D&D 5E The warlock is a "better" wizard than a wizard

[BookTenTiger]

I really like how in 5e you can follow multiple class pathways to reach similar character archetypes. The bookish tome warlock is a really fun idea and it does line up well with Merlin and Faust.

 

[jayoungr]

Tome Warlock is much more like a generic fantasy wizard, or how a wizard is in several other games. They can't fix every problem with a spell (because they don't know that many), the tome aspect makes them "bookish" a bit, they have to rely on wits, guile and luck to fix other problems etc... not at all like the swiss army knife, spell for any situation wizard.

This is, IMHO, the difference between a character who's meant to be read and a character who's meant to be played. Mages in books are more likely to be limited because it makes for more exciting stories. But when you're in combat and your turn comes up, being able to cast a spell that fits the situation is exciting.

(Though I'll note that there are fantasy wizards who have a wide array of spells--anyone in the Harry Potter universe, for example.)

 

[Shardstone]

The modern day magician is best seen in Harry Potter and the MCU. In the MCU especially you have mages who have a constant stream of low-level magic and can sometimes really amplify their efforts to cast something particularly powerful.

Gandalf is cool, and Merlin is cool too, but neither one has ever been a model or any spellcaster in D&D. So if D&D wants to emulate mainstream popfiction, the best example is MCU right now, since its hit critical mass, is including a lot more magic in its recent shows, and its next phase is movies is dealing with a lot of magic.

All this to say, the best class that represents this idea is the Warlock. A Warlock could be the MCU version of the Scarlet Witch or Loki pretty easily if you take a step back in terms of abstraction.

So, I agree. The wizard takes up too much magical space anyway. I for one think don't have wizards at my tables anymore, because it was really naughty word with my worldbuilding and my views on magic.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

Ok, I'll try something:

The Mage

HD: 1d6
Saves: Wis, Int
Skills: Arcana and two from: History, Nature, Religion, Investigation, Insight

Spoiler: Level 1

• Spellcasting ala Warlock, Intelligence spellcasting, Wizard spell list (Warlock's special spells are moved to cleric)
• Arcane Specialty: Evocation, Abjuration etc (take the 2nd level wizard archetype's feature and put it here)

Spoiler: Level 2

Arcanist Gift (invocations). Might merge Metamagics into Gifts with a 1/short rest use.

Spoiler: Level 3

Implement Mastery: Summoner's Chain, Scholar's Tome, Warmage's Brand, Imbued Talisman. Each one can serve as the Mage spell focus.

Spoiler: Level 11, 13, 15, 17

Mystic Arcanum: as written

Spoiler: level 18

Spell mastery: one 1st and 2nd level spell are now at-will

Spoiler: Level 20

Final spell: As an action, recover all spell slots once per day. When you fall to 0 hp, you can cast a spell as a free action, once per day.

 

[Dyson Logos]

This is why I only have Warlocks, Fighters, and Rogues in my Dread Carcosa campaign. Warlock fits classic weird fantasy wizardry REALLY well.

And with Celestial Warlocks, they also replace clerics.

 

[TwoSix]

[*]Spellcasting ala Warlock, Intelligence spellcasting, Wizard spell list (Warlock's special spells are moved to cleric)

Look good. The only thing I'd probably call out specifically is that the Mage should keep spells prepared as (Level+Int mod), rather than using the Spells Known column of the warlock.

 

[TheSword]

Well I must say I struggle with the idea of a wizard that only has 2 spell slots.

Needing to take hour long rests is a big sticking point.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

Look good. The only thing I'd probably call out specifically is that the Mage should keep spells prepared as (Level+Int mod), rather than using the Spells Known column of the warlock.

Agreed!

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

Well I must say I struggle with the idea of a wizard that only has 2 spell slots.

Needing to take hour long rests is a big sticking point.

I think this type of design would be even better with a 5-10 minutes short rests. This is what I do in my games (with a max of 2 SR per LR) and it works like a charm.

 

[Shardstone]

I'd probably remake the Warlock to be the Mage. Its sub-class theme would be their "Arcane Method." This lets me fit the unique WIzard subclasses (war-mage, bladesinger, and so on) into it alongside Warlock patrons (your method is through pacts with Fiends, deals with Archfey, fealty to Great Old Ones, etc) and keeps it separate from Sorcerer (who is born magical, that's why you study!) and the other magic-casting classes.

I'd probably remove the pact feature and instead creature a unique 3rd level feature for each sub-class, like how Mearls said he wished he'd done. Then I'll use @vincegetorix's capstone and 8th level features.

1d6 hit die. It'll use an expanded version of the Warlock spell list that adds in a lot of wizard spells. I'd also expand the Invocations to include a lot more spell options from the Wizard spell list that you can no longer get in the game.

Fun idea. Might make this and replace the Warlock in my games with this new mage class.