So my warlock has just gained a level. I'm wondering if it will be rule-safe if I multi-class my Warlock into another Warlock Class?
The initial skills, spell list may overlap but it will be worth it if my character will be both a Pact of Chain and Book!
Although a Warlock 2 / Warlock 2 may break the game since it may then dictate it will have a total of 4 invocations?
For story consistency it will be the same Patron.
Of course it will depend on the DM but can this be rule-safe?
First its not allowed per rules as written:
"With this rule, you have the option of gaining a level in a
new class whenever you advance in level, instead of gaining a level in your current class." PHB p.163
The reason it that anything that refers to "Warlock level" could be considered to include all of them so what would you be losing for this exchange? There needs to be a cost. If you count them as separate classes and only use your highest one as "warlock levels" then you would get separate spell slots for Pact Magic multiclass allowing way more spell slots for a level 2.
Example:
Warlock 4: 2 2nd level spell slots, 2 invocations, 3 cantrips, 5 known spells
Warlock 2 / Warlock 2: 4 1st level spell slots, 4 invocations, 4 cantrips, 4 known spells, Cost: 1 feat 1 known spell
-At high level-
Warlock 20: 4 5th level spell slots, 8 invocations, 4 cantrips, 15 known spells
Warlock 4 / Warlock 4 / Warlock 16: 3 5th and 4 2nd level spell slots, 11 invocations, 10 cantrips, 23 known spells
and the benefit of all 3 pacts instead of 1... Cost: Mystic Arcanum (9th level) and Eldritch Master (which is way out shadowed by the fact you can restore 7 spell slots per short rest). So really only Mystic Arcanum (9th level).
So yes multi-classing in Warlock twice breaks the class (way more powerful than the standard warlock so no one would use it) on top of being not allowed.
Would be interesting for a boss to fight though.
Edit: After additional consideration.
Wizard Level 20 to get an idea of the power difference between other high level casters.
22 spell slots total, 5 cantrips, 44 known spells (with the ability to record more into your book)
Requirement to prepare spells (25 at 20 with 20 int.), Long rest to recover spell slots
- Warlocks still know less spells
+ 13 cantrips is a lot of "free" spell casting for warlocks
(since you would get 3 from Tome from any class)
= Warlocks 7 spells slot recovered after short rests will not over power wizards if they only get 2 short rests in a day. But keep in mind Warlocks would get 10 level 5 spell slots in exchange for the loss of 6 higher spell slots. A third short rest in the same day tips it to the Warlock. (Not huge and controllable by GM)
+ Warlocks Familiar is way more powerful than the Wizards
+ Blade lock ability only really matters if the warlock is built to be useful in melee.
++ The bid disparity is defiantly the 11 invocations which can make some higher level spells cantrips.
I would try and get into more of the differences but its already leaning toward warlocks. It would still say broken, however it would take some work to make it game breaking broken. If you did not give additional cantrips (except for the 3 for tome) and did not allow more than 8 invocations... it actually would not be that bad.
