Non-Vancian Caster Option

[Dausuul]

So, if the arguing on ENWorld is any guide to the sentiments of the fanbase, WotC will almost certainly have both a Vancian and a non-Vancian arcane caster in the 5E Player's Handbook. It's the only way to please both sides. The Vancian class will likely resemble the traditional wizard, albeit with a little tweaking and polishing. But what about the non-Vancian class?

What I'd like to see: A warlock class, along the general lines of the 3E version, with a bunch of at-will abilities and no encounter or daily powers. (Maybe give them some rituals as well. Rituals seem to fit the warlock nicely.) However, the warlock would also have a mechanism similar to the 4E pact boon. I'll call it "dark favor" for now.

Each time an enemy is reduced to zero hit points, the warlock's dark favor increases by 1. Some of the warlock's combat powers can only be used when her dark favor has reached a certain level. After 5 minutes, dark favor disappears, so it's effectively a per-encounter thing. This gives the warlock some variety in combat, and "back-loads" her powers so that the big guns come out near the end of the fight when everybody's starting to get bored.

(Not sure what to do about the situation where the party is fighting a solo monster. Maybe dark favor comes each time the warlock successfully uses an attack power, instead of each time an enemy dies?)

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Not really a fan of the warlock, particularly the 3e warlock. I quite like the 4e Wizard and the Swordmage.
Warlock are fine as a particular take on magic users, it is essentially the classic conception of witch as concieved by medieval witchhunters. One who has sold their soul other powers, it is just in D&D there are a lot of powers in the soul buying game.
Of are you advocating that the warlock is re-imgined more along the lines of the 3.x version? As distinct that this is the non vancian wizard?

 

[Aldarc]

It depends on how you want to approach the problem. You can either create multiple classes that exist simultaneously who each possess different magic systems (e.g., wizard, sorcerer, psion, warlock, etc.) or you can simply create a modular magic system that can be replaced by another magic system.

 

[TrippyHippy]

I'd like to see a Wizard (Vancian) and a Witch Class in the core. The reason for a Witch would be because it's a clear fantasy archetype and also because it might encourage more female participation (this is not to say that women can't play Wizards, or men play Witches though).

The character could be a bit of a healer, also have familiars, and operate on a magic system based upon curses and blessings, as well as potions and other magical item creation (flying broomsticks, shapeshifting, etc). Their magic would be more intuitive than academic, and so wouldn't need to be tied to a Vancian Magic system at all.

 

[Ahnehnois]

I'd like to see something like a 3e warlock as well. It's nice to have a simple arcanist for those who don't like resource management. I also wouldn't mind a PF-like witch as it is archtypical.

I'd really like to see a words of power/elements of magic system used to unlerlie all the magic starting from the beginning.

 

[Aramax]

as long as we have vancian,you guys can have whatever you like!

 

[keterys]

It's more complicated than that.

If a pro-Vance and an anti-Vance both want to play a Wizard, neither is going to be happy if they have to be a Warlock or Witch.

And an at-will only option _really_ isn't remotely going to satisfy many of the people looking for spell points, 4e mage, or whatever.

 

[Ahnehnois]

It's more complicated than that.

If a pro-Vance and an anti-Vance both want to play a Wizard, neither is going to be happy if they have to be a Warlock or Witch.

And an at-will only option _really_ isn't remotely going to satisfy many of the people looking for spell points, 4e mage, or whatever.

Thus, I advocate dissociating the magic from the classes. Give the wizard some bookish skills and an appropriate set of base combat statistics, and then give him a Base Magic Bonus or the like. Then have multiple magic systems. You can use your BMB to determine your skill as a Vancian caster, quasi-Vancian (4e) caster, spell-point mage, words of power mage, etc. Your character uses whatever magic system you and the DM can agree on.

Indeed, I agree that Vancian+Warlock is nice but not enough.