I didn't warm to the warlock class in 3E, but in 4E I think I finally figured out its "schtick" so-to-speak. But having done so, I felt the warlock would be better (in 4E) if the warlock had more of an active role in gaining power from these powerful, non-god entities. I feel warlocks should be "fighting" for these powers as the entities fight for more...something...from the warlock.
Then comes the 5E playtest and this notion of transformation is in play.
AHA! says I.
Warlocks are in a struggle to steal/cajole/beg/trick powerful non-god entities into giving them power and to resist the demands (transformations) placed on them.
Then I come across this thread.
Clerics, in some way, are like warlocks who don't fight the entities, but rather fully submit. And they don't submit to weak non-god powers, but to full-on gods.
Perhaps, clerics should look more like warlocks. I am not talking a direct port, but the loose outlines. Rather than "Pacts" they have "Domains". Clerics can have maybe 2 or 3 "domains" at higher levels, representing their devotion and submission to their god. They can be transformed (into saints - using a real world term), etc.
Warlocks might need some tweaking too, perhaps warlocks can attempt to use higher level powers than their level suggests, but with a sever cost, or play it safe, and keep to the small stuff. Perhaps a "corruption" meter, something like 4E concordance. High corruption means more transformation.
In a similar vein, and to bring me back to the OP, a concordance "piety" might be good thing (module of course) for D&D Next, but even without it, a more warlock (pact-power based) cleric might be a better design.
Food for thought anyway.
Then comes the 5E playtest and this notion of transformation is in play.
AHA! says I.
Warlocks are in a struggle to steal/cajole/beg/trick powerful non-god entities into giving them power and to resist the demands (transformations) placed on them.
Then I come across this thread.
Clerics, in some way, are like warlocks who don't fight the entities, but rather fully submit. And they don't submit to weak non-god powers, but to full-on gods.
Perhaps, clerics should look more like warlocks. I am not talking a direct port, but the loose outlines. Rather than "Pacts" they have "Domains". Clerics can have maybe 2 or 3 "domains" at higher levels, representing their devotion and submission to their god. They can be transformed (into saints - using a real world term), etc.
Warlocks might need some tweaking too, perhaps warlocks can attempt to use higher level powers than their level suggests, but with a sever cost, or play it safe, and keep to the small stuff. Perhaps a "corruption" meter, something like 4E concordance. High corruption means more transformation.
In a similar vein, and to bring me back to the OP, a concordance "piety" might be good thing (module of course) for D&D Next, but even without it, a more warlock (pact-power based) cleric might be a better design.
Food for thought anyway.