How is the warlock not overpowered?

[satori01]

Flee the scene has a somatic component, like all the warlock's invocations.

As I said, grappled warlock are almost dead.

Where does it state that all Warlock Invocations have somatic components?

Pg 7 has one references to somatic components.
From Weapon & Armor Proficiency:
"Because the somatic components required for warlock invocations are relatively simple, a warlock can use any of his invocations while wearing light armor w/o incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance."

Under the description for flee the scene, it state you can use Dimension Door as a spell like ability, although the range is limited to short.

The SRD list Dimension Door as:

Dimension Door
Conjuration (Teleportation)
Level: Brd 4, Sor/Wiz 4, Travel 4
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level)
Target: You and touched objects or other touched willing creatures
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None and Will negates (object)
Spell Resistance: No and Yes (object)

SRD lists spell like abilities as:
Spell-Like Abilities (Sp): Spell-like abilities, as the name implies, are spells and magical abilities that are very much like spells. Spell-like abilities are subject to spell resistance and dispel magic. They do not function in areas where magic is suppressed or negated (such as an antimagic field).

Which makes no mention of Spell like abilities always having somatic components. So where does it state that Warlocks always have somatic components....if true I have been running Flee the Scene incorrectly.

As for the concentration check to cast a spell while grappled, most casters have concentration maxed out, so the DC is not that big of deal. Much better to Flee the Scene then have the life choked out of you. Nice thing about Flee the Scene is the illusion it leaves behind.
Warlock in my group once charmed the person, had him grapple him, and then flew the coop, leaving instructions to have his charmed buddy pretend to continue to restrain him.... a nice distraction.

 

[3d6]

However, like arcane spellcasters, a warlock wearing medium or heavy armor or using a shield incurs a chance of arcane spell failure (all invocations, including eldritch blast, have a somatic component).

That's the second-to-last sentence in the Weapons and Armor section.

 

[James McMurray]

The Concentration DC (when grappled) is 24.

Look at that quote again. You cannot cast a spell with a somatic component inside a grapple with or without a concentration check.

If your bonus is high enough and you're using the epic rules you can cast it at DC 50 + spell level.

 

[hong]

Honestly, most things when grappled are kinda screwed anyway. That's why rings of freedom of movement are so useful at high levels.

 

[stonegod]

There is a reason warlock's qualify for Sudden Still Spell.

 

[irdeggman]

Where does it state that all Warlock Invocations have somatic components?

Found it - and it renders my notes moot.

Complete Arcane pg 71

"The only differences between invocations and other spell-like abilities is that invocations require somatic gestures and are therefore subject to arcane spell failure.”

 

[pallandrome]

Sorry, I thought the Fey heritage feats boost Enchantment DCs, are all these Warlock invos enchantment? I thought not.

The Fey Heritage feats boost both enchantment DCs, and Invocation DCs. That being siad, as was mentioned earlier, not all warlocks care to do that. I should have specified that such is mostly important only if you specialize in improving your Eldritch Blast.

 

[Raspen]

i have stated that i have an epic warloc and been playing him for a long time. i made him to be very defencive and with my best effect i still have some major holes in my D. My AC is great do to armor and other magic items. i will never fail a will save or fort save but my Ref save sucks realy bad and i dont have all that much HP. other flaws are that my touch AC isnt realy good at all and the fact that i can be grapled is realy bad *tho i plain on getting boots of big steping* i do have a 50% miss that people have to get around befor grabbing me but enought attacks in a round and they will have me. SNEAK ATTACK SUCKS FOR ME.... my spot and lisson suck not like i get that much skill points to blow in them so for me any rogue can walk up and put a dagger in my back NOT FUN... worst part about my warloc is when i get hit be it anything im done for the next round nothing realy i can do but use magic items and most of them dont stop me from getting hit the next round and agin the round after that.....sure i have a constration cheack but im an epic lvl guy and damage from our mobs is huge. that is the bigest flaws i fould with the D of the class.

the attacking part of the class is easy to fix with max and quicken blast and acid blast to stop SR and golams. or wall of fires vs undead so you can do dubble damage.

but one of the most disharding things about the class is no real good counterspell ability.
sure you can use the dispell but its only a dispell and adds only 10 the other one is a touch so just dont work.

 

[kigmatzomat]

Try voracious dispelling which is, IIRC, from complete mage. It is a single target Dispel Magic that goes off again on the target the following round. At epic levels d20+10 becomes kinda moot but it is still a handy trick.

I posted this on the other warlock thread but see about getting these feats. If nothing else the Epic Fiendish Resilience should help your hps (fast heal 25/5minutes)

http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ei/20061027a

 

[Klaus]

Dude, I'll do this once for free, but please proofread what you write before posting, okay?

I have stated that I have an epic warlock and I've been playing him for a long time. I made him to be very defensive and with my best buffs I still have some major holes in my defense. My AC is great due to armor and other magic items, I will never fail a Will or Fort save, but my Ref save sucks really bad and I don't have all that many HP.

Other flaws are that my touch AC isn't realy good at all and the fact that I can be grappled is realy bad (although I plan on getting boots of big steping). I do have a 50% miss chance that people have to get around before grabbing me, but enough attacks in a round and they will have me.

Also, Sneak attacks suck for me. My spot and listen suck (it's not like I get that many skill points to blow in them), so any rogue can walk up to me and put a dagger in my back. Not fun!

The worst part about my warlock is when I get hit (by anything). Then I'm done for the next round. Nothing I can really do but use magic items, and most of them don't stop me from getting hit the next round and again the round after that. Sure, I have a concentration check, but I'm an epic level guy and damage from our mobs is huge. That is the biggest flaws I found in the defense of the class.

The attacking part of the class is easy to fix with maximized and quickened blasts and acid blast to overcome SR and golams. Or walls of fire vs. undead, so you can do double damage.

But one of the most disheartening things about the class is a lack of a really good counterspell ability. Sure you can use the dispel but it's only a dispel and adds only +10 to your caster level check. The other dispel invocation is a touch so it just doesn't work.