D&D 5E Warlock Spells - PHB page 106 - slot level maxes at 5th; pg 210 lists spells to 9th level

[S'mon]

Can someone explain to me why Warlocks have spells as full casters on pg 210 up to 9th level, but per pg 106 can only ever get 5th level spell slots?

Is it just the Mystic Arcanum feature on pg 108? Does this stack so that at 17th
Warlocks get 1 6th, 7th, 8th, & 9th level spell they can cast each 1/day? These spells are fixed and can't be swapped out?

 

[pukunui]

Yes, the Mystic Arcanum feature is how they gain access to their 6th through 9th level spells.

 

[CapnZapp]

Yes, the Mystic Arcanum feature is how they gain access to their 6th through 9th level spells.

And yes, it's only a single 6th level spell, a single 7th level spell, a single 8th level spell, and a single 9th level spell.

And remember, no slots. (Meaning you can't cast your 6th level arcanum twice a day by using both your sixth level slot and your seventh level slot. A Wizard could, because she has slots. You have no "Arcanum slots")

And yes, the are no provision for switching out your Arcanums. The sixth level spell you choose at level 11 follows you to your grave, so choose wisely.

 

[TwoSix]

And yes, the are no provision for switching out your Arcanums. The sixth level spell you choose at level 11 follows you to your grave, so choose wisely.

Considering they're Warlocks, it probably follows them well past that.

 

[Dausuul]

Is it just the Mystic Arcanum feature on pg 108? Does this stack so that at 17th
Warlocks get 1 6th, 7th, 8th, & 9th level spell they can cast each 1/day? These spells are fixed and can't be swapped out?

Yes; yes; and yes again. (Though as DM, I'd allow a warlock to swap out one Mystic Arcanum on level-up. It really sucks to lock yourself into a high-level spell and then discover it's crap.)

 

[S'mon]

Thanks everyone; it makes Warlocks fractionally less bad than I thought (our Warlock died at 8th, never got this ability), but still nothing like a full caster.

 

[CapnZapp]

Yes; yes; and yes again. (Though as DM, I'd allow a warlock to swap out one Mystic Arcanum on level-up. It really sucks to lock yourself into a high-level spell and then discover it's crap.)

But that's something different.

I too would be sympathetic towards a player discovering his choice doesn't work for him.

But I would not consider it RAW to allow the warlock in general to replace arcanums on level up, like for spells.

If the designers wanted the Warlock to be able to switch out arcanums, they would have said so.

I can make an exception, but it would still be an exception - it wouldn't be a feature you could rely on and plan your build around.

 

[MerricB]

Thanks everyone; it makes Warlocks fractionally less bad than I thought (our Warlock died at 8th, never got this ability), but still nothing like a full caster.

Warlocks aren't full casters, but they are frighteningly good in combat - they're a very popular class around our tables, and acquit themselves really well.

They do require a certain level of rules mastery to build correctly, however. However, once you have the right feats and evocations working together? It's scary!

Cheers!

 

[Dausuul]

But I would not consider it RAW to allow the warlock in general to replace arcanums on level up, like for spells.

Oh, I didn't mean to imply it was RAW. Quite the contrary; the rules are clear, warlocks don't get to swap out their Mystic Arcanum picks.

I was just saying I would house-rule it to allow a swap (maybe require some kind of minor quest or sacrifice).

 

[CapnZapp]

Oh, I didn't mean to imply it was RAW. Quite the contrary; the rules are clear, warlocks don't get to swap out their Mystic Arcanum picks.

I was just saying I would house-rule it to allow a swap (maybe require some kind of minor quest or sacrifice).

No disagreement there.

I just wanted to clarify the reasons anyone would want to add such a rule, since it's easy to see it as an omission; a possible trap for newbie players.

In that context, I said I would understand if a player came to me and said "this spell X doesn't work for me, can I replace it?"

I would not, however, agree so readily to a proposal to add level based replacements in general, the way spells work (so you can plan for it, taking an optimal spell now even if it quickly becomes less useful later) since that clearly is not an omission: if the designers wanted it, they would have added it.

Look at it this way: having a general-purpose "mulligan" option to ease off the analysis paralysis of chiefly new players is probably a humane and good thing.

Adding generous replacement options for classes that aren't supposed to have them is of course not wrong, but as I see it, that house rule might work for you, but isn't for everyone.

Cheers