D&D 3E/3.5 need help converting 3.5 Warlock to 2e

[Herobizkit]

The title says it all. I am planning to make a Warlock for an upcoming 2e campaign and I am looking for suggestions, ideas, or just plain "how-to's" to present the Warlock in an unbroken manner. Theoretically, it seems easy, but in practice... is it?

 

[pawsplay]

Wizards in 2e have less access to spells. Ability scores were lower, and spells per day were fewer. The 3.5 Warlock has generous access to incantations, and incantions are unlimited. The ranged touch is an established part of 3.5; in 2e it was usually a Save vs. Ray (or Rod, or whatever, can't remember) for none. Warlocks bridge the gap between spells and monstrous "super powers"; 2e allowed almost nothing in the way of super powers for PC races. SR is a serious limitation in 3.5, much rarer in 2e. Use Magic Device as such does not exist in 2e. Charisma is not a casting stat in 2e (there may be a marginal exception for the genie summoing guys from al Qadim).

 

[Shin Okada]

Warlock is more like an alternative archer than to be an alternative spell caster. So, balance it out against fighter or ranger with bows, instead of trying to make it as a real spell caster. Then, simply give it the abilities to use magic items restricted to other classes. That will be a good start, I guess.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

For starters, I'd

1) give them the Thief's Armor, Weapons, HD, THAC0 & XP chart, with Wizard saves. In the alternative, I'd use the Psionicist class stats.

2) treat their basic Eldritch blast as a Special Attack- I'd check out some of the psionics for guidelines- and give them a selection of distinct Eldritch effects as they level as opposed to modifying the basic blast. Remember, 2Ed isn't as option loaded as 3.X.

Eldritch effects would be subject to SR, and Saves would be as per analogous spells (see 2Ed PHB p 101).

3) base their UMD on something resembling the Thief's skills chart- IOW a % skill.

4) have their alignment be any non-Good.

5) use the same racial level limits (if you use them) and multiclass restrictions as if they were Wizards.

 

[Herobizkit]

Those are all excellent suggestions, and pretty much how I'd do it. After considering things, though, I've decided to make a Bard/Cleric instead. *lol* Thanks for the input, all!

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

[doubletake]Wha?[/doubletake]

Consarned kids and their wibbly-wobbly PC generatin' threads!

 

[Herobizkit]

Yeah, I know. When I make characters, I have an internal struggle of Fun vs Utility. Given that the other players are playing a F/M Bladesinger, a Ranger/Druid, and likely a Rogue/something, I wanted to play a non-meatshield/support character. Warlock was a likely fit with Bard, but after seeing the above posts, I decided I'd be a little more purist. Halflings can't technically be Bard/Clerics in 2e but the DM nixed that limitation. My character concept fits the Bard/Cleric (Speciality Priest of Waukeen, actuall) much better, even if the combo is sub-optimal. So long as he lets me use darts, it'll be all win wihtout feeling like a complete wimp compared to the Beefeaters.