D&D (2024) The new warlock (Packet 7)

[Mistwell]

Treantmonk has a quick analysis of Bladelocks and...they're broken. Not a little, but a lot, and without highly tuned optimizing. He makes these points:

1. Outdamages every other class
2. Switchable damage type
3. Bonus actions remain available most turns
4. Faster movement
5. Additional Invocation options (I think he left three open on his sample quick buld)
6. Switch between melee and ranged, both remain effective
7. Every weapon mastery - one bonus action
8. In combat no-action healing
9. Spells

He's basically saying this one got overtuned and needs to be re-balanced.

 

[Stalker0]

7. Every weapon mastery - one bonus action

Thats the big one to me, as its not just the power....but the niche overriding. I don't think half or main casters should be getting weapon masteries (same with paladins honestly).

You do your coolness with your spells, leave teh masteries to the martials.

 

[Kurotowa]

You do your coolness with your spells, leave teh masteries to the martials.

Bladelock is at as much a martial as a Paladin or Ranger. They certainly get fewer spells.

 

[Mistwell]

Bladelock is at as much a martial as a Paladin or Ranger. They certainly get fewer spells.

No, they are more a martial than a Paladin or Ranger. They can do what those classes do better than those classes do them now, for most (but not all) aspects of the game. I think they overdid it.

 

[Vaalingrade]

In a just world the list of things that makes bladelocks 'broken' would be used as a roadmap to improving other melee classes, not to ruin the bladelock.

 

[Shardstone]

In a just world the list of things that makes bladelocks 'broken' would be used as a roadmap to improving other melee classes, not to ruin the bladelock.

SAD vs MAD is such a terrible limitation to use for balancing classes imo.

 

[OB1]

I think the only thing they need to remove is the weapon masteries for Bladelock as a core feature and make it an invocation choice and it will be fine. The overall lower AC and HP still means that a Bladelock in melee is going to run into trouble trying to copy what the Fighter or Barbarian does, but they have more control and big strike options available to them, depending on the build.

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

Huh. The easiest way for a martial to learn more fighting styles is with a 2-level dip into Warlock (for Lessons of the First Ones).

They are really pushing for every other class to sell a bit of their souls.

 

[Mistwell]

I think the only thing they need to remove is the weapon masteries for Bladelock as a core feature and make it an invocation choice and it will be fine. The overall lower AC and HP still means that a Bladelock in melee is going to run into trouble trying to copy what the Fighter or Barbarian does, but they have more control and big strike options available to them, depending on the build.

Based on Treantmonk's quick analysis, he had them with invocations left over, and feats left over, such that they would just choose weapon masteries with one of those left over invocations and still outdamage every other class, out run other classes, and still their spells.

Weapon Mastery as an invocation doesn't solve for how much they went overboard. It's not by a little. It was shocking the damage they were doing with weapons. I truly don't think that was the intent of these changes.

 

[Shardstone]

Huh. The easiest way for a martial to learn more fighting styles is with a 2-level dip into Warlock (for Lessons of the First Ones).

They are really pushing for every other class to sell a bit of their souls.

I like that and even prefer it. It's a better option then multiclassing, IMO.