D&D 5E Is Warlock broken?

[S'mon]

You can Concentrate while engaging in strenuous activity like combat.
You can Short Rest only while engaging in very non-strenuous activity.
Concentration is not like wearing a hat.
Whether you can Concentrate while Short Resting is unspecified, but there are long duration spells that require Concentration.

 

[CapnZapp]

Make the classes balance around 3-4 encounters of perhaps 5 combat rounds each and one short rest, and suddenly you have a much superior basis for a game almost for free.

Or, actually, don't.

Casters are if anything too restricted in this edition. Few high level slots. Concentration on almost every buff. Foes that get to save each round for lots of spells. BBEGs that turn failed saves into successes.

The way the game naturally settles around a shorter adventuring day (measured in short rests and encounters but not in combat rounds) is perhaps a good thing. Since this means long rest casters get relatively more spells compared to the DMG expectation.

(Of course the Warlock is hosed, but that's an entirely different matter. IMC, however, this has resolved itself before it even became an issue, since the module OotA happened to contained pretty much the Best Evar warlock loot; a 3rd level spell slot )

 

[CapnZapp]

Concentration is not like wearing a hat.

Page number for that rules reference, please

 

[S'mon]

Page number for that rules reference, please

Pg 203 bottom right - "You lose concentration if you are incapacitated or you die". It is possible to wear a hat while incapacitated or dead.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

If your Warlock is spending 90% of its time spamming eldritch blast, then that's working as intended. That was the role which defined Warlock for much of its existence, so it shouldn't be surprising when you occasionally fall back to it. You don't complain about a Battle Master spending 90% of its time making basic attacks, and they're roughly the same level of complexity.

Well, *some* of us do....

In the game I'm running, which actually is averaging around two short rests per day, the Warlock is throwing out a spell in every fight, and that's about it. Contrast with the Wizard, who runs himself out of spells over the course of two encounters. It's just a matter of pacing.

And Pacing is not so easily achieved in 5e.

If anything, the limited nature of the Warlock's spell list actually works to help it conserve spell slots, since there is so frequently a situation where the Warlock isn't tempted to use a spell because they don't have the right tool for the job. I don't think I've seen our Warlock run out of spells since they made it to level 11.

Never once had call to use more than two spells per rest? Ever? That's...well, I mean I can't really argue with your experience, but it's a tad hard to square.

And the fact that the game gives you fewer choices and FORCES you to scrimp and save lest you screw yourself doesn't exactly speak well of the class...

As for myself, I don't think the Warlock is "broken," I just think that it's designed for a game rather different from the one most 5e people actually play--and as a result, going to fall behind compared to various alternatives. It also requires a substantial amount of system mastery (relative to other 5e classes) if you plan on doing anything other than Eldritch Blasting 90% of the time.

 

[Ancalagon]

I've read about half this thread and skipped to here so apologies if the discussion has moved on? Anyway, I'm playing a 13th level half elven fiend pact blade lock (started at 4th). We've been playing razor coast for the best part of a year. The party consists of me, a Druid/barbarian, a vengeance paladin, a bard and an evoker wizard. I've really enjoyed playing this character. He doesn't hit the hardest, hasn't got best ac/hp, doesn't cast the most spells. However, he does hit pretty hard, takes a fair bit of taking down due to temp hp/AoA etc.., has a dangerous ranged attack.
In addition, in the absence of a rogue he can be sneaky when needed and with a good mix of invocations he can do all sorts of other cool stuff - Devils sight, mask of many faces etc.. Oh, and he's a real charmer, smooth talking and persuasive. I've gone down twice in combat - once to a megalodon bite and once to getting cut to ribbons by a marelith.
Also, the DM has had great fun with my patron. My character is besotted with an Erinyes who is an agent of my patron and he'll do ANYTHING for her!
This class doesn't feel broken to me. I think the party impress each other on a regular basis. The only issue that seems to worry our DM is the huge hit point soak of the Druid/Barb but it's not removed any enjoyment?

Hex and concentration. We allow it to roll through short rests. It doesn't seem to 'break' the spell? And I'd say that's how the designers intended it, but I think it should have been a class feature, personally?

My one criticism of the class. As a blade lock, I think thematically with the gift of this awesome weapon you should feel obliged to use it. But it is always not quite as good as EB which is a shame. But I ignore that and always close if I can. Some would consider this sub optimal! Ha ha!

So in answer to the op, yes, choose warlock! It's a (not necessarily eldritch) blast!



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That's a pretty interesting party built you have too - 3/5 characters have healing powers, most have offensive magic, 3/5 could be competent sneaks (4/5 if the evoker has the right spells) etc etc... cool stuff.

How often does the party get short rests?

 

[SailorNash]

I agree with this. I didn't take any invocations that granted further spell options requiring slots. It's just another spell you don't have the slots to cast?

Not only that, but you don't even know the spell. If the invocation added it to your list you could at least cast it twice, possibly more with refreshes. But not knowing it and not having its own slot kind of hits you twice.

 

[rczarnec]

(Of course the Warlock is hosed, but that's an entirely different matter. IMC, however, this has resolved itself before it even became an issue, since the module OotA happened to contained pretty much the Best Evar warlock loot; a 3rd level spell slot )

It isn't the best while Rod of the Pact Keeper exists.

 

[ChrisCarlson]

Burning Question of the Day: But can elves maintain concentration during a long rest? They do not sleep and instead go into a semiconscious trance...

 

[The Grassy Gnoll]

There's a joke about a semi in there somewhere but darned if I can find it.