D&D 5E What if Warlocks were the only spellcasters?

[Yora]

Of course, lots of people would cry bitterly that they are not allowed to play their favorite pet class. That's obvious. But for the sake of this discussion, let's assume we're dealing only with groups of players who think it would be cool to have a campaign in which only barbarians, fighters, monks, rogues, and warlocks exist as classes for both PCs and NPCs.

The implementation of warlocks in 5th edition is one of the coolest things in the game, and there are plenty of people who are really big fans of the class, both for how it plays mechanically, and what the class represents in the game world.

If we had an otherwise typical D&D world in which magic is the domain of magical creatures and particularly outsiders, and the only way for mortals to gain magic powers is through warlock pacts, what would the consequences of that be? What implications could that have for society, and how would it impact parties of PCs?

 

[Ulfgeir]

Magic users would be feared. Who knows what evil things they have aligned themselves with? And with no healing magic, adventurers would probably be rarer. Only the really foolhardy would voluntarily risk going up against beings that can set you on fire, freeze you, turn you to stone or dominate your mind.

 

[Tun Kai Poh]

Deities and eldritch powers no longer able to influence individuals except through warlock pacts? No more imbuings of divine favour or breeding of sorcerous bloodlines?

More varieties of warlock pacts would have to be made. More eldritch beings in competition for suitable warlocks could lead to fascinating new types of pacts. I personally like the idea of the "crowdpact" warlock who has multiple patrons at different tiers of support, who has to send out regular updates via messaging rituals, to update patrons on adventuring progress, subscription milestones and progress towards support goals! Obviously the lower-tier patrons will find that they get a smaller fraction of the crowdpact warlock's time, energy and soul, but if you're a limited-slot top-tier supporter, boy, you're going to be getting all the good stuff!

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

If we had an otherwise typical D&D world in which magic is the domain of magical creatures and particularly outsiders, and the only way for mortals to gain magic powers is through warlock pacts, what would the consequences of that be? What implications could that have for society, and how would it impact parties of PCs?

Let's see ... the only class that could cast spells is the Warlock?

Well, that means ... no bards.

Yora, you are a genius, and I nominate you for all the Nobels, and maybe a Grammy, too.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

Let's see ... the only class that could cast spells is the Warlock?

Well, that means ... no bards.

Yora, you are a genius, and I nominate you for all the Nobels, and maybe a Grammy, too.

Muses Patron Warlock!

Honestly, that would be really cool idea for a setting.

Elder Treant Patron, Dragon Patron, Ancient Hag Patron, War God Patron, Arcane Cabal etc

 

[loverdrive]

There's an often overlooked rule that makes this idea not really viable. For more info, google fiend warlock rule 34.

Now, with a joke I had in my head since shower this morning out of the way, well, I love warlocks and think they should be a basis for all the classes. I love the idea that magic always comes from a some kind of unknowable entity, and I love their mechanics.
Also, it basically solves all the problems with juggling short and long rests.

 

[Wolfram stout]

Love it. I think world building through limitations like this is a simple and effective way to show the ways of the specific setting. It can prompt lore questions/discussions that players may not normally be invested in.

One question, are the spells from other classes open for Warlocks to take via Tome pacts or adept feats ? Is so, I think that there is more than enough options under the Warlock banner to make great characters and NPCs.

 

[Jfdlsjfd]

I dig the idea. Wouldn't the gods make pacts with their clerics in that case if they had no way to influence people through granting spell the classic cleric way? This would make the concept of pacts less frightening (but you wouldn't know if your Torm cleric made a pact with Torm or Asmodeus). I can see an arm race (with Torm granting Display Mark of Torm as a specialty spell to reassure the faithful that the advice given is a genuine Priest of Torm one.).

 

[TwoSix]

I would probably combine it with more robust magic item crafting rules, but yea, I'd totally be on board for that particular game. I'd definitely get a large repertoire of possible warlock patrons (use something like Compendium of Forgotten Secrets The Compendium of Forgotten Secrets | Genuine Fantasy Press ) .

I'd probably homebrew a few additional non-magic classes, as well.

 

[aco175]

I could see throwing out barbarians and monks as well. There is already a fighting class and a skill class with fighter and thief.

What about sub-classes that have magic? Eldritch Knight or Arcane Trickster have spells that are more 'normal' than the warlock. Would they just not exist or maybe these upstart schools of magic are feared by the guilds of warlocks and are at odds with traditions.