D&D (2024) How Will They Fix Warlock Spellcasting Issues?

[DEFCON 1]

It would work.

But I find it a bit too mechanical, and not narratively satisfying. What's the in character explanation of why you can't do it 3 times?

I don't think it matters. Almost every single ability in the game that can't be done at-will has a recharge ability that doesn't connect to the narrative in any meaningful way.

I mean heck, why does resting at all regenerate some magical ability? Why is magic coupled to how comfortable and inactive you are? That's just an arbitrary decision put into the rules with the semblance of some narrative function, but doesn't have an in-world explanation. What is it about magic that requires people to only be able to do some things gently and calmly, but other things not? Can't ride a horse and regenerate your magical power. Why not? What does the The Weave have against you riding a horse? You could sit there on the horse being led at a gentle trot for an hour doing absolutely nothing, but that doesn't allow certain people to regenerate their magical power. Why? We have no idea. And that's just one of many things we could ask as to any sort of "reality" between trying to tie game mechanics and in-world narrative.

This is why I gave up on that a looooooooong time ago. I determined from the beginning that the game mechanics are here expressly for the purpose of playing the game. That's it. And if the game wants to try and tie its mechanics to some sort of narrative and story... okay, fine, but I'm not going to need it make any actual sense. Because none of it ever really does.

We create our characters and their stories because that's what the roleplaying has been designed to do. And we play the game part because the game part is fun. And any connection between the two is merely a happy accident.

 

[CleverNickName]

Here's another idea I had, but I haven't tested it yet.

• Warlocks have one spell slot.
  [*]That's all. Just one.
  [*]As an action, the warlock can recover a spell slot.
  

Clean and simple, and dovetails nicely with that must-have rod of the pact keeper.

Nevermind. 'Tis a silly plan.

 

[bedir than]

MYSTIC CONNECTION
If you spend at least 1 minute resting, you can
recover spell slots as if you had finished a Short Rest.
Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again
until you finish a Long Rest.

I would make it ten minutes and connect it thematically to rituals

 

[Vaalingrade]

Here's another idea I had, but I haven't tested it yet.

• Warlocks have one spell slot.
• That's all. Just one.
• As an action, the warlock can recover a spell slot.

Clean and simple, and dovetails nicely with that must-have rod of the pact keeper.

This is actually not bad.

The warlock spell is usually a buff or spoiler, not really the 'always must use' of full casters because your Invocations and EB should be doing the heavy lifting.

 

[mellored]

I don't think it matters. Almost every single ability in the game that can't be done at-will has a recharge ability that doesn't connect to the narrative in any meaningful way.

Would be nice if it did.

I mean heck, why does resting at all regenerate some magical ability? Why is magic coupled to how comfortable and inactive you are?

I believe the original narrative is that you spent the time setting up the spells, and then just needed a word to release them.

Sort of like mixing a bomb, and then just needing to throw it.

 

[mellored]

Here's another idea I had, but I haven't tested it yet.

• Warlocks have one spell slot.
• That's all. Just one.
• As an action, the warlock can recover a spell slot.

Clean and simple, and dovetails nicely with that must-have rod of the pact keeper.

I would be ok with that.

I suggested something similar for the monk. Regain ki as a bonus action.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Would be nice if it did.

I believe the original narrative is that you spent the time setting up the spells, and then just needed a word to release them.

Sort of like mixing a bomb, and then just needing to throw it.

Maybe back in AD&D days. But that hasn't been the case for decades.

I mean nowadays some magicians require a full night's rest to regain access to The Weave. Other magicians just need to just sit on their hands for an hour. What is it about the 'in-world narrative' that making a deal with a devil lets you just take an hour to get your magic back, but if you have 'innate magical power' you need to sleep it off for 8 before it returns? That doesn't make any sense. Why can't people regain some of their power after 2 hours rest? Or 3? Or 4? Why does all of it just POOF! Reappear all at once after 8 hours but not any proportion of it before?

Game rules, that's why. Makes the game easier to play.

 

[mellored]

Maybe back in AD&D days. But that hasn't been the case for decades.

I mean nowadays some magicians require a full night's rest to regain access to The Weave. Other magicians just need to just sit on their hands for an hour. What is it about the 'in-world narrative' that making a deal with a devil lets you just take an hour to get your magic back, but if you have 'innate magical power' you need to sleep it off for 8 before it returns? That doesn't make any sense. Why can't people regain some of their power after 2 hours rest? Or 3? Or 4? Why does all of it just POOF! Reappear all at once after 8 hours but not any proportion of it before?

Game rules, that's why. Makes the game easier to play.

I'm not suggesting the monk gets 1 ki back every 3 minutes of rest, and the fighter takes 74 minutes to get action surge.

But it would still be nice if there was a narrative connection IN ADDITION to having easier game rules.

They are not mutually exclusive.

 

[Remathilis]

Here's another idea I had, but I haven't tested it yet.

• Warlocks have one spell slot.
• That's all. Just one.
• As an action, the warlock can recover a spell slot.

Clean and simple, and dovetails nicely with that must-have rod of the pact keeper.

Oh. Infinite high level spell slots! I'd go earth genie pact and get wall of stone. Then I'd build a castle a day. I'd wall off any enemy like they had a cask of Amontillado. Wall of stone at will would be amazing.

 

[DEFCON 1]

I'm not suggesting the monk gets 1 ki back every 3 minutes of rest, and the fighter takes 74 minutes to get action surge.

But it would still be nice if there was a narrative connection IN ADDITION to having easier game rules.

They are not mutually exclusive.

Whereas I pretty much think they genuinely are. Any connection between mechanic and narrative is merely a lucky happenstance that we players just nod and suspend our disbelief with. Because that's what Dungeons & Dragons is-- a whole lotta suspensions of disbelief.