How is the warlock not overpowered?

[Elemental]

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.”

Mind you, the eldritch blast is listed seperately, and doesn't seem to have the restriction that invocations do, as far as I can see. So a grappled warlock can still blast his enemy if he makes the Concentration check.

 

[Raspen]

hehe i was waiting for someone to make mention of my spelling and wrighting sorry bout this i seem to have an inability to do such things tho i read just fine...

 

[Zaruthustran]

Weak class, poor damage. At 12th level, my warlock has a little popgun that does 8d6 points of damage. My friend the wizard, on the other hand, shoots Scorching Rays that do 12d6 damage. Sure, my popgun has unlimited uses per day, but I haven't ever really seen the wizard run out of Scorching Rays.

Well, that's the thing. The Warlock's main strength--unlimited uses of abilities--is nullified if he adventures with even a single class that has x/day abilities. Because as soon as x comes around, the entire party will camp.

It's like Jules says: "My girlfriend's a vegetarian... which pretty much makes me a vegetarian, too."

Stick a Warlock (arcane/ranged) with a Fighter (melee/ranged), a Rogue (stealth/melee/face), and a Dragon Shaman (melee/healing), and that party can keep going 24/7.

Or, heck, a party of four warlocks. That'd be pretty fun. One could take the PBS archery feats and eldritch spear, one could go with power attack and eldritch glaive and focus on melee, one could boost save DCs and go for crowd control, and the last could focus on social interaction and stealth (fey feats, beguiling, flee the scene, fly, invis).

Have one PRC into the divine warlock class that allows Eldritch Blast to heal, and (when combined with scrolls and wands) you're good to go.

-z

 

[pawsplay]

Mind you, the eldritch blast is listed seperately, and doesn't seem to have the restriction that invocations do, as far as I can see. So a grappled warlock can still blast his enemy if he makes the Concentration check.

FAQ, errata, and at least one section in the invocation section describe eldritch blast as an invocation.

 

[der_kluge]

hehe i was waiting for someone to make mention of my spelling and wrighting sorry bout this i seem to have an inability to do such things tho i read just fine...

Klaus, I got this one for you.

translation:

hehe - I was waiting for someone to mention my spelling and writing. Sorry about that. I seem to have an inability to write at a 6th grade level, though I can read at a 12th grade level!

 

[Mistwell]

hehe i was waiting for someone to make mention of my spelling and wrighting sorry bout this i seem to have an inability to do such things tho i read just fine...

Don't worry Raspen. Your spelling stinks, but your comments have merit and are worth reading.

 

[Darklone]

Well, that's the thing. The Warlock's main strength--unlimited uses of abilities--is nullified if he adventures with even a single class that has x/day abilities. Because as soon as x comes around, the entire party will camp.
...

Just in case it's a campaign where easy camping is possible and time isn't precious.

 

[Klaus]

Don't worry Raspen. Your spelling stinks, but your comments have merit and are worth reading.

Except where he says that his epic warlock has a great AC, and then says his weak spot is his AC, because if he's hit he has to activate a magic item in the next round.

Dude, you don't have to spend cash on a weapon. Pump that into your armor! Get deflection bonus to your AC!

And the class lacks a decent counterspell (like THAT comes into play often...)? Use your Deceive Item ability and make yourself a wand of Greater Dispel Magic!

You have too few HP? Pump up your Damage Reduction (like, for instance, taking the Fey Heritage feats... ).

 

[Mistwell]

Except where he says that his epic warlock has a great AC, and then says his weak spot is his AC, because if he's hit he has to activate a magic item in the next round.

Dude, you don't have to spend cash on a weapon. Pump that into your armor! Get deflection bonus to your AC!

And the class lacks a decent counterspell (like THAT comes into play often...)? Use your Deceive Item ability and make yourself a wand of Greater Dispel Magic!

You have too few HP? Pump up your Damage Reduction (like, for instance, taking the Fey Heritage feats... ).

Well, I thought what he had to say was worth reading. I always prefer to hear how someone's actual character has performed in the field rather than how they might perform theoretically, and it sounds like he has some good experience using the Warlock class. You're free to disagree

 

[Zaruthustran]

Just in case it's a campaign where easy camping is possible and time isn't precious.

With a good DM, that's virtually assured. A good DM won't punish the player of an X/day character. Sure, to spice things up he'll throw in a few situations where rest isn't possible. But for the most part, he'll play standard D&D: plenty of opportunities to recover spells and HP.

Given that assumption, the Warlock's main strength is nullified. If the cleric and wizard need to stop because they're out of spells, and the fighter needs to stop because he's low on HP, then the party will stop. Simple as that.

-z