Get rid of medium armor and save that for a subclass.
No. Just get rid of Hexblade as a subclass entirely. It should all be folded into Pact of the Blade. Maybe get rid of medium armor proficiency and just make that Eldritch Armor invocation real.
Hot take: get rid of all of the separate Invocations that give you unlimited casts / once per day casts of specific spells, and just let us pick whatever utility spells we want as Mystic Arcanums, and give more than 1 arcanum per spell slot level for 1st-5th level spells.
If the spell is 1st level spell, give it unlimited casts.
If it is 2nd+ level, once per long rest.
If it is 2nd+ level, and you are Warlock level 9+, give itunlimited casts.
Hot take: get rid of all of the separate Invocations that give you unlimited casts / once per day casts of specific spells, and just let us pick whatever utility spells we want as Mystic Arcanums, and give more than 1 arcanum per spell slot level for 1st-5th level spells.
If the spell is 1st level spell, give it unlimited casts.
Get rid of medium armor and save that for a subclass.
No. Just get rid of Hexblade as a subclass entirely. It should all be folded into Pact of the Blade. Maybe get rid of medium armor proficiency and just make that Eldritch Armor invocation real.
Who knows. Maybe they will. We don’t know right now what subclasses with be the 4 Warlocks for the PHB. They already gave some stuff to the pact weapon cantrip.
But I don’t know if they need to get rid of Hexblade. It will not function like they do now, from what we’ve seen so far with Blade pact. So they may fill a slightly different niche.
Get rid of medium armor and save that for a subclass.
No. Just get rid of Hexblade as a subclass entirely. It should all be folded into Pact of the Blade. Maybe get rid of medium armor proficiency and just make that Eldritch Armor invocation real.
Who knows. Maybe they will. We don’t know right now what subclasses with be the 4 Warlocks for the PHB. They already gave some stuff to the pact weapon cantrip.
But I don’t know if they need to get rid of Hexblade. It will not function like they do now, from what we’ve seen so far with Blade pact. So they may fill a slightly different niche.
But Hexblade isn't really a patron. It is a subclass like fighter subclasses are. That's why I don't like Hexblade and I want it gone. I want to be able to be a Hexblade of Fey or Fiend Patron.
Get rid of medium armor and save that for a subclass.
No. Just get rid of Hexblade as a subclass entirely. It should all be folded into Pact of the Blade. Maybe get rid of medium armor proficiency and just make that Eldritch Armor invocation real.
Who knows. Maybe they will. We don’t know right now what subclasses with be the 4 Warlocks for the PHB. They already gave some stuff to the pact weapon cantrip.
But I don’t know if they need to get rid of Hexblade. It will not function like they do now, from what we’ve seen so far with Blade pact. So they may fill a slightly different niche.
But Hexblade isn't really a patron. It is a subclass like fighter subclasses are. That's why I don't like Hexblade and I want it gone. I want to be able to be a Hexblade of Fey or Fiend Patron.
the hexblade patron is a mind-twisting sentient magical item attempting to use you even as you use it. it's a little hard to imagine this item giving you high level spells (and maybe it's stuff like this that drives the design team to change warlock spellcasting), but that doesn't make it not a source of tantalizing power.
anyway, what part of the new UA precludes you from being a fey pact of the blade lock? or a fiendish pact of the blade lock? if you miss raising spectors, then just recommend that as an invocation.
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XGTE heavily implies that the hexblade patron is actually the Raven Queen, so it's not that big of a stretch to think a hexlock would get high level spells.
There is nothing in warlock lore that suggests the warlock's patron cannot itself be the servant of another, higher force. This is very common with fiends, but it can be used to jimmy just about any patron relationship one needs. Even beyond simply picking the mechanics you want and justifying it with your background regardless of your patron. Want the Archfey abilities but the Fiend storyline? Devils are natural tricksters and manipulators, your fiend patron granted you tricksy powers instead of the usual fire blasting. Want the Hexblade powers but any other patron? Your pact manifests as a gift for cursed swordsmanship and the ability to curse and beguile your foes. It's not hard.
But Hexblade isn't really a patron. It is a subclass like fighter subclasses are. That's why I don't like Hexblade and I want it gone. I want to be able to be a Hexblade of Fey or Fiend Patron.
You won't need Hexblade for that concept now. You'll be a Feyblade or Fiendblade
If they keep Hexblade, likely it will be even more martial focused - granting shield prof, gish patron spells, mastery with your pact weapon, fighting style etc. And Hexblade's Curse + abilities based on that.
Hot take: get rid of all of the separate Invocations that give you unlimited casts / once per day casts of specific spells, and just let us pick whatever utility spells we want as Mystic Arcanums, and give more than 1 arcanum per spell slot level for 1st-5th level spells.
If the spell is 1st level spell, give it unlimited casts.
If it is 2nd+ level, once per long rest.
If it is 2nd+ level, and you are Warlock level 9+, give itunlimited casts.
LOL because unlimited Polymorph and Wall of Force at not at all broken.
Since Mystic Arcanum is an Eldritch Invocation and you can get a 3rd or higher level spell you can build a real versatile caster even if the 5th level spells are only available at 17th. you can have your first at 9th.
Over all the spellcasting is broader than 2014. shifting the Extra attack to be part and parcel of the cantrip mean you don't have to dedicate 1 invocation to getting your extra attack freeing it up for something else.
having EB as a freebee makes your cantrip choices super open for niche things, even a Bladelock needs to have some ranged option and now not having to dedicate EB as a pick you could have some utility (mage hand, prestidigitation, ray of frost, shocking grasp) this opens up building options way more IMHO.
Building a Superduper spellcaster is really neat not a Pact of the Tome Warlock with Mystic Initiate as a background will have an arsenal of 5 Cantrips (6 if you count book of shadows). and 4 1st level spells. This balloons to 8 prepared spells at 3rd level. with 3 normal casts 1 limited (magic initiate)
Even if you go full Mystic Arcanum you have fewer spellslots than a Sorcerer and a Wizard as you level. At 20 you have an extra 3rd and 4th spellslot but one less 6th and 7th spellslot and you spent 7(!!) Class Features to get there. But more than that it's progression. At 5th level you have 4/3/2 1st-3rd level spellslots as a Sorcerer or Wizard. A Warlock has 4/2/1 1st-3rd having just gotten your 2nd and 3rd level spells at that level. On top of that you had to use a Class Feature to get there while the Sorcerer gets to play with his Metamagic and the Wizard gets Memorize Spell and can recover spellslots.
I get the Warlock is not a full caster, but if I'm spending all my Class Features to try to be and I still turn out worse what exactly did I gain? The answer is zip. They could buff Mystic Arcanum by letting you take spells from the Divine and Primal spell-lists as well, but wouldn't that kinda make Mystic Arcanum mandatory then?
Edit: Maybe revert Mystic Arcanum to the current 5E function and keep Pact Magic on top of being a half caster. Fewer Pact slots of course.
If you go full Mystic Arcanum you get (at level 20):
4 level 1 slots, +1MA
3 level 2 slots, +1MA
3 level 3 slots, +1MA
3 level 4 slots, +1MA
2 level 5 slots, +1MA
1 level 6MA
1 level 7MA
1 level 8MA
1 level 9MA
That's a total of 24 castings a day.
In raw numbers Sorcerer gets:
4 level 1 slots
3 level 2 slots
3 level 3 slots
3 level 4 slots
2 level 5 slots
2 level 6 slots
2 level 7 slots
1 level 8 slot
1 level 9 slot
For a total of 22 castings a day.
Sorcerer does have other features, like being able to trade sorcery points for spell slots, but raw casting numbers they're very close.
At level 5 a Warlock can trade one of their previous invocations for Mystic Arcanum, and take an additional Mystic Arcanum.
That gives them:
4 level 1 slots
2 level 2 slots, +1MA
1 level 5MA
Compared to a Sorcerer's:
4 level 1 slots
3 level 2 slots
2 level 3 slots
The Sorcerer is one slot ahead, but it is still close.
It does require the Warlock player to be a bit careful with their Arcanum selections, wanting spells that'll have a big impact and/or a decent duration, but the Warlock still has a lot of casting power, despite being a half caster.
Invocations are not as important to Warlocks now. A lot of the spells can simply be cast with spell slots, of which Warlock has a fair few. Tomelock after level 5 doesn't even need Agonizing Blast, which frees up another invocation. Mystic Arcanum can take between four and nine of the invocations, or none at all if the player chooses not to take them.
What does the Warlock get that the Sorcerer doesn't?
The strongest damage cantrip in the game, along with the ability to add effects on a target.
d8 hit points.
Light and medium armour.
The ability to decide to be an okay melee fighter, or a flexible caster, or a Warlock with a friend.
The ability to choose casting stats, wisdom being good for interaction with perception and wisdom saves.
Warlocks have gained access to a vastly greater spell selection, many of which they were originally barred from due to the spells' interaction with short rest recharging spell slots. They have low level slots, allowing them to take spells like shield casting them without having to blow high level slots.
What've they lost? The ability to recharge spells on a short rest.
I don't think Warlocks are worse, but they are different. In some ways they are better.
Since Mystic Arcanum is an Eldritch Invocation and you can get a 3rd or higher level spell you can build a real versatile caster even if the 5th level spells are only available at 17th. you can have your first at 9th.
Over all the spellcasting is broader than 2014. shifting the Extra attack to be part and parcel of the cantrip mean you don't have to dedicate 1 invocation to getting your extra attack freeing it up for something else.
having EB as a freebee makes your cantrip choices super open for niche things, even a Bladelock needs to have some ranged option and now not having to dedicate EB as a pick you could have some utility (mage hand, prestidigitation, ray of frost, shocking grasp) this opens up building options way more IMHO.
Building a Superduper spellcaster is really neat not a Pact of the Tome Warlock with Mystic Initiate as a background will have an arsenal of 5 Cantrips (6 if you count book of shadows). and 4 1st level spells. This balloons to 8 prepared spells at 3rd level. with 3 normal casts 1 limited (magic initiate)
Even if you go full Mystic Arcanum you have fewer spellslots than a Sorcerer and a Wizard as you level. At 20 you have an extra 3rd and 4th spellslot but one less 6th and 7th spellslot and you spent 7(!!) Class Features to get there. But more than that it's progression. At 5th level you have 4/3/2 1st-3rd level spellslots as a Sorcerer or Wizard. A Warlock has 4/2/1 1st-3rd having just gotten your 2nd and 3rd level spells at that level. On top of that you had to use a Class Feature to get there while the Sorcerer gets to play with his Metamagic and the Wizard gets Memorize Spell and can recover spellslots.
I get the Warlock is not a full caster, but if I'm spending all my Class Features to try to be and I still turn out worse what exactly did I gain? The answer is zip. They could buff Mystic Arcanum by letting you take spells from the Divine and Primal spell-lists as well, but wouldn't that kinda make Mystic Arcanum mandatory then?
Edit: Maybe revert Mystic Arcanum to the current 5E function and keep Pact Magic on top of being a half caster. Fewer Pact slots of course.
If you go full Mystic Arcanum you get (at level 20):
The problem for me isn't what the Warlock can cast at Level 20, it's what their spellcasting looks like on the way to Level 20. At the lower levels, this new Warlock's spellcasting is a significant downgrade from the current rules, even if you're in a group that never takes Short Rests(in which case, I would assert that's a problem with the group, not the Warlock mechanics). The new Warlock gets two additional Invocation slots, and basically gets one for free with their Pact. But that still doesn't balance out losing the four Mystic Arcana spells they get now.
The problem for me isn't what the Warlock can cast at Level 20, it's what their spellcasting looks like on the way to Level 20. At the lower levels, this new Warlock's spellcasting is a significant downgrade from the current rules, even if you're in a group that never takes Short Rests(in which case, I would assert that's a problem with the group, not the Warlock mechanics). The new Warlock gets two additional Invocation slots, and basically gets one for free with their Pact. But that still doesn't balance out losing the four Mystic Arcana spells they get now.
In the common level range of campaigns warlocks don' get any mystic arcana because the game stops before level 11, and the games that run significantly at higher levels often wind up just being level 20, so I think it's somewhat fair to only worry about the mystic arcana for level 20. Looking at some sample lower levels:
At level 1-4 the new version gets medium armor and a free (but limited) form of Book of Ancient Secrets. At level 5, they get free Agonizing Blast and it works with all cantrips.
Assuming 2 short rests per day, the new version has fewer spells per day before level 9, and lower level spell slots starting at level 3. It does have somewhat better control over the timing of using slots and does better when short rests aren't available. If you spend the points you saved by not taking agonizing blast and book of ancient secrets, you can add level 4 and 5 slots by level 9 (so spells per day 4/3/2/1/1).
Gaining the full arcane spell list is an upgrade, but not a huge one.
So, overall I do think the new TomeLock is inferior to the old. However, going to a full caster would be a large upgrade -- you'd be at 15 casts per day at level 10, and while not all are max level slots, plenty of utility spells don't need max level slots -- so something intermediate is necessary. Not sure what that is.
The problem for me isn't what the Warlock can cast at Level 20, it's what their spellcasting looks like on the way to Level 20. At the lower levels, this new Warlock's spellcasting is a significant downgrade from the current rules, even if you're in a group that never takes Short Rests(in which case, I would assert that's a problem with the group, not the Warlock mechanics). The new Warlock gets two additional Invocation slots, and basically gets one for free with their Pact. But that still doesn't balance out losing the four Mystic Arcana spells they get now.
In the common level range of campaigns warlocks don' get any mystic arcana because the game stops before level 11, and the games that run significantly at higher levels often wind up just being level 20, so I think it's somewhat fair to only worry about the mystic arcana for level 20. Looking at some sample lower levels:
At level 1-4 the new version gets medium armor and a free (but limited) form of Book of Ancient Secrets. At level 5, they get free Agonizing Blast and it works with all cantrips.
Assuming 2 short rests per day, the new version has fewer spells per day before level 9, and lower level spell slots starting at level 3. It does have somewhat better control over the timing of using slots and does better when short rests aren't available. If you spend the points you saved by not taking agonizing blast and book of ancient secrets, you can add level 4 and 5 slots by level 9 (so spells per day 4/3/2/1/1).
Gaining the full arcane spell list is an upgrade, but not a huge one.
So, overall I do think the new TomeLock is inferior to the old. However, going to a full caster would be a large upgrade -- you'd be at 15 casts per day at level 10, and while not all are max level slots, plenty of utility spells don't need max level slots -- so something intermediate is necessary. Not sure what that is.
I hate it when people say "nobody goes past level 11, so who gives a shit if anything above that is balanced." As if half of the reason people don't go that high isn't because of poor balancing. Ignoring half of the levels in a class is just really, really dumb and unhelpful.
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Get rid of medium armor and save that for a subclass.
No. Just get rid of Hexblade as a subclass entirely. It should all be folded into Pact of the Blade. Maybe get rid of medium armor proficiency and just make that Eldritch Armor invocation real.
Who knows. Maybe they will. We don’t know right now what subclasses with be the 4 Warlocks for the PHB. They already gave some stuff to the pact weapon cantrip.
But I don’t know if they need to get rid of Hexblade. It will not function like they do now, from what we’ve seen so far with Blade pact. So they may fill a slightly different niche.
But Hexblade isn't really a patron. It is a subclass like fighter subclasses are. That's why I don't like Hexblade and I want it gone. I want to be able to be a Hexblade of Fey or Fiend Patron.
the hexblade patron is a mind-twisting sentient magical item attempting to use you even as you use it. it's a little hard to imagine this item giving you high level spells (and maybe it's stuff like this that drives the design team to change warlock spellcasting), but that doesn't make it not a source of tantalizing power.
anyway, what part of the new UA precludes you from being a fey pact of the blade lock? or a fiendish pact of the blade lock? if you miss raising spectors, then just recommend that as an invocation.
That is what I'd ideally want to see. Make all of the 5E Hexblade features into Invocations, so you can be a Hexblade of any patron.
Hexblade only exists because Pact of the Blade was underwhelming at what it was trying to be.
But Hexblade isn't really a patron. It is a subclass like fighter subclasses are. That's why I don't like Hexblade and I want it gone. I want to be able to be a Hexblade of Fey or Fiend Patron.
You won't need Hexblade for that concept now. You'll be a Feyblade or Fiendblade
If they keep Hexblade, likely it will be even more martial focused - granting shield prof, gish patron spells, mastery with your pact weapon, fighting style etc. And Hexblade's Curse + abilities based on that.
But I don't personally like 5E Hexblade as a concept. Having a sentient weapon as a patron is too vague. I understand this is in large parts just a fluff issue, but to me 5E Hexblade just feels like a patch that wasn't applied to the core class.
Hot take: get rid of all of the separate Invocations that give you unlimited casts / once per day casts of specific spells, and just let us pick whatever utility spells we want as Mystic Arcanums, and give more than 1 arcanum per spell slot level for 1st-5th level spells.
If the spell is 1st level spell, give it unlimited casts.
If it is 2nd+ level, once per long rest.
If it is 2nd+ level, and you are Warlock level 9+, give itunlimited casts.
LOL because unlimited Polymorph and Wall of Force at not at all broken.
Since Mystic Arcanum is an Eldritch Invocation and you can get a 3rd or higher level spell you can build a real versatile caster even if the 5th level spells are only available at 17th. you can have your first at 9th.
Over all the spellcasting is broader than 2014. shifting the Extra attack to be part and parcel of the cantrip mean you don't have to dedicate 1 invocation to getting your extra attack freeing it up for something else.
having EB as a freebee makes your cantrip choices super open for niche things, even a Bladelock needs to have some ranged option and now not having to dedicate EB as a pick you could have some utility (mage hand, prestidigitation, ray of frost, shocking grasp) this opens up building options way more IMHO.
Building a Superduper spellcaster is really neat not a Pact of the Tome Warlock with Mystic Initiate as a background will have an arsenal of 5 Cantrips (6 if you count book of shadows). and 4 1st level spells. This balloons to 8 prepared spells at 3rd level. with 3 normal casts 1 limited (magic initiate)
Even if you go full Mystic Arcanum you have fewer spellslots than a Sorcerer and a Wizard as you level. At 20 you have an extra 3rd and 4th spellslot but one less 6th and 7th spellslot and you spent 7(!!) Class Features to get there. But more than that it's progression. At 5th level you have 4/3/2 1st-3rd level spellslots as a Sorcerer or Wizard. A Warlock has 4/2/1 1st-3rd having just gotten your 2nd and 3rd level spells at that level. On top of that you had to use a Class Feature to get there while the Sorcerer gets to play with his Metamagic and the Wizard gets Memorize Spell and can recover spellslots.
I get the Warlock is not a full caster, but if I'm spending all my Class Features to try to be and I still turn out worse what exactly did I gain? The answer is zip. They could buff Mystic Arcanum by letting you take spells from the Divine and Primal spell-lists as well, but wouldn't that kinda make Mystic Arcanum mandatory then?
Edit: Maybe revert Mystic Arcanum to the current 5E function and keep Pact Magic on top of being a half caster. Fewer Pact slots of course.
If you go full Mystic Arcanum you get (at level 20):
4 level 1 slots, +1MA
3 level 2 slots, +1MA
3 level 3 slots, +1MA
3 level 4 slots, +1MA
2 level 5 slots, +1MA
1 level 6MA
1 level 7MA
1 level 8MA
1 level 9MA
That's a total of 24 castings a day.
In raw numbers Sorcerer gets:
4 level 1 slots
3 level 2 slots
3 level 3 slots
3 level 4 slots
2 level 5 slots
2 level 6 slots
2 level 7 slots
1 level 8 slot
1 level 9 slot
For a total of 22 castings a day.
Sorcerer does have other features, like being able to trade sorcery points for spell slots, but raw casting numbers they're very close.
At level 5 a Warlock can trade one of their previous invocations for Mystic Arcanum, and take an additional Mystic Arcanum.
That gives them:
4 level 1 slots
2 level 2 slots, +1MA
1 level 5MA
Compared to a Sorcerer's:
4 level 1 slots
3 level 2 slots
2 level 3 slots
The Sorcerer is one slot ahead, but it is still close.
It does require the Warlock player to be a bit careful with their Arcanum selections, wanting spells that'll have a big impact and/or a decent duration, but the Warlock still has a lot of casting power, despite being a half caster.
Invocations are not as important to Warlocks now. A lot of the spells can simply be cast with spell slots, of which Warlock has a fair few. Tomelock after level 5 doesn't even need Agonizing Blast, which frees up another invocation. Mystic Arcanum can take between four and nine of the invocations, or none at all if the player chooses not to take them.
What does the Warlock get that the Sorcerer doesn't?
The strongest damage cantrip in the game, along with the ability to add effects on a target.
d8 hit points.
Light and medium armour.
The ability to decide to be an okay melee fighter, or a flexible caster, or a Warlock with a friend.
The ability to choose casting stats, wisdom being good for interaction with perception and wisdom saves.
Warlocks have gained access to a vastly greater spell selection, many of which they were originally barred from due to the spells' interaction with short rest recharging spell slots. They have low level slots, allowing them to take spells like shield casting them without having to blow high level slots.
What've they lost? The ability to recharge spells on a short rest.
I don't think Warlocks are worse, but they are different. In some ways they are better.
You're forgetting those MA slots are locked in to one spell. That spellslot can't be used for up-casting or for another spell of a similar level. You are WAY less flexible with your spellslots and you sacrificed 9(!!) Class Features to be a worse caster than a Bard, Sorcerer or Wizard.
At level 5 a Warlock can trade one of their previous invocations for Mystic Arcanum, and take an additional Mystic Arcanum.
That gives them:
4 level 1 slots
2 level 2 slots, +1MA
1 level 5MA
Compared to a Sorcerer's:
4 level 1 slots
3 level 2 slots
2 level 3 slots
Well MA is still limited by the same levels as Sorcerer so most you can get is a 3rd level spell, this means even using this metric, Warlock would have 2 less slots, you could however trade another Invocation for a 2nd MA for a 2nd level spell to be only '1 spell slot behind', but there would be no flexibility in it. Further to this, this is ignoring that Sorcerer can create a 3rd level spell slot, or a 2nd and 1st level spell slots, if they don't use their Sorcery Points on Meta Magics. Of course the Sorcerer could also twin spell a level 3 spell and a level 2 spell instead to get more spells out. Cast Fireball 1st round then second round use 3 sorcery Points to cast Fireball again.
Warlock has been nerfed, for some godawful reason, and Mystic Arcanum is a big example of this. Warlock gets an additional Invocation but lost Mystic Arcanum as a feature, instead getting it as an Invocation choice that to match what they had in 5E would cost 4 Invocations at level 17!
Having spent more time thinking about it, I believe Mystic Arcanum should be restored as a feature starting at level 7, which allows you to learn one arcane spell, a slot higher than your highest spell slot. When you gain a higher spell slot, the Mystic Arcanum spell becomes a prepared spell for that level and you can choose a new spell of a level higher. The feature then improves at levels 11, 15 and 19, each improve gives a Mystic Arcanum choice 1 of an additional level higher than the previous. So at level 7 you'd get a level 3 choice, at level 9 you'd get a level 4 choice with the level 3 choice now having become a prepared spell. At level 11, you'd get a level 4 and level 5 choice.
They could then add an invocation option called 'Arcanum Mastery' at level 11, this feature would allow you to sacrifice a Mystic Arcanum spell's daily cast to upcast a prepared spell to that level. Additionally the invocation would allow you to once per day, during a short rest recover the daily casting of an Arcanum slot of level 7 or lower. It'd still leave warlock a weaker spellcaster than Wizard or Sorcerer but it'd also keep warlock as being mostly a mage (given they are in the mage group...), and wouldn't require sacrificing 4 invocations just to try and partially mirror a faction of a Sorcerer's or Wizard's power.
From Xanathar's, Invisibility. Gift of the Depths giving once per long rest Water Breathing is less important that it making your character aquatic. Trickster's Escape giving once per long rest Freedom of Movement can be done with a Mystic Arcanum now. Likewise Tasha's Animate Dead.
If your build specifically uses those on demand spells then, of course, take them. But if you want something not covered there, take it as a known spell or as a Mystic Arcanum.
Warlocks have been "nerfed" because they're the custodians of Eldritch Blast which, as I've noted repeatedly, Wizards of the Coast consider sufficiently powerful that they've soft locked it to the Warlock chassis to prevent it ever being taken by a full caster. You don't have to agree with them that it is that powerful, but until you understand that they believe it is you won't be able to argue against the changes that they've made. Instead it's on the Warlock which can be, if you devote the invocations to it, a pseudo full caster.
You also get Contact other Plane at level 11, and it's free to contact your Patron. I guess it's a collect call.
5e Warlock couldn't upcast beyond 5th level anyway, and some of their themed spells, like Hunger of Hadar couldn't be upcast at all.
But I don't personally like 5E Hexblade as a concept. Having a sentient weapon as a patron is too vague. I understand this is in large parts just a fluff issue, but to me 5E Hexblade just feels like a patch that wasn't applied to the core class.
My Hexblade is the client of an Avatar of Justice, who uses her "blades" to enact her will in the world.
The backstory for your Warlock need owe nothing to the writings of WotC.
No. Just get rid of Hexblade as a subclass entirely. It should all be folded into Pact of the Blade. Maybe get rid of medium armor proficiency and just make that Eldritch Armor invocation real.
Hot take: get rid of all of the separate Invocations that give you unlimited casts / once per day casts of specific spells, and just let us pick whatever utility spells we want as Mystic Arcanums, and give more than 1 arcanum per spell slot level for 1st-5th level spells.
If the spell is 1st level spell, give it unlimited casts.
If it is 2nd+ level, once per long rest.
If it is 2nd+ level, and you are Warlock level 9+, give itunlimited casts.
That’s been suggested quite a few times already.
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Who knows. Maybe they will. We don’t know right now what subclasses with be the 4 Warlocks for the PHB. They already gave some stuff to the pact weapon cantrip.
But I don’t know if they need to get rid of Hexblade. It will not function like they do now, from what we’ve seen so far with Blade pact. So they may fill a slightly different niche.
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But Hexblade isn't really a patron. It is a subclass like fighter subclasses are. That's why I don't like Hexblade and I want it gone. I want to be able to be a Hexblade of Fey or Fiend Patron.
the hexblade patron is a mind-twisting sentient magical item attempting to use you even as you use it. it's a little hard to imagine this item giving you high level spells (and maybe it's stuff like this that drives the design team to change warlock spellcasting), but that doesn't make it not a source of tantalizing power.
anyway, what part of the new UA precludes you from being a fey pact of the blade lock? or a fiendish pact of the blade lock? if you miss raising spectors, then just recommend that as an invocation.
unhappy at the way in which we lost individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
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XGTE heavily implies that the hexblade patron is actually the Raven Queen, so it's not that big of a stretch to think a hexlock would get high level spells.
There is nothing in warlock lore that suggests the warlock's patron cannot itself be the servant of another, higher force. This is very common with fiends, but it can be used to jimmy just about any patron relationship one needs. Even beyond simply picking the mechanics you want and justifying it with your background regardless of your patron. Want the Archfey abilities but the Fiend storyline? Devils are natural tricksters and manipulators, your fiend patron granted you tricksy powers instead of the usual fire blasting. Want the Hexblade powers but any other patron? Your pact manifests as a gift for cursed swordsmanship and the ability to curse and beguile your foes. It's not hard.
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You won't need Hexblade for that concept now. You'll be a Feyblade or Fiendblade
If they keep Hexblade, likely it will be even more martial focused - granting shield prof, gish patron spells, mastery with your pact weapon, fighting style etc. And Hexblade's Curse + abilities based on that.
LOL because unlimited Polymorph and Wall of Force at not at all broken.
If you go full Mystic Arcanum you get (at level 20):
4 level 1 slots, +1MA
3 level 2 slots, +1MA
3 level 3 slots, +1MA
3 level 4 slots, +1MA
2 level 5 slots, +1MA
1 level 6MA
1 level 7MA
1 level 8MA
1 level 9MA
That's a total of 24 castings a day.
In raw numbers Sorcerer gets:
4 level 1 slots
3 level 2 slots
3 level 3 slots
3 level 4 slots
2 level 5 slots
2 level 6 slots
2 level 7 slots
1 level 8 slot
1 level 9 slot
For a total of 22 castings a day.
Sorcerer does have other features, like being able to trade sorcery points for spell slots, but raw casting numbers they're very close.
At level 5 a Warlock can trade one of their previous invocations for Mystic Arcanum, and take an additional Mystic Arcanum.
That gives them:
4 level 1 slots
2 level 2 slots, +1MA
1 level 5MA
Compared to a Sorcerer's:
4 level 1 slots
3 level 2 slots
2 level 3 slots
The Sorcerer is one slot ahead, but it is still close.
It does require the Warlock player to be a bit careful with their Arcanum selections, wanting spells that'll have a big impact and/or a decent duration, but the Warlock still has a lot of casting power, despite being a half caster.
Invocations are not as important to Warlocks now. A lot of the spells can simply be cast with spell slots, of which Warlock has a fair few. Tomelock after level 5 doesn't even need Agonizing Blast, which frees up another invocation. Mystic Arcanum can take between four and nine of the invocations, or none at all if the player chooses not to take them.
What does the Warlock get that the Sorcerer doesn't?
The strongest damage cantrip in the game, along with the ability to add effects on a target.
d8 hit points.
Light and medium armour.
The ability to decide to be an okay melee fighter, or a flexible caster, or a Warlock with a friend.
The ability to choose casting stats, wisdom being good for interaction with perception and wisdom saves.
Warlocks have gained access to a vastly greater spell selection, many of which they were originally barred from due to the spells' interaction with short rest recharging spell slots. They have low level slots, allowing them to take spells like shield casting them without having to blow high level slots.
What've they lost? The ability to recharge spells on a short rest.
I don't think Warlocks are worse, but they are different. In some ways they are better.
While I don't mind the half-caster part of new warlock, Mystic Arcanum might feel better (without a lot of change in power) if it replaced
with something like:
as that would in principle allow using the slot to upcast some other spell (this would only be rarely useful, but rarely is not never).
The problem for me isn't what the Warlock can cast at Level 20, it's what their spellcasting looks like on the way to Level 20. At the lower levels, this new Warlock's spellcasting is a significant downgrade from the current rules, even if you're in a group that never takes Short Rests(in which case, I would assert that's a problem with the group, not the Warlock mechanics). The new Warlock gets two additional Invocation slots, and basically gets one for free with their Pact. But that still doesn't balance out losing the four Mystic Arcana spells they get now.
In the common level range of campaigns warlocks don' get any mystic arcana because the game stops before level 11, and the games that run significantly at higher levels often wind up just being level 20, so I think it's somewhat fair to only worry about the mystic arcana for level 20. Looking at some sample lower levels:
So, overall I do think the new TomeLock is inferior to the old. However, going to a full caster would be a large upgrade -- you'd be at 15 casts per day at level 10, and while not all are max level slots, plenty of utility spells don't need max level slots -- so something intermediate is necessary. Not sure what that is.
I hate it when people say "nobody goes past level 11, so who gives a shit if anything above that is balanced." As if half of the reason people don't go that high isn't because of poor balancing. Ignoring half of the levels in a class is just really, really dumb and unhelpful.
Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny.
Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat Off - Mod Hat Also Off (I'm not a mod)
That is what I'd ideally want to see. Make all of the 5E Hexblade features into Invocations, so you can be a Hexblade of any patron.
Hexblade only exists because Pact of the Blade was underwhelming at what it was trying to be.
But I don't personally like 5E Hexblade as a concept. Having a sentient weapon as a patron is too vague. I understand this is in large parts just a fluff issue, but to me 5E Hexblade just feels like a patch that wasn't applied to the core class.
Well obviously limit it in some way. :)
You're forgetting those MA slots are locked in to one spell. That spellslot can't be used for up-casting or for another spell of a similar level. You are WAY less flexible with your spellslots and you sacrificed 9(!!) Class Features to be a worse caster than a Bard, Sorcerer or Wizard.
Well MA is still limited by the same levels as Sorcerer so most you can get is a 3rd level spell, this means even using this metric, Warlock would have 2 less slots, you could however trade another Invocation for a 2nd MA for a 2nd level spell to be only '1 spell slot behind', but there would be no flexibility in it. Further to this, this is ignoring that Sorcerer can create a 3rd level spell slot, or a 2nd and 1st level spell slots, if they don't use their Sorcery Points on Meta Magics. Of course the Sorcerer could also twin spell a level 3 spell and a level 2 spell instead to get more spells out. Cast Fireball 1st round then second round use 3 sorcery Points to cast Fireball again.
Warlock has been nerfed, for some godawful reason, and Mystic Arcanum is a big example of this. Warlock gets an additional Invocation but lost Mystic Arcanum as a feature, instead getting it as an Invocation choice that to match what they had in 5E would cost 4 Invocations at level 17!
Having spent more time thinking about it, I believe Mystic Arcanum should be restored as a feature starting at level 7, which allows you to learn one arcane spell, a slot higher than your highest spell slot. When you gain a higher spell slot, the Mystic Arcanum spell becomes a prepared spell for that level and you can choose a new spell of a level higher. The feature then improves at levels 11, 15 and 19, each improve gives a Mystic Arcanum choice 1 of an additional level higher than the previous. So at level 7 you'd get a level 3 choice, at level 9 you'd get a level 4 choice with the level 3 choice now having become a prepared spell. At level 11, you'd get a level 4 and level 5 choice.
They could then add an invocation option called 'Arcanum Mastery' at level 11, this feature would allow you to sacrifice a Mystic Arcanum spell's daily cast to upcast a prepared spell to that level. Additionally the invocation would allow you to once per day, during a short rest recover the daily casting of an Arcanum slot of level 7 or lower. It'd still leave warlock a weaker spellcaster than Wizard or Sorcerer but it'd also keep warlock as being mostly a mage (given they are in the mage group...), and wouldn't require sacrificing 4 invocations just to try and partially mirror a faction of a Sorcerer's or Wizard's power.
Yes, Sorcerers are full casters. Warlocks are not far behind, despite being "half" casters.
Yes, Warlocks have to use invocations to get Mystic Arcanum. They are not "giving up" class features, those are their class features.
Warlock invocations give you on demand, Mage Armor, Levitate, Speak with Animals, Detect Magic, False Life, Disguise Self, Alter Self, Silent Image, Jump, Arcane Eye, and Speak with Dead.
From Xanathar's, Invisibility. Gift of the Depths giving once per long rest Water Breathing is less important that it making your character aquatic. Trickster's Escape giving once per long rest Freedom of Movement can be done with a Mystic Arcanum now. Likewise Tasha's Animate Dead.
If your build specifically uses those on demand spells then, of course, take them. But if you want something not covered there, take it as a known spell or as a Mystic Arcanum.
Warlocks have been "nerfed" because they're the custodians of Eldritch Blast which, as I've noted repeatedly, Wizards of the Coast consider sufficiently powerful that they've soft locked it to the Warlock chassis to prevent it ever being taken by a full caster. You don't have to agree with them that it is that powerful, but until you understand that they believe it is you won't be able to argue against the changes that they've made. Instead it's on the Warlock which can be, if you devote the invocations to it, a pseudo full caster.
You also get Contact other Plane at level 11, and it's free to contact your Patron. I guess it's a collect call.
5e Warlock couldn't upcast beyond 5th level anyway, and some of their themed spells, like Hunger of Hadar couldn't be upcast at all.
My Hexblade is the client of an Avatar of Justice, who uses her "blades" to enact her will in the world.
The backstory for your Warlock need owe nothing to the writings of WotC.
I read your answer as "this is what it is because Wizards is bad at designing and balancing games". I suppose we will see if that is true.