D&D 5E Is Hex actually that great?

[Eric V]

For a pure Warlock using standard spell slots instead of spell points,

Wait...there's an option for Warlocks to use spell points?

-Eric

 

[crashtestdummy]

Wait...there's an option for Warlocks to use spell points?

-Eric

Warlock spell slots are not standard spell slots. That's why the multiclassing section has special rules for how the two interact. I took the term "spell points" to mean "pact magic slots", which are distinct to standard spell slots used by other magic-using classes.

 

[JackOfAllTirades]

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit replying to quotes.

<deadpan> Surely you can't be serious.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

Wait...there's an option for Warlocks to use spell points?

-Eric

DMG has a spell point variant at the back. It's straightforward to convert it for warlock use.

 

[TwoSix]

<deadpan> Surely you can't be serious.

I am serious. And don't call me Shirley.

 

[Eric V]

DMG has a spell point variant at the back. It's straightforward to convert it for warlock use.

Interesting...as a warlock player I'd LOVE it if my DM let me use spell points...how have you seen this played out?

 

[ChrisCarlson]

Personally I think the no-save disadvantage to checks is far, far more potent than the damage. Anyone can deal damage. Being able to subtly force disadvantage on a wide variety of checks is pretty rare.

Agreed. My assassin/shadow monk/feypact bladelock loves to use hex strategically, less so for damage. For example, being able to force disadvantage on my prey's Wisdom checks makes it far more likely that I can successfully hide from them.

 

[Saeviomagy]

My Paladin/Warlock is perfectly happy with hex.

I use my paladin slots to cast hex, and my (short rest) warlock slots to Smite.

So you're saying that your paladin is happy being able to cast hex, and your warlock is happy being able to smite...

 

[Sword of Spirit]

The rules are written for simplicity and ease of use. They are not written to avoid this kind of abuse because that is wasted effort. There will always be a way to abuse them.

Otherwise there would be a blurb about Warlock sacrifices.

If you want there to be a thing about Warlock sacrifices in your game, there is nothing wrong with making that happen.

Say you were inspired by this rules abuse if you like.

Or if you think Warlocks are underpowered give them a free casting of Hex every day.

But call it what it is.

I'm honestly not seeing this as abuse. You have to cast a spell called "hex" on a creature and then kill it to get this extra magical power (spell slot), which isn't even mechanically unbalanced. If you are a fiend pact warlock you can get some temporary hit points to go with it, which gives that pact (appropriately) a bit of extra power from doing this.

Contrast that to a feature that is designed to grant a more or less unrelated benefit for metagame purposes (4e healing on a hit), or otherwise designed to fit the fiction of a combat scenario but not the fiction of killing a small defenseless animal.

If the fiction of killing a small defenseless animal thematically fits the nature of the feature, and it isn't overpowered, then how is this rules abuse? It is an entirely different scenario.

 

[Arial Black]

So you're saying that your paladin is happy being able to cast hex, and your warlock is happy being able to smite...

MCing FTW!