Asisreo
Patron Badass
Why does it matter that the warlock short rests? Unless the party is actively moving, there's no obligation that the entire party must short rest at once. So the warlock can simply say "keep looking around, I'll take a short rest and regain my slots."The problem with short rest classes is that it’s the long rest classes who set the pace. Yes, theoretically the warlock can take enough short rests over the course of a day to cast more spells than the wizard can. But not if the wizard uses up all their spells before the warlock has had a chance to take a single short rest and then demands the party call it quits for the day.
It's not really abusing the system either. The designers are well-aware that players can do this. That's why Warlocks don't have spells like Animate Dead.
I don't know why a different player would feel compelled to rest when a different character can simply rest while they move. And a smart party could invest in a carriage so that even when the party moving, the warlock can still short rest.
Kinda thematic too, right. "Oh, we need someone to change all of our appearances. Let's ask the warlock meditating in the carriage whether he can do it." "Yes, my connection with the Archfey allows me to adjust our appearance. I shall cast the spell, then I shall take a moment to concentrate on my magical power again."
It seems like this is the intended way for Warlocks to be played outside of combat. It's like if a group was actively making sure the wizard doesn't have enough gold to copy spells into their book. That would suck for the wizard player because they're not allowed to play their game.