Nyeshet
First Post
The warlock hearkens back to the more sinister tales and legends of the middle ages and renaissance - with the exception of its eldritch blast. While I understand why such may be necessary in a more typical D&D setting (to allow for survival), I wish to alter or perhaps even remove it so that the class is closer to its legendary mythos.
That said, I am considering reducing the Eldritch Blast to a Melee Touch Attack (instead of a Ranged Touch Attack). In part to make up for its loss of range, I am considering creating an invocation that would allow the blast to be 'stored' for one round in an object - such as a weapon or even an arrow / bolt. Thus it could be used in combat via the weapon: the weapon hits, and it deals extra damage based upon the eldritch damage.
While this would re-grant the range (and better, considering the range of a longbow or xbow), it would also restore the benefit of armor to the AC of those targeted, as the damage is only taken if the weapon would normally deal damage (ie: if the arrow penetrated the armor, the blade sliced through the chain mail, etc). Thus it would be a normal ranged attack instead of a ranged touch attack. Also, those focusing on ranged combat with warlocks often take the invocation eldritch spear (allows for a range of 250 ft) - a distance well beyond one (or for some weapons two or even three) range increments. The invocation that would allow the eldritch blast to be stored for a round in an arrow could allow for such range only with the penalties that come of one or (more likely two or more) range increments - and it would still not be a ranged touch attack.
Is the my idea for altering the eldritch blast too potent, just right, or not potent enough (to replaced ranged touch attack eldrtich blast)? I think it is just right, but I'm a little concerned and so thought it best to check here first.
I note also that this alteration would possibly remove remove the blast shape invocations from consideration, thus allowing focus upon non-blast shape invocations. Or perhaps another invocation could be created, allowing for a very short range (15 ft?), and further augments could be moved up a level or reduced to remain at their current level. So Eldritch Spear might increase it to 60 ft (a fourfold increase, as before, but upon a much smaller initial range), Hideous Blow could allow it to function through a weapon as a touch attack rather than as a non-touch attack, and both would likely be moved up to Lesser Blast Shape. I'm not sure about whether the other blast shape invocations would need to move up, as the decreased range would decrease their usefulness, so perhaps they are okay where they are.
Other ideas I've played with is increasing the number of invocations known (rather than having an eldritch blast, or to make up for loss of range if my idea above is used), but that has its own issues, as some are more potent or useful than others, and increasing them too much might go too far. Also, by how many should it increase?
As a final word, sonic is not included amongst available energy resistances, and DR alters based on current alignment (so a chaotic warlock who becomes lawful has his DR change from cold iron to silver). These are relatively minor alterations, however, and I do not expect them to alter balance.
Also, what replacements / alterations have other DMs used in regards to the warlock's eldritch blast?
That said, I am considering reducing the Eldritch Blast to a Melee Touch Attack (instead of a Ranged Touch Attack). In part to make up for its loss of range, I am considering creating an invocation that would allow the blast to be 'stored' for one round in an object - such as a weapon or even an arrow / bolt. Thus it could be used in combat via the weapon: the weapon hits, and it deals extra damage based upon the eldritch damage.
While this would re-grant the range (and better, considering the range of a longbow or xbow), it would also restore the benefit of armor to the AC of those targeted, as the damage is only taken if the weapon would normally deal damage (ie: if the arrow penetrated the armor, the blade sliced through the chain mail, etc). Thus it would be a normal ranged attack instead of a ranged touch attack. Also, those focusing on ranged combat with warlocks often take the invocation eldritch spear (allows for a range of 250 ft) - a distance well beyond one (or for some weapons two or even three) range increments. The invocation that would allow the eldritch blast to be stored for a round in an arrow could allow for such range only with the penalties that come of one or (more likely two or more) range increments - and it would still not be a ranged touch attack.
Is the my idea for altering the eldritch blast too potent, just right, or not potent enough (to replaced ranged touch attack eldrtich blast)? I think it is just right, but I'm a little concerned and so thought it best to check here first.
I note also that this alteration would possibly remove remove the blast shape invocations from consideration, thus allowing focus upon non-blast shape invocations. Or perhaps another invocation could be created, allowing for a very short range (15 ft?), and further augments could be moved up a level or reduced to remain at their current level. So Eldritch Spear might increase it to 60 ft (a fourfold increase, as before, but upon a much smaller initial range), Hideous Blow could allow it to function through a weapon as a touch attack rather than as a non-touch attack, and both would likely be moved up to Lesser Blast Shape. I'm not sure about whether the other blast shape invocations would need to move up, as the decreased range would decrease their usefulness, so perhaps they are okay where they are.
Other ideas I've played with is increasing the number of invocations known (rather than having an eldritch blast, or to make up for loss of range if my idea above is used), but that has its own issues, as some are more potent or useful than others, and increasing them too much might go too far. Also, by how many should it increase?
As a final word, sonic is not included amongst available energy resistances, and DR alters based on current alignment (so a chaotic warlock who becomes lawful has his DR change from cold iron to silver). These are relatively minor alterations, however, and I do not expect them to alter balance.
Also, what replacements / alterations have other DMs used in regards to the warlock's eldritch blast?
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