Currently one of the biggest issues with Warlock is how the class often functions better as a multi-class dip than as a full class and while I believe the UAs are moving closer to a functioning Warlock, it does remain slightly too good for a dip. My idea here is how to fix Eldritch Blast for warlock in a way that does not make Eldritch Blast weaker than any other cantrip but does hold back it's main power to Warlock, as well as opening other cantrips to warlock uniquely so.
The main idea is a new class feature called Split Cantrip, instead of multiple rays being a property of Eldritch Blast, it is moved to Split Cantrip.
Level 5: Split Cantrip
When you cast a cantrip that targets a single creature and has a ranged spell attack roll to determine if the spell hits, you can split the cantrip into multiple rays. You can split the cantrip into 2 rays, each ray only does a single damage die's worth of damage. When you reach Warlock level 11, you can instead split the cantrip into 3 rays and when you reach Warlock level 17 you can split the cantrip into 4 rays. For example, if you were to cast firebolt as a level 11 warlock, you could produce 3 rays, each doing 1d10 damage. Each ray can be targetted at any creature of the caster's choosing and the caster can aim multiple rays at the same creature.
When used with a cantrip that is benefiting from the Agonizing Blast invocation, Agonizing blast applies to each ray of cantrip. If the cantrip has a secondary effect, such as the movement speed reduction of ray of frost, you can only apply the effect to a single target that is hit by the cantrip, this restriction does not apply to the Repelling Blast invocation for Eldritch Blast.
Of course this would make Eldritch Blast a little bit more boring, since instead it would now be a cantrip that scales like firebolt, just doing force damage but mechanically for the warlock Eldritch Blast is unchanged, for other classes it's now no stronger than a fire bolt except being force damage instead of fire. For Warlock it opens up more cantrips that they can go with and may thematically fit a few more play styles, such as a fiend warlock using firebolt.
It's a bit clunky to mention repelling blast, and probably not needed, since that should rather be included in Repelling Blast's text.
I would do it that way too, I was just doing it here to keep the post shorter, WoTC can rework it if they think it makes sense and can consider the impact on other patron subclasses.
Currently one of the biggest issues with Warlock is how the class often functions better as a multi-class dip than as a full class and while I believe the UAs are moving closer to a functioning Warlock, it does remain slightly too good for a dip. My idea here is how to fix Eldritch Blast for warlock in a way that does not make Eldritch Blast weaker than any other cantrip but does hold back it's main power to Warlock, as well as opening other cantrips to warlock uniquely so.
The main idea is a new class feature called Split Cantrip, instead of multiple rays being a property of Eldritch Blast, it is moved to Split Cantrip.
Level 5: Split Cantrip
When you cast a cantrip that targets a single creature and has a ranged spell attack roll to determine if the spell hits, you can split the cantrip into multiple rays. You can split the cantrip into 2 rays, each ray only does a single damage die's worth of damage. When you reach Warlock level 11, you can instead split the cantrip into 3 rays and when you reach Warlock level 17 you can split the cantrip into 4 rays. For example, if you were to cast firebolt as a level 11 warlock, you could produce 3 rays, each doing 1d10 damage. Each ray can be targetted at any creature of the caster's choosing and the caster can aim multiple rays at the same creature.
When used with a cantrip that is benefiting from the Agonizing Blast invocation, Agonizing blast applies to each ray of cantrip. If the cantrip has a secondary effect, such as the movement speed reduction of ray of frost, you can only apply the effect to a single target that is hit by the cantrip, this restriction does not apply to the Repelling Blast invocation for Eldritch Blast.
Of course this would make Eldritch Blast a little bit more boring, since instead it would now be a cantrip that scales like firebolt, just doing force damage but mechanically for the warlock Eldritch Blast is unchanged, for other classes it's now no stronger than a fire bolt except being force damage instead of fire. For Warlock it opens up more cantrips that they can go with and may thematically fit a few more play styles, such as a fiend warlock using firebolt.
I'd rather see it just go back to warlock level scaling vs class level scaling than your fix. problem with your fix is if I miss with the first blast I'm just hosed because I can't split it anymore.
It also enters this weird area of EB and Firebolt being both d10x4 attacks and one of them really no longer needs to exist in that scenario
problem with your fix is if I miss with the first blast I'm just hosed because I can't split it anymore.
What gives you that impression?
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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)
I was prototyping something like this for a while. This is how I would implement it:
remove Eldritch Blast cantrip, add Fire Bolt and Ray of Frost to the warlock spell list
Level 1 Feature: Agonizing Blast
Whenever you cast a warlock cantrip that requires a spell save or a spell attack roll you can add your Cha mod to one damage roll of the cantrip.
Your Warlock cantrips do not benefit from being cast at a higher level.
Level 5 Feature: Eldritch Blast
Whenever you take the magic action to cast any cantrip affected by Agonizing blast you can cast another such cantrip as part of that action. You can choose a different cantrip and target.
You can cast 2 additonal cantrips at level 11 for a total of 3 and 3 additional cantrips at level 17 for a total of 4.
I'd rather just give Agonizing Blast requirement for 2nd or 3rd level Warlock.
Or actually, what about giving Agonizing Blast the requirement of using a spellcasting focus obtained through one of the Pact Boon Invocations?
I think you've missed the issue, the issue is an old one, from only 3 levels of Warlock, you can gain about 80% of the classes combat effectiveness, for a Paladin, you can dip a single level and get converted from MAD to SAD and have the Hex Spell. Having something else that is not scaling to warlock level does not fix this imbalance. Getting an Eldritch Blast, with Hex, Agonizing Blast and Repelling Blast, now gives you the base line DPR for Warlock, sure it can be increased a bit here or there but for the basic damage of Warlock, you've got it in 3 levels.
No other class but Warlock gives you near the full powered scaling power of that class, closest is Fighter, with Action Surge, followed probably by Paladin with Divine Smite at level 2 but that only applies to spell casters using melee attacks, which is pretty rare.
I'd rather see it just go back to warlock level scaling vs class level scaling than your fix. problem with your fix is if I miss with the first blast I'm just hosed because I can't split it anymore.
It also enters this weird area of EB and Firebolt being both d10x4 attacks and one of them really no longer needs to exist in that scenario
This is scaling Eldritch Blast with warlock level, this fix however opens it up to more cantrips; Also what? is a fighter unable to make a second attack if they miss with the first when they have the extra attack feature? nothing in the feature I wrote works like you imply, if you miss with the first ray, you still get to use the subsequent rays.
I am aware of the issue with Firebolt, however, Firebolt is not a Warlock spell, you'd need to obtain it in another method but even then this isn't true, since you can take invocations that boost your Eldritch Blast like repelling blast, grasp of hadar & lance of Lethargy, You can specializing more into Eldritch Blast via invocations. I think it could use a little rework to make Eldritch Blast stand out more if you spec more to go along with this but overall there remains a clear difference with invocations.
I'd rather just give Agonizing Blast requirement for 2nd or 3rd level Warlock.
Or actually, what about giving Agonizing Blast the requirement of using a spellcasting focus obtained through one of the Pact Boon Invocations?
I think you've missed the issue, the issue is an old one, from only 3 levels of Warlock, you can gain about 80% of the classes combat effectiveness, for a Paladin, you can dip a single level and get converted from MAD to SAD and have the Hex Spell. Having something else that is not scaling to warlock level does not fix this imbalance. Getting an Eldritch Blast, with Hex, Agonizing Blast and Repelling Blast, now gives you the base line DPR for Warlock, sure it can be increased a bit here or there but for the basic damage of Warlock, you've got it in 3 levels.
No other class but Warlock gives you near the full powered scaling power of that class, closest is Fighter, with Action Surge, followed probably by Paladin with Divine Smite at level 2 but that only applies to spell casters using melee attacks, which is pretty rare.
Then make Agonizing Blast give you +Cha to damage only once per turn, and create "Improved Agonizing Blast" that has level requirement of Warlock 5th, that grants the +Cha to all Eldritch blast beams and replaces the earlier version of Agonizing Blast.
Making Eldritch Blast into some sort of class action is too convoluted since it still needs to otherwise interact with spells and spell features.
Taking a peek at other classes and when they get their "cantrip bonus damage" feature, most of them come in around level 6-7 (Draconic Sorcerer's Elemental Affinity, Cleric's and Druid's Blessed Strike or Elemental Fury). Wizard Evokers are the outliers because of them being the poster-girls for big-bada-boom (Potent Cantrip at level 3).
... and then we have Warlocks who can potentially get a version of that feature at any level? It wouldn't really hurt the warlock all thaaat much, compared with other classes at least, if there was a level requirement on Agnostic Agonising Blast. (I feel like UA5 did a move in that direction with the level 5 upgrade of the Pact of the Tome). However, if it was given a requirement of level 5-ish (?), if would probably be fair to allow it to apply to more than one cantrip at once, as per the comparative feature of other classes.
Maybe even have AB require Pact of the Tome, to make it a direct competitor with the Pact of the Blade invocation tree? *shrugs*
Then make Agonizing Blast give you +Cha to damage only once per turn, and create "Improved Agonizing Blast" that has level requirement of Warlock 5th, that grants the +Cha to all Eldritch blast beams and replaces the earlier version of Agonizing Blast.
Making Eldritch Blast into some sort of class action is too convoluted since it still needs to otherwise interact with spells and spell features.
The solution you came up with seems even more convoluted, the suggestion I made is actually quiet straight forwards and applies to more cantrips than just Eldritch Blast. It makes Warlock the cantrip caster.
Taking a peek at other classes and when they get their "cantrip bonus damage" feature, most of them come in around level 6-7 (Draconic Sorcerer's Elemental Affinity, Cleric's and Druid's Blessed Strike or Elemental Fury). Wizard Evokers are the outliers because of them being the poster-girls for big-bada-boom (Potent Cantrip at level 3).
... and then we have Warlocks who can potentially get a version of that feature at any level? It wouldn't really hurt the warlock all thaaat much, compared with other classes at least, if there was a level requirement on Agnostic Agonising Blast. (I feel like UA5 did a move in that direction with the level 5 upgrade of the Pact of the Tome). However, if it was given a requirement of level 5-ish (?), if would probably be fair to allow it to apply to more than one cantrip at once, as per the comparative feature of other classes.
Maybe even have AB require Pact of the Tome, to make it a direct competitor with the Pact of the Blade invocation tree? *shrugs*
Pact of the Tome is already a competitor to Pact of the Blade in 5E, since it opens book of ancient secrets which basically gives you access to every ritual spell in the game. In the latest UA it gives a 1st level spell slot and essentially access to every 1st level ritual and cantrip in the game, albeit needing a short rest to change those spells in the book but is no longer a competitor as you can get both. As for Agonizing Blast, that isn't really what this idea relates too, but Warlocks are considered the cantrip casters, their power is mostly in cantrips, this why they get Agonizing Blast earlier.
I'd rather just give Agonizing Blast requirement for 2nd or 3rd level Warlock.
Or actually, what about giving Agonizing Blast the requirement of using a spellcasting focus obtained through one of the Pact Boon Invocations?
I think you've missed the issue, the issue is an old one, from only 3 levels of Warlock, you can gain about 80% of the classes combat effectiveness, for a Paladin, you can dip a single level and get converted from MAD to SAD and have the Hex Spell. Having something else that is not scaling to warlock level does not fix this imbalance. Getting an Eldritch Blast, with Hex, Agonizing Blast and Repelling Blast, now gives you the base line DPR for Warlock, sure it can be increased a bit here or there but for the basic damage of Warlock, you've got it in 3 levels.
No other class but Warlock gives you near the full powered scaling power of that class, closest is Fighter, with Action Surge, followed probably by Paladin with Divine Smite at level 2 but that only applies to spell casters using melee attacks, which is pretty rare.
I'd rather see it just go back to warlock level scaling vs class level scaling than your fix. problem with your fix is if I miss with the first blast I'm just hosed because I can't split it anymore.
It also enters this weird area of EB and Firebolt being both d10x4 attacks and one of them really no longer needs to exist in that scenario
This is scaling Eldritch Blast with warlock level, this fix however opens it up to more cantrips; Also what? is a fighter unable to make a second attack if they miss with the first when they have the extra attack feature? nothing in the feature I wrote works like you imply, if you miss with the first ray, you still get to use the subsequent rays.
I am aware of the issue with Firebolt, however, Firebolt is not a Warlock spell, you'd need to obtain it in another method but even then this isn't true, since you can take invocations that boost your Eldritch Blast like repelling blast, grasp of hadar & lance of Lethargy, You can specializing more into Eldritch Blast via invocations. I think it could use a little rework to make Eldritch Blast stand out more if you spec more to go along with this but overall there remains a clear difference with invocations.
I see it now, just the way it's worded made it sound like you had to roll to hit first than could split the spell after when I first read it
Then make Agonizing Blast give you +Cha to damage only once per turn, and create "Improved Agonizing Blast" that has level requirement of Warlock 5th, that grants the +Cha to all Eldritch blast beams and replaces the earlier version of Agonizing Blast.
Making Eldritch Blast into some sort of class action is too convoluted since it still needs to otherwise interact with spells and spell features.
The solution you came up with seems even more convoluted, the suggestion I made is actually quiet straight forwards and applies to more cantrips than just Eldritch Blast. It makes Warlock the cantrip caster.
I don't want Warlocks to shoot multiple firebolts per round.
Then make Agonizing Blast give you +Cha to damage only once per turn, and create "Improved Agonizing Blast" that has level requirement of Warlock 5th, that grants the +Cha to all Eldritch blast beams and replaces the earlier version of Agonizing Blast.
Making Eldritch Blast into some sort of class action is too convoluted since it still needs to otherwise interact with spells and spell features.
The solution you came up with seems even more convoluted, the suggestion I made is actually quiet straight forwards and applies to more cantrips than just Eldritch Blast. It makes Warlock the cantrip caster.
I don't want Warlocks to shoot multiple firebolts per round.
Most warlocks would still not be able too, since it's not normally a warlock spell, unless you get it from pact of the tome and even then, Invocations make Eldritch Blast stronger, so most would likely still go down that route, additionally force tends to be far less resisted than fire. For those that want too however, it still remains an option and some do want that option, there is no need to hold it back.
Then make Agonizing Blast give you +Cha to damage only once per turn, and create "Improved Agonizing Blast" that has level requirement of Warlock 5th, that grants the +Cha to all Eldritch blast beams and replaces the earlier version of Agonizing Blast.
Making Eldritch Blast into some sort of class action is too convoluted since it still needs to otherwise interact with spells and spell features.
The solution you came up with seems even more convoluted, the suggestion I made is actually quiet straight forwards and applies to more cantrips than just Eldritch Blast. It makes Warlock the cantrip caster.
I don't want Warlocks to shoot multiple firebolts per round.
Most warlocks would still not be able too, since it's not normally a warlock spell, unless you get it from pact of the tome and even then, Invocations make Eldritch Blast stronger, so most would likely still go down that route, additionally force tends to be far less resisted than fire. For those that want too however, it still remains an option and some do want that option, there is no need to hold it back.
So what sort of level scaling would you leave for the baseline Eldritch Blast if the additional beams get moved into Warlock feature?
Then make Agonizing Blast give you +Cha to damage only once per turn, and create "Improved Agonizing Blast" that has level requirement of Warlock 5th, that grants the +Cha to all Eldritch blast beams and replaces the earlier version of Agonizing Blast.
Making Eldritch Blast into some sort of class action is too convoluted since it still needs to otherwise interact with spells and spell features.
The solution you came up with seems even more convoluted, the suggestion I made is actually quiet straight forwards and applies to more cantrips than just Eldritch Blast. It makes Warlock the cantrip caster.
I don't want Warlocks to shoot multiple firebolts per round.
Most warlocks would still not be able too, since it's not normally a warlock spell, unless you get it from pact of the tome and even then, Invocations make Eldritch Blast stronger, so most would likely still go down that route, additionally force tends to be far less resisted than fire. For those that want too however, it still remains an option and some do want that option, there is no need to hold it back.
So what sort of level scaling would you leave for the baseline Eldritch Blast if the additional beams get moved into Warlock feature?
It'd be the same as firebolt 1d10, it really doesn't need to be any different, which means multiclassing for Eldritch Blast is less viable, no longer can a sorcerer 17/warlock 3, paladin 17/warlock 3 or bard 17/warlock 3 cast eldritch blast as well as a warlock 20.
Then make Agonizing Blast give you +Cha to damage only once per turn, and create "Improved Agonizing Blast" that has level requirement of Warlock 5th, that grants the +Cha to all Eldritch blast beams and replaces the earlier version of Agonizing Blast.
Making Eldritch Blast into some sort of class action is too convoluted since it still needs to otherwise interact with spells and spell features.
The solution you came up with seems even more convoluted, the suggestion I made is actually quiet straight forwards and applies to more cantrips than just Eldritch Blast. It makes Warlock the cantrip caster.
I don't want Warlocks to shoot multiple firebolts per round.
Most warlocks would still not be able too, since it's not normally a warlock spell, unless you get it from pact of the tome and even then, Invocations make Eldritch Blast stronger, so most would likely still go down that route, additionally force tends to be far less resisted than fire. For those that want too however, it still remains an option and some do want that option, there is no need to hold it back.
So what sort of level scaling would you leave for the baseline Eldritch Blast if the additional beams get moved into Warlock feature?
It'd be the same as firebolt 1d10, it really doesn't need to be any different, which means multiclassing for Eldritch Blast is less viable, no longer can a sorcerer 17/warlock 3, paladin 17/warlock 3 or bard 17/warlock 3 cast eldritch blast as well as a warlock 20.
I simply don't agree with the suggestion on principal level, and would like to see the fix to Eldritch Blast + Agonizing Blast being the go-to "dip-benefit" involve something with the Agonizing Blast invocation.
It'd be the same as firebolt 1d10, it really doesn't need to be any different, which means multiclassing for Eldritch Blast is less viable, no longer can a sorcerer 17/warlock 3, paladin 17/warlock 3 or bard 17/warlock 3 cast eldritch blast as well as a warlock 20.
I simply don't agree with the suggestion on principal level, and would like to see the fix to Eldritch Blast + Agonizing Blast being the go-to "dip-benefit" involve something with the Agonizing Blast invocation.
So you also believe anybody that dips Fighter should get 4 attacks a turn at level 20 from a 1/2 level dip? Personally I think it's madness, that simply should not be the case. Eldritch Blast is by far the most ranged powerful Cantrip in the game, it is meant to be challenging the type of damage output from martial characters like fighters, barbarians, rangers, etc. You shouldn't get a classes signature feature at full strength from a 2 level dip at their level 20 equivalent power.
It'd be the same as firebolt 1d10, it really doesn't need to be any different, which means multiclassing for Eldritch Blast is less viable, no longer can a sorcerer 17/warlock 3, paladin 17/warlock 3 or bard 17/warlock 3 cast eldritch blast as well as a warlock 20.
I simply don't agree with the suggestion on principal level, and would like to see the fix to Eldritch Blast + Agonizing Blast being the go-to "dip-benefit" involve something with the Agonizing Blast invocation.
So you also believe anybody that dips Fighter should get 4 attacks a turn at level 20 from a 1/2 level dip? Personally I think it's madness, that simply should not be the case. Eldritch Blast is by far the most ranged powerful Cantrip in the game, it is meant to be challenging the type of damage output from martial characters like fighters, barbarians, rangers, etc. You shouldn't get a classes signature feature at full strength from a 2 level dip at their level 20 equivalent power.
No I wouldn't want anyone to get 4 attacks at turn 20 from 1/2 level dip in Fighter, but the reason that Eldritch Blast is a special case amongst the cantrips is that you get to add your Charisma to the damage multiple times per turn with very little investment into the Warlock Class. But I don't want to gut the baseline Eldritch Blast, or make it just Firebolt but force damage either.
If something has to give, I'd much rather see Agonizing Blast moved up to atleast 3rd Warlock level (possibly even 5th), or stripping the + Charisma for damage rolls from both the Pact of the Blade as well as the Agonizing Blast, and creating a 1st level Warlock base Class feature that allows you to add Charisma bonus to a damage roll once per turn on any attack or a spell that required an attack roll, and then have the ability scale up to twice at 5th level, thrice at 11th level, and four times at 17th level.
This would simultaneously discourage Warlocks from dipping into Fighter for Action Surge, and also discourage dipping into Warlock to only get Eldritch Blast + Agonizing Blast, or Pact of the Blade for Cha to attack rolls.
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Currently one of the biggest issues with Warlock is how the class often functions better as a multi-class dip than as a full class and while I believe the UAs are moving closer to a functioning Warlock, it does remain slightly too good for a dip. My idea here is how to fix Eldritch Blast for warlock in a way that does not make Eldritch Blast weaker than any other cantrip but does hold back it's main power to Warlock, as well as opening other cantrips to warlock uniquely so.
The main idea is a new class feature called Split Cantrip, instead of multiple rays being a property of Eldritch Blast, it is moved to Split Cantrip.
Of course this would make Eldritch Blast a little bit more boring, since instead it would now be a cantrip that scales like firebolt, just doing force damage but mechanically for the warlock Eldritch Blast is unchanged, for other classes it's now no stronger than a fire bolt except being force damage instead of fire. For Warlock it opens up more cantrips that they can go with and may thematically fit a few more play styles, such as a fiend warlock using firebolt.
This really seems like an outstanding idea at first glance.
This idea has been around and it's a very good one. You caught the biggest problem that is usually missed, with the secondary effects. Good job.
It's a bit clunky to mention repelling blast, and probably not needed, since that should rather be included in Repelling Blast's text.
This would also make Firebolt outperform Eldritch Blast for celestial warlocks, but not like that's a major concern.
I would do it that way too, I was just doing it here to keep the post shorter, WoTC can rework it if they think it makes sense and can consider the impact on other patron subclasses.
I'd rather see it just go back to warlock level scaling vs class level scaling than your fix. problem with your fix is if I miss with the first blast I'm just hosed because I can't split it anymore.
It also enters this weird area of EB and Firebolt being both d10x4 attacks and one of them really no longer needs to exist in that scenario
What gives you that impression?
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)
I was prototyping something like this for a while. This is how I would implement it:
remove Eldritch Blast cantrip, add Fire Bolt and Ray of Frost to the warlock spell list
Level 1 Feature: Agonizing Blast
Whenever you cast a warlock cantrip that requires a spell save or a spell attack roll you can add your Cha mod to one damage roll of the cantrip.
Your Warlock cantrips do not benefit from being cast at a higher level.
Level 5 Feature: Eldritch Blast
Whenever you take the magic action to cast any cantrip affected by Agonizing blast you can cast another such cantrip as part of that action. You can choose a different cantrip and target.
You can cast 2 additonal cantrips at level 11 for a total of 3 and 3 additional cantrips at level 17 for a total of 4.
I'd rather just give Agonizing Blast requirement for 2nd or 3rd level Warlock.
Or actually, what about giving Agonizing Blast the requirement of using a spellcasting focus obtained through one of the Pact Boon Invocations?
I think you've missed the issue, the issue is an old one, from only 3 levels of Warlock, you can gain about 80% of the classes combat effectiveness, for a Paladin, you can dip a single level and get converted from MAD to SAD and have the Hex Spell. Having something else that is not scaling to warlock level does not fix this imbalance. Getting an Eldritch Blast, with Hex, Agonizing Blast and Repelling Blast, now gives you the base line DPR for Warlock, sure it can be increased a bit here or there but for the basic damage of Warlock, you've got it in 3 levels.
No other class but Warlock gives you near the full powered scaling power of that class, closest is Fighter, with Action Surge, followed probably by Paladin with Divine Smite at level 2 but that only applies to spell casters using melee attacks, which is pretty rare.
This is scaling Eldritch Blast with warlock level, this fix however opens it up to more cantrips; Also what? is a fighter unable to make a second attack if they miss with the first when they have the extra attack feature? nothing in the feature I wrote works like you imply, if you miss with the first ray, you still get to use the subsequent rays.
I am aware of the issue with Firebolt, however, Firebolt is not a Warlock spell, you'd need to obtain it in another method but even then this isn't true, since you can take invocations that boost your Eldritch Blast like repelling blast, grasp of hadar & lance of Lethargy, You can specializing more into Eldritch Blast via invocations. I think it could use a little rework to make Eldritch Blast stand out more if you spec more to go along with this but overall there remains a clear difference with invocations.
Then make Agonizing Blast give you +Cha to damage only once per turn, and create "Improved Agonizing Blast" that has level requirement of Warlock 5th, that grants the +Cha to all Eldritch blast beams and replaces the earlier version of Agonizing Blast.
Making Eldritch Blast into some sort of class action is too convoluted since it still needs to otherwise interact with spells and spell features.
Taking a peek at other classes and when they get their "cantrip bonus damage" feature, most of them come in around level 6-7 (Draconic Sorcerer's Elemental Affinity, Cleric's and Druid's Blessed Strike or Elemental Fury). Wizard Evokers are the outliers because of them being the poster-girls for big-bada-boom (Potent Cantrip at level 3).
... and then we have Warlocks who can potentially get a version of that feature at any level? It wouldn't really hurt the warlock all thaaat much, compared with other classes at least, if there was a level requirement on
AgnosticAgonising Blast. (I feel like UA5 did a move in that direction with the level 5 upgrade of the Pact of the Tome). However, if it was given a requirement of level 5-ish (?), if would probably be fair to allow it to apply to more than one cantrip at once, as per the comparative feature of other classes.Maybe even have AB require Pact of the Tome, to make it a direct competitor with the Pact of the Blade invocation tree? *shrugs*
The solution you came up with seems even more convoluted, the suggestion I made is actually quiet straight forwards and applies to more cantrips than just Eldritch Blast. It makes Warlock the cantrip caster.
Pact of the Tome is already a competitor to Pact of the Blade in 5E, since it opens book of ancient secrets which basically gives you access to every ritual spell in the game. In the latest UA it gives a 1st level spell slot and essentially access to every 1st level ritual and cantrip in the game, albeit needing a short rest to change those spells in the book but is no longer a competitor as you can get both. As for Agonizing Blast, that isn't really what this idea relates too, but Warlocks are considered the cantrip casters, their power is mostly in cantrips, this why they get Agonizing Blast earlier.
I see it now, just the way it's worded made it sound like you had to roll to hit first than could split the spell after when I first read it
I don't want Warlocks to shoot multiple firebolts per round.
Most warlocks would still not be able too, since it's not normally a warlock spell, unless you get it from pact of the tome and even then, Invocations make Eldritch Blast stronger, so most would likely still go down that route, additionally force tends to be far less resisted than fire. For those that want too however, it still remains an option and some do want that option, there is no need to hold it back.
So what sort of level scaling would you leave for the baseline Eldritch Blast if the additional beams get moved into Warlock feature?
It'd be the same as firebolt 1d10, it really doesn't need to be any different, which means multiclassing for Eldritch Blast is less viable, no longer can a sorcerer 17/warlock 3, paladin 17/warlock 3 or bard 17/warlock 3 cast eldritch blast as well as a warlock 20.
I simply don't agree with the suggestion on principal level, and would like to see the fix to Eldritch Blast + Agonizing Blast being the go-to "dip-benefit" involve something with the Agonizing Blast invocation.
So you also believe anybody that dips Fighter should get 4 attacks a turn at level 20 from a 1/2 level dip? Personally I think it's madness, that simply should not be the case. Eldritch Blast is by far the most ranged powerful Cantrip in the game, it is meant to be challenging the type of damage output from martial characters like fighters, barbarians, rangers, etc. You shouldn't get a classes signature feature at full strength from a 2 level dip at their level 20 equivalent power.
No I wouldn't want anyone to get 4 attacks at turn 20 from 1/2 level dip in Fighter, but the reason that Eldritch Blast is a special case amongst the cantrips is that you get to add your Charisma to the damage multiple times per turn with very little investment into the Warlock Class. But I don't want to gut the baseline Eldritch Blast, or make it just Firebolt but force damage either.
If something has to give, I'd much rather see Agonizing Blast moved up to atleast 3rd Warlock level (possibly even 5th), or stripping the + Charisma for damage rolls from both the Pact of the Blade as well as the Agonizing Blast, and creating a 1st level Warlock base Class feature that allows you to add Charisma bonus to a damage roll once per turn on any attack or a spell that required an attack roll, and then have the ability scale up to twice at 5th level, thrice at 11th level, and four times at 17th level.
This would simultaneously discourage Warlocks from dipping into Fighter for Action Surge, and also discourage dipping into Warlock to only get Eldritch Blast + Agonizing Blast, or Pact of the Blade for Cha to attack rolls.