Invocations need improvements and honestly a bunch from Xany need to be added to flesh out the balance.
Agonizing Blast
This is fine, but Tome pact doesn’t need it.
Armor of Shadows
This okay for players who don’t want to wear armor, but is very niche now. I’m not sure how to improve it without making it too good.
Ascendant Step
Make this available sooner. Probably 5th level
Beast Speech
This is still good
Book of Ancient Secrets
Bring this back so tome pact can get more rituals from divine, and primal list
Devil’s Sight
Still good
Eldritch Sight
Combine this with Rune keeper.
Eldritch Spear
Still Good
Eyes of the Rune Keeper
Add detect Magic at will to reading all writing
Fiendish Vigor
Make it so you always gain the maximum temp hp when you cast it with this invocation.
Gaze of Two Minds
This got the upgrade it needed in the UA
Lifedrinker
This also got the upgrade it needed in the UA
Mask of Many Faces
The DC to notice the illusion is gains a +2 when cast with this invocation
Master of Myriad Forms
Bring this down to at least 11th level maybe even 7th to be honest.
Misty Visions
DC to notice it’s an illusion +2 when cast with this invocation
One with Shadows
This is fine.
Otherworldly Leap
Bring this down to 5th level.
Repelling Blast
Still fine
Visions of Distant Realms
Bring this down to 11th.
Whispers of the Grave
Bring this down to 7th
Witch Sight
This is fine
Additionally Mystic Arcanum should be selectable as early as 3rd level. Hexer should give you Hex at will. Hex should be returned to its 5e version. Master of Hexes should make hex no concentration. I went a little overboard in an earlier post by also stating it should increase the duration of hex until dispelled. Could port everything from Xan, but with backwards compatibility they don’t have to. Some stuff should be in the PHB though. From Xan we need:
Aspect of the Moon
Can be added as is.
Eldritch Smite
Bring it as is.
Gift of the Ever-Living Ones
Bring as is.
Grasp of Hadar
Remove the once per turn and let it pull on every hit.
Quick note, Book of shadows cantrip from pact of the tome already allows you to get ritual spells from divine or primal list, just needs to allow you to write more down and have more than 2 at a time, I don't think we need an invocation for that I think it can be fully rolled into pact of the tome like the others have gotten theirs.
There is a lot of issues with Warlock still, overall, it hasn't been buffed, if anything it's been nerfed and Warlock was always the last class pure spellcaster in need of nerfing. Having more spell slots is nice, but it's a basic half-caster now like Paladin, however it lacks vs. Paladin. About the only features Warlock has over a Paladin is Pact Boon and Eldritch Invocations. If dropping Warlock down to the same type of spell progression as a Ranger or a Paladin, it needs features to rival Ranger (UA) and Paladin which I just don't think this incarnation of Warlock does.
SADness. Unlike paladins and rangers, warlocks can freely use save DC spells like Hold Person, and beat people on the head at the same time without losing efficiency. Though this kind of costs 1-level dip in warlock.
And you shouldn't underestimate being able to cast Disguise Self or Silent Image at will. Those features go a long way. When changing faces costs you nothing and you can casually do it all the time without regard for resources, it is actually a big deal.
Part 1 yes, and that has been a problem with mystic arcanum for the last 10 years.
Part 2: at level 9, that is near the end of the campaign, the other 2 dont need to wait that long AND they dont still have the additional tax of agonizing blast.
Finally, that is the problem with the at will spells. If you are happy to not take them then, by definition, they aren't strong enough to be invocations. At that point they arent a real choice. They are there but no one is picking them.
1) It's not a bug, it's a feature. Would I be upset if they allowed MA to be used for upcasting, no, but the whole point is for Warlocks to have weaker casting than full casters like they always have been, and this accomplishes that nicely. Finding a way to make them feel different without losing the ability to fill in for a full caster in a pinch or in a lower-power campaign is honestly a triumph of design.
2) I'm not denying that Chain is probably bottom of the pack in combat now (someone has to be.) I wouldn't mind if it started out with some kind of Share Spells like ability - either being able to buff it with touch spells from range or apply a single concentration spell to the both of you or something. Gaze of Two Minds should work on it as well.
Combine misty visions and mask of many faces into one. Combine eyes of the rune keeper and eldritch sight. These would create more REAL choices. They still wouldn't be amazing.
I'm fine just ignoring them honestly. Most of the 5.0 invocations were jank too, as were the 3.5 ones; Sturgeon's Law, it doesn't hurt anything.
Quick note, Book of shadows cantrip from pact of the tome already allows you to get ritual spells from divine or primal list, just needs to allow you to write more down and have more than 2 at a time, I don't think we need an invocation for that I think it can be fully rolled into pact of the tome like the others have gotten theirs.
You’re right I adjusted it to “more” rituals. It has to be an invocation since the Book of Shadows cantrip already gives basically “agonizing” cantrips at 5th level.
Invocations need improvements and honestly a bunch from Xany need to be added to flesh out the balance.
Agonizing Blast
This is fine, but Tome pact doesn’t need it.
Armor of Shadows
This okay for players who don’t want to wear armor, but is very niche now. I’m not sure how to improve it without making it too good.
Ascendant Step
Make this available sooner. Probably 5th level
Beast Speech
This is still good
Book of Ancient Secrets
Bring this back so tome pact can get more rituals from divine, and primal list
Devil’s Sight
Still good
Eldritch Sight
Combine this with Rune keeper.
Eldritch Spear
Still Good
Eyes of the Rune Keeper
Add detect Magic at will to reading all writing
Fiendish Vigor
Make it so you always gain the maximum temp hp when you cast it with this invocation.
Gaze of Two Minds
This got the upgrade it needed in the UA
Lifedrinker
This also got the upgrade it needed in the UA
Mask of Many Faces
The DC to notice the illusion is gains a +2 when cast with this invocation
Master of Myriad Forms
Bring this down to at least 11th level maybe even 7th to be honest.
Misty Visions
DC to notice it’s an illusion +2 when cast with this invocation
One with Shadows
This is fine.
Otherworldly Leap
Bring this down to 5th level.
Repelling Blast
Still fine
Visions of Distant Realms
Bring this down to 11th.
Whispers of the Grave
Bring this down to 7th
Witch Sight
This is fine
Additionally Mystic Arcanum should be selectable as early as 3rd level. Hexer should give you Hex at will. Hex should be returned to its 5e version. Master of Hexes should make hex no concentration. I went a little overboard in an earlier post by also stating it should increase the duration of hex until dispelled. Could port everything from Xan, but with backwards compatibility they don’t have to. Some stuff should be in the PHB though. From Xan we need:
Aspect of the Moon
Can be added as is.
Eldritch Smite
Bring it as is.
Gift of the Ever-Living Ones
Bring as is.
Grasp of Hadar
Remove the once per turn and let it pull on every hit.
Lance of Lethargy
Bring as is
Maddening Hex
Bring as is
Relentless Hex
Bring as is
I like a lot of this. So, as before, I feel agonizing blast could just be rolled into eldritch blast in general and if you did so than the level 5 upgrade for tome lock could just be adding rituals or they could leave it as is for other cantrips. The big reason being is if Warlocks are going to be a half caster with invocations and eldritch blast as their "thing" I feel that eldritch blast needs to be good enough. However, I can see the argument against removing the need for agonizing blast because it can make 2 paths for the warlock. One that focuses more on the martial side of things with empowering eldritch blast and devil sight and other such invocations and one that focuses on spell casting with at will spells and Mystic arcanum and others that go for some form of mix. And that balance is interesting. For this reason I think I agree with the idea of keeping agonizing blast instead of rolling it in, if we get the mystic arcanum change we are looking for.
Armor of Shadows, Maybe add Fiendish vigor to it or Armor of agathys. Your armor of shadows casts mage armor and armor of agathys at the same time. Or maybe replace mage armor with "you can cast armor of agathys at your highest level spell slot without consuming a spell slot once per long rest". Armor of Agathys was originally a warlock spell making it re-apear in their features would be very appropriate.
Agreed with your ascendant step, especially since this is the level others are getting fly and you can get second level spells including levitate to cast on anyone not just yourself.
Myriad forms to me 7th is bare minimum. You have access to alter self as early as level 5.
Other worldly leap I disagree I really this should be at most level 3. The jump spell is already super situational I think it would be a rare take even if it were available at level 1.
Visions seems weird at 11 to me. Arcane eye is an amazing spell and this warlock doesn't even have access to it except mystic arcanum until level 13, making it at will at 11 seems really early.
Same with whispers of the grave, it is a 3rd level spell and when whispers is active at level 9 you would have it normally on warlock list so this is, to me the minimum of what I would like to see from at will spells. Spells that you would have access to at that level, but they are utility and flavorful and we don't want the lock to have to use their top or second highest non-arcanum slot on it.
Other than this I disagree with only one statement. I do not think you went overboard with the level 18 ability making hex last until dispelled. My thought is if Sorcerer is going to get wish at 18 Warlock should get 9th level bestow curse, and until dispelled hex is close at least. And as I said before I would love your hex master to also apply to the bestow curse spell.
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Invocations need improvements and honestly a bunch from Xany need to be added to flesh out the balance.
Agonizing Blast
This is fine, but Tome pact doesn’t need it.
Armor of Shadows
This okay for players who don’t want to wear armor, but is very niche now. I’m not sure how to improve it without making it too good.
Ascendant Step
Make this available sooner. Probably 5th level
Beast Speech
This is still good
Book of Ancient Secrets
Bring this back so tome pact can get more rituals from divine, and primal list
Devil’s Sight
Still good
Eldritch Sight
Combine this with Rune keeper.
Eldritch Spear
Still Good
Eyes of the Rune Keeper
Add detect Magic at will to reading all writing
Fiendish Vigor
Make it so you always gain the maximum temp hp when you cast it with this invocation.
Gaze of Two Minds
This got the upgrade it needed in the UA
Lifedrinker
This also got the upgrade it needed in the UA
Mask of Many Faces
The DC to notice the illusion is gains a +2 when cast with this invocation
Master of Myriad Forms
Bring this down to at least 11th level maybe even 7th to be honest.
Misty Visions
DC to notice it’s an illusion +2 when cast with this invocation
One with Shadows
This is fine.
Otherworldly Leap
Bring this down to 5th level.
Repelling Blast
Still fine
Visions of Distant Realms
Bring this down to 11th.
Whispers of the Grave
Bring this down to 7th
Witch Sight
This is fine
Additionally Mystic Arcanum should be selectable as early as 3rd level. Hexer should give you Hex at will. Hex should be returned to its 5e version. Master of Hexes should make hex no concentration. I went a little overboard in an earlier post by also stating it should increase the duration of hex until dispelled.
Could port everything from Xan, but with backwards compatibility they don’t have to. Some stuff should be in the PHB though. From Xan we need:
Aspect of the Moon
Can be added as is.
Eldritch Smite
Bring it as is.
Gift of the Ever-Living Ones
Bring as is.
Grasp of Hadar
Remove the once per turn and let it pull on every hit.
Lance of Lethargy
Bring as is
Maddening Hex
Bring as is
Relentless Hex
Bring as is
Quick note, Book of shadows cantrip from pact of the tome already allows you to get ritual spells from divine or primal list, just needs to allow you to write more down and have more than 2 at a time, I don't think we need an invocation for that I think it can be fully rolled into pact of the tome like the others have gotten theirs.
SADness. Unlike paladins and rangers, warlocks can freely use save DC spells like Hold Person, and beat people on the head at the same time without losing efficiency. Though this kind of costs 1-level dip in warlock.
And you shouldn't underestimate being able to cast Disguise Self or Silent Image at will. Those features go a long way. When changing faces costs you nothing and you can casually do it all the time without regard for resources, it is actually a big deal.
1) It's not a bug, it's a feature. Would I be upset if they allowed MA to be used for upcasting, no, but the whole point is for Warlocks to have weaker casting than full casters like they always have been, and this accomplishes that nicely. Finding a way to make them feel different without losing the ability to fill in for a full caster in a pinch or in a lower-power campaign is honestly a triumph of design.
2) I'm not denying that Chain is probably bottom of the pack in combat now (someone has to be.) I wouldn't mind if it started out with some kind of Share Spells like ability - either being able to buff it with touch spells from range or apply a single concentration spell to the both of you or something. Gaze of Two Minds should work on it as well.
I'm fine just ignoring them honestly. Most of the 5.0 invocations were jank too, as were the 3.5 ones; Sturgeon's Law, it doesn't hurt anything.
You’re right I adjusted it to “more” rituals. It has to be an invocation since the Book of Shadows cantrip already gives basically “agonizing” cantrips at 5th level.
I like a lot of this. So, as before, I feel agonizing blast could just be rolled into eldritch blast in general and if you did so than the level 5 upgrade for tome lock could just be adding rituals or they could leave it as is for other cantrips. The big reason being is if Warlocks are going to be a half caster with invocations and eldritch blast as their "thing" I feel that eldritch blast needs to be good enough. However, I can see the argument against removing the need for agonizing blast because it can make 2 paths for the warlock. One that focuses more on the martial side of things with empowering eldritch blast and devil sight and other such invocations and one that focuses on spell casting with at will spells and Mystic arcanum and others that go for some form of mix. And that balance is interesting. For this reason I think I agree with the idea of keeping agonizing blast instead of rolling it in, if we get the mystic arcanum change we are looking for.
Armor of Shadows, Maybe add Fiendish vigor to it or Armor of agathys. Your armor of shadows casts mage armor and armor of agathys at the same time. Or maybe replace mage armor with "you can cast armor of agathys at your highest level spell slot without consuming a spell slot once per long rest". Armor of Agathys was originally a warlock spell making it re-apear in their features would be very appropriate.
Agreed with your ascendant step, especially since this is the level others are getting fly and you can get second level spells including levitate to cast on anyone not just yourself.
Myriad forms to me 7th is bare minimum. You have access to alter self as early as level 5.
Other worldly leap I disagree I really this should be at most level 3. The jump spell is already super situational I think it would be a rare take even if it were available at level 1.
Visions seems weird at 11 to me. Arcane eye is an amazing spell and this warlock doesn't even have access to it except mystic arcanum until level 13, making it at will at 11 seems really early.
Same with whispers of the grave, it is a 3rd level spell and when whispers is active at level 9 you would have it normally on warlock list so this is, to me the minimum of what I would like to see from at will spells. Spells that you would have access to at that level, but they are utility and flavorful and we don't want the lock to have to use their top or second highest non-arcanum slot on it.
Other than this I disagree with only one statement. I do not think you went overboard with the level 18 ability making hex last until dispelled. My thought is if Sorcerer is going to get wish at 18 Warlock should get 9th level bestow curse, and until dispelled hex is close at least. And as I said before I would love your hex master to also apply to the bestow curse spell.