Warlock gaining access to the other pacts is nice at higher levels but then what replaces the "subclasses"? The patrons? It's a shift from it's portrayal in 2014, but makes sense with the special access to certain spells, but those spells should be given and not count to your known spells rather than just given access.
Having those pact boons should also be restricted to warlock and level, as mentioned and being underpowered isn't bad for level one but should scale with warlock levels, pact of chain should for example scale as druid wildshapes do (though not cr level for cr level comparison but could be worked with improved chain pact 1, improved 2, and so on up to 4), pact of the blade should have scaling with new abilities like shadow blade, booming blade, etc. Tome could grant extra cantrips/spells with each level up and the use of an extra invocation.
(Overall, it would be nice to by level 20 have blade pact 2, chain 1 and tome 1 for example...)
It would be a better use of the pacts and incentive to level up rather than toss them into invocations which is yet another resource, though I'm not terribly offended since they get them back after short rest
The Patron spells are given. In the video they admitted that Chain and Talisman were never meant to be as good as tome and blade and that they don’t want to do what’s necessary to bring the up to par. They want players to pick pick Blade or Tome at level 1. Since Eldritch Adapt is a thing they should put the prerequisite of Level 1 Warlock just to make them not qualify for it. Otherwise it becomes a must pick for Swords and Valor Bards. And a strong pick for Paladin.
This is one of the things I do not like, when two choices are given and one is clearly inferior; or in this case four choices and two are clearly inferior.
With agonizing blast at level 1, that'd generally be the best choice, pacts would come later, probably level 2.
I actually think this depends. In early levels(pre 5) agonizing blast and a cantrip doesn't add that much damage over a crossbow +dex. Having an extra first level slot and 3 cantrips will probably add a lot more utility. Or a at will first level spell. Or just using a better weapon at level 1. All-in-all I think there are actually a lot of good options at level 1.
Thirsting blade scaling at level 11 to match fighter attacks does help blade a lot, it is just the invocation taxes that feels expensive because you need 2 invocation or more to make blade work. While all the others just function with one invocation. Though I guess it assumes that you dont need agonizing blast and the caster lock does.
Looking at it more and messing with it Blade does seem a lot more viable than it has been in the past. Melee weapon restriction only, allows the use of charisma with it, which is going to encourage ASI on bumping charisma to keep spell casting high. Thirsting blade gets to 3 attacks at 11. Your weapon counts as a spell casting focus, you can take eldritch mind to protect your concentration freeing you up from having to take war caster. Combined with spells like armor of agathys, which has always been good or other features it may be pretty good. You aren't going to do less than EB+AB for most of the career, just going to have less at will spells at the trade of more armor and health because melee.
I am finding it more interesting the more I look at it.
Still not sure I like Thirsting Blade getting a third attack at L11, when classes like Paladin and Ranger max out at two attacks. I think I would rather see the 2nd attack be a 5th-level extra feature of Pact Of The Blade. One thing I liked about the Pact Boons in UA5 was how they each had a 5th-level automatic upgrade, I'd like to see that come back.
Interesting design decision, but it ends up in a strange half-functional state again. I still think that pact boons should be subclasses, so that you could choose to be a full summoner, a full melee combatant, or a decent versatile spellcaster without the whole invocation tax shenanigans.
Pact of the Blade, after paying the invocation tax of Thirsting Blade and Lifedrinker (who the hell takes that weaksauce Eldritch Smite anyway, you get more bang for your buck even from Hex), is bonkers powerful. By level 11, you make three attacks for 3d6+Cha necrotic/psychic/radiant damage (because of course most bladelocks will now use greatswords or mauls). However, there's no built-in defense or survivability and Moderately Armored feat becomes pretty much mandatory, thankfully, we can get it through Lessons of the First Ones invocation. I also don't quite get why Lifedrinker lets you use your Hit Dice. Probably to decrease warlocks' reliance on short rests, lol.
Pact of the Chain keeps on trying to make something out of a familiar instead of just making warlock a proper summoner. Also, it's funny that we can get a skeleton familiar, but undead patron isn't in the UA. I guess we can just pretend that it's the earthly remains of a saint that is now your celestial patron, walking around lecturing you.
Pact of the Tome kind of lost direction. It used to grant access to all rituals spells through an invocation, now it grants some cantrips like it used to, some 1st level spells, a 1st level spell slot, and a defensive invocation. Okay, what's the idea?
Also, they reverted warlocks to pact magic and gave them a crutch, a handout to restore one spell slot once per day. Yay. Back to hoarding spell slots.
Also, warlocks completely lost access to bane, bestow curse, polymorph, and other spells that are traditionally associated with warlocks. You know, warlocks, dark magics, occultism, curses, summoning demons... /facepalm
Interesting design decision, but it ends up in a strange half-functional state again. I still think that pact boons should be subclasses, so that you could choose to be a full summoner, a full melee combatant, or a decent versatile spellcaster without the whole invocation tax shenanigans.
Pact of the Blade, after paying the invocation tax of Thirsting Blade and Lifedrinker (who the hell takes that weaksauce Eldritch Smite anyway, you get more bang for your buck even from Hex), is bonkers powerful. By level 11, you make three attacks for 3d6+Cha necrotic/psychic/radiant damage (because of course most bladelocks will now use greatswords or mauls). However, there's no built-in defense or survivability and Moderately Armored feat becomes pretty much mandatory, thankfully, we can get it through Lessons of the First Ones invocation. I also don't quite get why Lifedrinker lets you use your Hit Dice. Probably to decrease warlocks' reliance on short rests, lol.
Pact of the Chain keeps on trying to make something out of a familiar instead of just making warlock a proper summoner. Also, it's funny that we can get a skeleton familiar, but undead patron isn't in the UA. I guess we can just pretend that it's the earthly remains of a saint that is now your celestial patron, walking around lecturing you.
Pact of the Tome kind of lost direction. It used to grant access to all rituals spells through an invocation, now it grants some cantrips like it used to, some 1st level spells, a 1st level spell slot, and a defensive invocation. Okay, what's the idea?
Also, they reverted warlocks to pact magic and gave them a crutch, a handout to restore one spell slot once per day. Yay. Back to hoarding spell slots.
Also, warlocks completely lost access to bane, bestow curse, polymorph, and other spells that are traditionally associated with warlocks. You know, warlocks, dark magics, occultism, curses, summoning demons... /facepalm
I mean. I was trying to compromise, but yeah. I want to be a summoner if I take chain, I want to be a badass melee fighter with blade, and yeah, the spell options tend to suck. (though as a DM I want polymorph to be willing creatures, but this still doesn't affect warlocks, who should shape shift into creatures but not in a druidic way).
and I REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY HATE that Blade warlocks are the only thing anyone seems to ever care about including 90% of this goddamned thread, like bladelocks are the only warlocks that exist.
Interesting design decision, but it ends up in a strange half-functional state again. I still think that pact boons should be subclasses, so that you could choose to be a full summoner, a full melee combatant, or a decent versatile spellcaster without the whole invocation tax shenanigans.
Pact of the Blade, after paying the invocation tax of Thirsting Blade and Lifedrinker (who the hell takes that weaksauce Eldritch Smite anyway, you get more bang for your buck even from Hex), is bonkers powerful. By level 11, you make three attacks for 3d6+Cha necrotic/psychic/radiant damage (because of course most bladelocks will now use greatswords or mauls). However, there's no built-in defense or survivability and Moderately Armored feat becomes pretty much mandatory, thankfully, we can get it through Lessons of the First Ones invocation. I also don't quite get why Lifedrinker lets you use your Hit Dice. Probably to decrease warlocks' reliance on short rests, lol.
Pact of the Chain keeps on trying to make something out of a familiar instead of just making warlock a proper summoner. Also, it's funny that we can get a skeleton familiar, but undead patron isn't in the UA. I guess we can just pretend that it's the earthly remains of a saint that is now your celestial patron, walking around lecturing you.
Pact of the Tome kind of lost direction. It used to grant access to all rituals spells through an invocation, now it grants some cantrips like it used to, some 1st level spells, a 1st level spell slot, and a defensive invocation. Okay, what's the idea?
Also, they reverted warlocks to pact magic and gave them a crutch, a handout to restore one spell slot once per day. Yay. Back to hoarding spell slots.
Also, warlocks completely lost access to bane, bestow curse, polymorph, and other spells that are traditionally associated with warlocks. You know, warlocks, dark magics, occultism, curses, summoning demons... /facepalm
Just a note, they added bane to the warlock spell list in the spells section. But ya the rest of them, bestow curse, polymorph, confusion and compulsion are gone and it bugs me too.
Interesting design decision, but it ends up in a strange half-functional state again. I still think that pact boons should be subclasses, so that you could choose to be a full summoner, a full melee combatant, or a decent versatile spellcaster without the whole invocation tax shenanigans.
Pact of the Blade, after paying the invocation tax of Thirsting Blade and Lifedrinker (who the hell takes that weaksauce Eldritch Smite anyway, you get more bang for your buck even from Hex), is bonkers powerful. By level 11, you make three attacks for 3d6+Cha necrotic/psychic/radiant damage (because of course most bladelocks will now use greatswords or mauls). However, there's no built-in defense or survivability and Moderately Armored feat becomes pretty much mandatory, thankfully, we can get it through Lessons of the First Ones invocation. I also don't quite get why Lifedrinker lets you use your Hit Dice. Probably to decrease warlocks' reliance on short rests, lol.
Pact of the Chain keeps on trying to make something out of a familiar instead of just making warlock a proper summoner. Also, it's funny that we can get a skeleton familiar, but undead patron isn't in the UA. I guess we can just pretend that it's the earthly remains of a saint that is now your celestial patron, walking around lecturing you.
Pact of the Tome kind of lost direction. It used to grant access to all rituals spells through an invocation, now it grants some cantrips like it used to, some 1st level spells, a 1st level spell slot, and a defensive invocation. Okay, what's the idea?
Also, they reverted warlocks to pact magic and gave them a crutch, a handout to restore one spell slot once per day. Yay. Back to hoarding spell slots.
Also, warlocks completely lost access to bane, bestow curse, polymorph, and other spells that are traditionally associated with warlocks. You know, warlocks, dark magics, occultism, curses, summoning demons... /facepalm
A small point about the Heavy property, Warlocks who want to use 2H wpns will need to have a STR of 13 or higher. Certainly can be done but will sting a little bit. Carry on :)
Interesting design decision, but it ends up in a strange half-functional state again. I still think that pact boons should be subclasses, so that you could choose to be a full summoner, a full melee combatant, or a decent versatile spellcaster without the whole invocation tax shenanigans.
Pact of the Blade, after paying the invocation tax of Thirsting Blade and Lifedrinker (who the hell takes that weaksauce Eldritch Smite anyway, you get more bang for your buck even from Hex), is bonkers powerful. By level 11, you make three attacks for 3d6+Cha necrotic/psychic/radiant damage (because of course most bladelocks will now use greatswords or mauls). However, there's no built-in defense or survivability and Moderately Armored feat becomes pretty much mandatory, thankfully, we can get it through Lessons of the First Ones invocation. I also don't quite get why Lifedrinker lets you use your Hit Dice. Probably to decrease warlocks' reliance on short rests, lol.
Pact of the Chain keeps on trying to make something out of a familiar instead of just making warlock a proper summoner. Also, it's funny that we can get a skeleton familiar, but undead patron isn't in the UA. I guess we can just pretend that it's the earthly remains of a saint that is now your celestial patron, walking around lecturing you.
Pact of the Tome kind of lost direction. It used to grant access to all rituals spells through an invocation, now it grants some cantrips like it used to, some 1st level spells, a 1st level spell slot, and a defensive invocation. Okay, what's the idea?
Also, they reverted warlocks to pact magic and gave them a crutch, a handout to restore one spell slot once per day. Yay. Back to hoarding spell slots.
Also, warlocks completely lost access to bane, bestow curse, polymorph, and other spells that are traditionally associated with warlocks. You know, warlocks, dark magics, occultism, curses, summoning demons... /facepalm
Just a note, they added bane to the warlock spell list in the spells section. But ya the rest of them, bestow curse, polymorph, confusion and compulsion are gone and it bugs me too.
That assumes they won't update the spell list for those. They said to stick with the Warlock spell list at present, but if they're cutting certain spell-granting Invocations, they might add them to the spell list. It's why they cut the Beast Speech and Detect Magic Invocations.
Also being lost is that some invocations were just "cast this spell at will" which means an always on comprehend languages or an always on detect magic.
Nope... Those are gone "in favor of spells". Which you have almost none of.
What are warlocks supposed to be? Mega-catripy casters? Fine. give them obscene amounts of cantrips, Invocation at will casters? Then give them more utility casting. You want full casters? give them full casting. Stop the f***ery and make them useful. Give them their at wills and give them their cantrips and make them more than just magical second rate edgelords that even rogues feel sorry for, or blasters that sorcerers and wizards find pathetic.
Interesting design decision, but it ends up in a strange half-functional state again. I still think that pact boons should be subclasses, so that you could choose to be a full summoner, a full melee combatant, or a decent versatile spellcaster without the whole invocation tax shenanigans.
Pact of the Blade, after paying the invocation tax of Thirsting Blade and Lifedrinker (who the hell takes that weaksauce Eldritch Smite anyway, you get more bang for your buck even from Hex), is bonkers powerful. By level 11, you make three attacks for 3d6+Cha necrotic/psychic/radiant damage (because of course most bladelocks will now use greatswords or mauls). However, there's no built-in defense or survivability and Moderately Armored feat becomes pretty much mandatory, thankfully, we can get it through Lessons of the First Ones invocation. I also don't quite get why Lifedrinker lets you use your Hit Dice. Probably to decrease warlocks' reliance on short rests, lol.
Pact of the Chain keeps on trying to make something out of a familiar instead of just making warlock a proper summoner. Also, it's funny that we can get a skeleton familiar, but undead patron isn't in the UA. I guess we can just pretend that it's the earthly remains of a saint that is now your celestial patron, walking around lecturing you.
Pact of the Tome kind of lost direction. It used to grant access to all rituals spells through an invocation, now it grants some cantrips like it used to, some 1st level spells, a 1st level spell slot, and a defensive invocation. Okay, what's the idea?
Also, they reverted warlocks to pact magic and gave them a crutch, a handout to restore one spell slot once per day. Yay. Back to hoarding spell slots.
Also, warlocks completely lost access to bane, bestow curse, polymorph, and other spells that are traditionally associated with warlocks. You know, warlocks, dark magics, occultism, curses, summoning demons... /facepalm
Just a note, they added bane to the warlock spell list in the spells section. But ya the rest of them, bestow curse, polymorph, confusion and compulsion are gone and it bugs me too.
That assumes they won't update the spell list for those. They said to stick with the Warlock spell list at present, but if they're cutting certain spell-granting Invocations, they might add them to the spell list. It's why they cut the Beast Speech and Detect Magic Invocations.
I am presuming at this time that those spells/invocations were oversights. They got bane added to the list, but just missed these, but I can't know that so feedback will definitely mention bestow curse and polymorph which I believe are very much in the flavor of warlocks.
Also being lost is that some invocations were just "cast this spell at will" which means an always on comprehend languages or an always on detect magic.
Nope... Those are gone "in favor of spells". Which you have almost none of.
What are warlocks supposed to be? Mega-catripy casters? Fine. give them obscene amounts of cantrips, Invocation at will casters? Then give them more utility casting. You want full casters? give them full casting. Stop the f***ery and make them useful. Give them their at wills and give them their cantrips and make them more than just magical second rate edgelords that even rogues feel sorry for, or blasters that sorcerers and wizards find pathetic.
Also being lost is that some invocations were just "cast this spell at will" which means an always on comprehend languages or an always on detect magic.
Nope... Those are gone "in favor of spells". Which you have almost none of.
What are warlocks supposed to be? Mega-catripy casters? Fine. give them obscene amounts of cantrips, Invocation at will casters? Then give them more utility casting. You want full casters? give them full casting. Stop the f***ery and make them useful. Give them their at wills and give them their cantrips and make them more than just magical second rate edgelords that even rogues feel sorry for, or blasters that sorcerers and wizards find pathetic.
Warlocks were supposed to Eldritch blasters.
I get that, but the thing is they just keep junking it up and trying to force it into other avenues that it really doesn't fit except as a way to multiclass to the benefit of other classes
and I REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY HATE that Blade warlocks are the only thing anyone seems to ever care about including 90% of this goddamned thread, like bladelocks are the only warlocks that exist.
Because the game begs for an arcane gish, and bladelock is the only real option. Bladesinger is too much in the wizard end of spectrum, and Eldritch Knight is too far in the fighter end with their inferior spellcasting.
Interesting design decision, but it ends up in a strange half-functional state again. I still think that pact boons should be subclasses, so that you could choose to be a full summoner, a full melee combatant, or a decent versatile spellcaster without the whole invocation tax shenanigans.
Warlocks will probably take a lot of lower level rituals now, even if they don't take Tome, because they can be cast without using spell slots.
We would have done that in 2014, but only Tome had ritual casting.
Yeah this new version opens up an interesting new build for warlock, where you learn all the ritual spells, plus all the new at-will spell invocations, and only pick 2-3 spells to cast with your spell slots, and spam EB+AB.
Warlocks will probably take a lot of lower level rituals now, even if they don't take Tome, because they can be cast without using spell slots.
We would have done that in 2014, but only Tome had ritual casting.
Yeah this new version opens up an interesting new build for warlock, where you learn all the ritual spells, plus all the new at-will spell invocations, and only pick 2-3 spells to cast with your spell slots, and spam EB+AB.
I don't mind it, but a spell learned is a spell learned, meaning a ritual spell is competing with a casting spell that may have better utility.
The at will spells are decreased in number not increased, unless I missed something (there's several invocations that have been dropped in favor of spells, and the pact given spells are now given rather than optional, which is a plus, but they aren't at will).
The pacts swapping over to invocations means 1 less at will as well, though it allows you to take different pacts.
The problem is that it's a resource restrictive class with everything front loaded, which is a problem with many classes, although it's funny because this is one of the few spellcasters with this issue, (though I guess it's a bit of a half caster more similar to the ranger or the paladin, but unlike those two classes, warlock is flavor-wise "spellcaster first", though as you can see from my previous complaints, it feels like they want to make it a melee character with magic more similar to the paladin with the blade pact.. (and I'm none to happy that this conspiracy theory of mine is reinforced with this eldritch smite on the invocation list... Like really guys?)
The pact of the chain begs for summons, the pact of the time begs for free rituals, both of which can scale over levels, reinforcing incentives to stick with the class rather than making it a dip in and dive out class.
Edit: the patrons all are types with robust bestiaries meaning you could take pact of the chain, with a summon, scale cr of summon to level of warlock (1/4 of level for example), give it your attack, you get bonus actions only (with eldritch blast as your most used BA) and adjust to balance.
Ritual casts litter the spell levels so gaining access to ALL the ritual casts at each spell level is a fantastic scale option and just give them the patron themed spells as at wills rather than have it class oriented.
Blade pact... go with themed statuses and damage types/increases themed around the patron's type.
This isn't difficult.
EDIT 2: I mean if we went with the above, we could do something with patron picked at 1, give a cantrip or two themed as "iconic" of the patron and as a prelude to the flavor your pact choice takes later on.
I can’t find the feature in UA that actually grants Warlocks the ability to cast rituals. It’s explicit for the Wizard but not for the Warlock.
In the playtest rules, everyone with a ritual spell prepared may automatically cast them as rituals (see the Rules Glossary at the end of the playtests, UA7 p52).
However, Wizards being the best at magicky stuff can cast ritual spells they have in their spellbook without the need for preparing them at all.
I actually think this depends. In early levels(pre 5) agonizing blast and a cantrip doesn't add that much damage over a crossbow +dex. Having an extra first level slot and 3 cantrips will probably add a lot more utility. Or a at will first level spell. Or just using a better weapon at level 1. All-in-all I think there are actually a lot of good options at level 1.
Thirsting blade scaling at level 11 to match fighter attacks does help blade a lot, it is just the invocation taxes that feels expensive because you need 2 invocation or more to make blade work. While all the others just function with one invocation. Though I guess it assumes that you dont need agonizing blast and the caster lock does.
Looking at it more and messing with it Blade does seem a lot more viable than it has been in the past. Melee weapon restriction only, allows the use of charisma with it, which is going to encourage ASI on bumping charisma to keep spell casting high. Thirsting blade gets to 3 attacks at 11. Your weapon counts as a spell casting focus, you can take eldritch mind to protect your concentration freeing you up from having to take war caster. Combined with spells like armor of agathys, which has always been good or other features it may be pretty good. You aren't going to do less than EB+AB for most of the career, just going to have less at will spells at the trade of more armor and health because melee.
I am finding it more interesting the more I look at it.
Still not sure I like Thirsting Blade getting a third attack at L11, when classes like Paladin and Ranger max out at two attacks. I think I would rather see the 2nd attack be a 5th-level extra feature of Pact Of The Blade. One thing I liked about the Pact Boons in UA5 was how they each had a 5th-level automatic upgrade, I'd like to see that come back.
Interesting design decision, but it ends up in a strange half-functional state again. I still think that pact boons should be subclasses, so that you could choose to be a full summoner, a full melee combatant, or a decent versatile spellcaster without the whole invocation tax shenanigans.
Pact of the Blade, after paying the invocation tax of Thirsting Blade and Lifedrinker (who the hell takes that weaksauce Eldritch Smite anyway, you get more bang for your buck even from Hex), is bonkers powerful. By level 11, you make three attacks for 3d6+Cha necrotic/psychic/radiant damage (because of course most bladelocks will now use greatswords or mauls). However, there's no built-in defense or survivability and Moderately Armored feat becomes pretty much mandatory, thankfully, we can get it through Lessons of the First Ones invocation. I also don't quite get why Lifedrinker lets you use your Hit Dice. Probably to decrease warlocks' reliance on short rests, lol.
Pact of the Chain keeps on trying to make something out of a familiar instead of just making warlock a proper summoner. Also, it's funny that we can get a skeleton familiar, but undead patron isn't in the UA. I guess we can just pretend that it's the earthly remains of a saint that is now your celestial patron, walking around lecturing you.
Pact of the Tome kind of lost direction. It used to grant access to all rituals spells through an invocation, now it grants some cantrips like it used to, some 1st level spells, a 1st level spell slot, and a defensive invocation. Okay, what's the idea?
Also, they reverted warlocks to pact magic and gave them a crutch, a handout to restore one spell slot once per day. Yay. Back to hoarding spell slots.
Also, warlocks completely lost access to bane, bestow curse, polymorph, and other spells that are traditionally associated with warlocks. You know, warlocks, dark magics, occultism, curses, summoning demons... /facepalm
I mean. I was trying to compromise, but yeah. I want to be a summoner if I take chain, I want to be a badass melee fighter with blade, and yeah, the spell options tend to suck. (though as a DM I want polymorph to be willing creatures, but this still doesn't affect warlocks, who should shape shift into creatures but not in a druidic way).
and I REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY HATE that Blade warlocks are the only thing anyone seems to ever care about including 90% of this goddamned thread, like bladelocks are the only warlocks that exist.
Just a note, they added bane to the warlock spell list in the spells section. But ya the rest of them, bestow curse, polymorph, confusion and compulsion are gone and it bugs me too.
A small point about the Heavy property, Warlocks who want to use 2H wpns will need to have a STR of 13 or higher. Certainly can be done but will sting a little bit. Carry on :)
That assumes they won't update the spell list for those. They said to stick with the Warlock spell list at present, but if they're cutting certain spell-granting Invocations, they might add them to the spell list. It's why they cut the Beast Speech and Detect Magic Invocations.
Also being lost is that some invocations were just "cast this spell at will" which means an always on comprehend languages or an always on detect magic.
Nope... Those are gone "in favor of spells". Which you have almost none of.
What are warlocks supposed to be? Mega-catripy casters? Fine. give them obscene amounts of cantrips, Invocation at will casters? Then give them more utility casting. You want full casters? give them full casting. Stop the f***ery and make them useful. Give them their at wills and give them their cantrips and make them more than just magical second rate edgelords that even rogues feel sorry for, or blasters that sorcerers and wizards find pathetic.
I am presuming at this time that those spells/invocations were oversights. They got bane added to the list, but just missed these, but I can't know that so feedback will definitely mention bestow curse and polymorph which I believe are very much in the flavor of warlocks.
Warlocks were supposed to Eldritch blasters.
I get that, but the thing is they just keep junking it up and trying to force it into other avenues that it really doesn't fit except as a way to multiclass to the benefit of other classes
Because the game begs for an arcane gish, and bladelock is the only real option. Bladesinger is too much in the wizard end of spectrum, and Eldritch Knight is too far in the fighter end with their inferior spellcasting.
Warlocks will probably take a lot of lower level rituals now, even if they don't take Tome, because they can be cast without using spell slots.
We would have done that in 2014, but only Tome had ritual casting.
Not to mention all the extra spells from the pact spells freeing up some spell selection.
No. Patrons are the subclasses, not Pacts.
Yeah this new version opens up an interesting new build for warlock, where you learn all the ritual spells, plus all the new at-will spell invocations, and only pick 2-3 spells to cast with your spell slots, and spam EB+AB.
I don't mind it, but a spell learned is a spell learned, meaning a ritual spell is competing with a casting spell that may have better utility.
The at will spells are decreased in number not increased, unless I missed something (there's several invocations that have been dropped in favor of spells, and the pact given spells are now given rather than optional, which is a plus, but they aren't at will).
The pacts swapping over to invocations means 1 less at will as well, though it allows you to take different pacts.
The problem is that it's a resource restrictive class with everything front loaded, which is a problem with many classes, although it's funny because this is one of the few spellcasters with this issue, (though I guess it's a bit of a half caster more similar to the ranger or the paladin, but unlike those two classes, warlock is flavor-wise "spellcaster first", though as you can see from my previous complaints, it feels like they want to make it a melee character with magic more similar to the paladin with the blade pact.. (and I'm none to happy that this conspiracy theory of mine is reinforced with this eldritch smite on the invocation list... Like really guys?)
The pact of the chain begs for summons, the pact of the time begs for free rituals, both of which can scale over levels, reinforcing incentives to stick with the class rather than making it a dip in and dive out class.
Edit: the patrons all are types with robust bestiaries meaning you could take pact of the chain, with a summon, scale cr of summon to level of warlock (1/4 of level for example), give it your attack, you get bonus actions only (with eldritch blast as your most used BA) and adjust to balance.
Ritual casts litter the spell levels so gaining access to ALL the ritual casts at each spell level is a fantastic scale option and just give them the patron themed spells as at wills rather than have it class oriented.
Blade pact... go with themed statuses and damage types/increases themed around the patron's type.
This isn't difficult.
EDIT 2: I mean if we went with the above, we could do something with patron picked at 1, give a cantrip or two themed as "iconic" of the patron and as a prelude to the flavor your pact choice takes later on.
I can’t find the feature in UA that actually grants Warlocks the ability to cast rituals. It’s explicit for the Wizard but not for the Warlock.
In the playtest rules, everyone with a ritual spell prepared may automatically cast them as rituals (see the Rules Glossary at the end of the playtests, UA7 p52).
However, Wizards being the best at magicky stuff can cast ritual spells they have in their spellbook without the need for preparing them at all.
I hope that helps :)
Look in the rules glossary. It's a general rule now, everyone can cast Ritual spells as rituals if they have the spell prepared.