fighter/Rogue/Monk (subclasses that do not grant spells only)
You are fixing the intentional weakness of the Warlock. They get all that extra special goodness of invocations, pacts, short rest renewal, etc. only because they suck at spells. You want someone good at spells, pick a class from the mainly caster set.
Giving someone a free cantrip is almost as bad as just giving them an extra cantrip. Same for spells. Warlocks are supposed to have FEW spells that they carefully choose, not all the ones they want.
2) Yes, the Warlock was originally created with the idea of EB to be a key feature. Which means the professionals that created the game thought of your Idea and said NO WAY.
This is not something in your favor, it is a clear mark against the idea.
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There are already ways for a person to get more spells. Take one level of another class, take a feat like Magic Initiate, take a race like Drow. Your OP house rule lets them get away with more. Oh, you want an extra Cantrip? Take the feat Magic Initiate. But with your house rule they can instead use that feat for Warcaster. Woho EXTRA FEAT!
You are not totally breaking the Warlock and making it super-overpowered. But you are unbalancing it. They have much less reason to take a level of Bard or Sorcerer - the main reason to multi-class casters is to tremendously increase the # of low level spells you get.
I think it is a bit strong, considering how much you're considering giving them. it is almost doubling the number of spells of a 9th level warlock. Choice of spells significantly increases the versatility, and therefore usefulness of a caster.
It may not break the game, but it definitely changes the niche of the warlock.
I don't think the changes you suggest would break anything by themselves. It makes warlocks a bit stronger and gives them more thematic spell choices. Warlocks are still very limited by only having two spells slots until 11th level even if they do go up.
On the other hand, you also mentioned combining this with a spell point system for warlock spell slots in which case greater spell selection, especially at lower levels that does not require using a high level slot for their casting is a very significant improvement. Having faerie fire and sleep available isn't a big deal when you have to blow one of your two spell slots on it. However, if you can use a single spell point out of whatever the pool is, it becomes a major upgrade since warlock spells known is one of their limitations that really comes into play if they have more spell slots.
In addition, depending on what you might have changed with sorcerers or bards ... these classes also have a limited number of spells to choose from so anything that enhances the warlocks range of spell choice should also be propagated to similarly restricted classes.
counter point for most if not all of the game you will get 2 spell slots, maybe 3 if youre lucky, and maybe if you somehow play for that long, 4, ever, and dont say "oh they replenish on a short rest though" in my experience and several of my friends' short rests are either just never done because the party would rather long rest, or you do one like every 4 or so sessions, because, guess what, the party would rather long rest, the extra options seems really unbalanced but when you remember youll maybe be using these once every session it seems significantly less busted
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Hi,
As well as trying to create a new long term character, I am also trying to Homebrew a slightly altered Warlock class.
With my brew, I want to give all Warlocks, Eldritch Blast for free, since that was the original intent of the Warlock class. I also want to provide Warlocks with their patron specific spells (the spells related their patron, fiend, achfey etc.), plus their standard number spells (the ones they choose), while keeping the same number of spell slots. The idea is that a Warlock gets Eldritch Blast, just for being a Warlock. They also get the spells related to their patron, for merely being a Warlock of that specific type of entity.
For example; a level 1, Warlock of the Archfey, would get the following: Eldritch Blast (free class feature), Faerie Fire and Sleep (free additional spells for being a Warlock of the Archfey), plus two other cantrips and two 1st level spells of their choice from the Warlock spell list.
Also, they would still get any spells or cantrips that they might get from their choice of race. For example, choosing to be a Half Drow Variant with Drow Magic, would also get them the Dancing Lights, cantrip for free at 1st level.
That would mean using my homebrew a level 1, Half Drow Variant, Warlock with Drow Magic, would get: Dancing Lights, Eldritch Blast, Faerie Fire and Sleep. Plus two cantrips and two 1st level spells of their choice from the Warlock spell list.
They would still only have 2 spell slots, although in my worlds we now use the variant spell point system instead of spell slots.
What do you all think of this. Does this break the class?
I would love to have your thoughts.
Thanks
A caffeinated nerd who has played TTRPGs or a number of years and is very much a fantasy adventure geek.
Might be a better question for the Warlock Forum...but since its here.
The closest comparison caster wise, is that some of the sorcerer subclasses, do give out a bonus spells (Shadow, divine soul), but it is limited to one spell. Excluding cantrips, the Sorcerer's known spell progress is the same as Warlocks, and I would be disinclined to give them more than say one.
Why? Invocations make up for a lot; unlimited Mage Armor, unlimited false life, that you can ditch later, etc.
So if you gave them Eldritch Blast for free, I doubt it would break anything; but expanding the other parts of the list downgrades the Sorcerer in terms of spell breath. Forcing either class to make hard choices about spells, is part of the challenge for both. Otherwise, play a wizard :).
My 2 cents.
I don't think it breaks the class. EB is something just about every warlock is going to take anyway, so you're basically giving them a free cantrip slot. It's a nice perk and maybe a little out of balance, but nothing outrageous.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
1) The major problem with this is that Warlocks are intentionally not very good mages, and you are trying to make them that way. It goes like this:
You are fixing the intentional weakness of the Warlock. They get all that extra special goodness of invocations, pacts, short rest renewal, etc. only because they suck at spells. You want someone good at spells, pick a class from the mainly caster set.
Giving someone a free cantrip is almost as bad as just giving them an extra cantrip. Same for spells. Warlocks are supposed to have FEW spells that they carefully choose, not all the ones they want.
2) Yes, the Warlock was originally created with the idea of EB to be a key feature. Which means the professionals that created the game thought of your Idea and said NO WAY.
This is not something in your favor, it is a clear mark against the idea.
-------
There are already ways for a person to get more spells. Take one level of another class, take a feat like Magic Initiate, take a race like Drow. Your OP house rule lets them get away with more. Oh, you want an extra Cantrip? Take the feat Magic Initiate. But with your house rule they can instead use that feat for Warcaster. Woho EXTRA FEAT!
You are not totally breaking the Warlock and making it super-overpowered. But you are unbalancing it. They have much less reason to take a level of Bard or Sorcerer - the main reason to multi-class casters is to tremendously increase the # of low level spells you get.
I think it is a bit strong, considering how much you're considering giving them. it is almost doubling the number of spells of a 9th level warlock. Choice of spells significantly increases the versatility, and therefore usefulness of a caster.
It may not break the game, but it definitely changes the niche of the warlock.
I don't think the changes you suggest would break anything by themselves. It makes warlocks a bit stronger and gives them more thematic spell choices. Warlocks are still very limited by only having two spells slots until 11th level even if they do go up.
On the other hand, you also mentioned combining this with a spell point system for warlock spell slots in which case greater spell selection, especially at lower levels that does not require using a high level slot for their casting is a very significant improvement. Having faerie fire and sleep available isn't a big deal when you have to blow one of your two spell slots on it. However, if you can use a single spell point out of whatever the pool is, it becomes a major upgrade since warlock spells known is one of their limitations that really comes into play if they have more spell slots.
In addition, depending on what you might have changed with sorcerers or bards ... these classes also have a limited number of spells to choose from so anything that enhances the warlocks range of spell choice should also be propagated to similarly restricted classes.
I would say EB is no problem, I think Warlocks should get another Cantrip anyway and everybody takes EB.
The other parts.... not so much. But that’s just my opinion, I could be wrong.
I personally find that free EB and an additional 1ce/Long Rest spell slot does Warlocks right.
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counter point for most if not all of the game you will get 2 spell slots, maybe 3 if youre lucky, and maybe if you somehow play for that long, 4, ever, and dont say "oh they replenish on a short rest though" in my experience and several of my friends' short rests are either just never done because the party would rather long rest, or you do one like every 4 or so sessions, because, guess what, the party would rather long rest, the extra options seems really unbalanced but when you remember youll maybe be using these once every session it seems significantly less busted