D&D (2024) Pact Of Chain Warlock is really powerful now.

[Twiggly the Gnome]

So...I know that abbreviations are useful and all...

But wouldn't it be a lot more clear to use "Chain Warlock" rather than "POC"? Because, y'know, there's a MUCH more well-known and widely-used meaning of "POC" that is going to confuse a lot of people.

And by a lot of people I mean I, personally, was deeply confused and kind of worried about the title until I thought through it for a minute.

... and if one were to abbreviate it like that, why POC, and not POTC?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I think you can do a warlock with Pact of the Chain that's still pretty focused on Eldritch Blast.

Or as I like to call it, a Blast Intensive Pact Of the Chain warlock.

You mean a BIPotCW?

 

[tetrasodium]

Ignoring the previous reasons raised for objecting to the unfortunate 3 letter acronym, it is a terrible choice of acronym for the simple fact that people can do a google search for something like chain pact guide & chain warlock guide while I don't even want to imagine what the google search for a guide to that would return.

 

[Horwath]

I think you can do a warlock with Pact of the Chain that's still pretty focused on Eldritch Blast.

isn't every warlock?

Or as I like to call it, a Blast Intensive Pact Of the Chain warlock.

maybe just Chainlock?

 

[tetrasodium]

Be sure to enforce the 10gp/use material component cost. It may not seem like much, but it helps prevent the spam-cast approach to using the familiar at the lower levels. It's definitely powerful at first level, but becomes less so over time.

That's not even a limitation at low levels under AL

Spoiler: the relevant bit

Mundane Equipment and Treasure. Mundane equipment
found during the adventure can be used and divided up as
the characters decide at the end of the session.
Treasure (including items that have a monetary value but
are not equipment, such as art objects and gems) is awarded
as the adventure directs. It can be spent during the session;
any remaining treasure at the end of the session is converted
to gold pieces and divided equally among the characters. If
the adventure does not have treasure awarded in this
fashion (such as some official D&D Adventurers League
adventures), you may add a treasure reward as appropriate
either during play or at the end of the session. Use the
following table for guidance.
UNSPECIFIED TREASURE ALLOWANCE PER SESSION
Adventure Level Minimum Maximum
Levels 1-4 (Tier 1) 100 gp 500 gp
Levels 5-10 (Tier 2) 1000 gp 5000 gp
Levels 11-16 (Tier 3) 10,000 gp 50,000 gp
Levels 17-20 (Tier 4) 50,000 gp 100,000 gp

I cite the ALDMG because A: we don't have the 2024 DMG & B: I've not seen or heard any indication that the 2024 DMG has a return of WBL or this bizarre litrpg system driven style shredder box driven Wealth by session. It's kinda weird that wotc seems to be embracing litrpg useful to PC "system" elements like that without pairing it with any of the common tropes where said system overtly pushes back or resists being manipulated.

 

[Zardnaar]

That's not even a limitation at low levels under AL

Spoiler: the relevant bit

Mundane Equipment and Treasure. Mundane equipment
found during the adventure can be used and divided up as
the characters decide at the end of the session.
Treasure (including items that have a monetary value but
are not equipment, such as art objects and gems) is awarded
as the adventure directs. It can be spent during the session;
any remaining treasure at the end of the session is converted
to gold pieces and divided equally among the characters. If
the adventure does not have treasure awarded in this
fashion (such as some official D&D Adventurers League
adventures), you may add a treasure reward as appropriate
either during play or at the end of the session. Use the
following table for guidance.
UNSPECIFIED TREASURE ALLOWANCE PER SESSION
Adventure Level Minimum Maximum
Levels 1-4 (Tier 1) 100 gp 500 gp
Levels 5-10 (Tier 2) 1000 gp 5000 gp
Levels 11-16 (Tier 3) 10,000 gp 50,000 gp
Levels 17-20 (Tier 4) 50,000 gp 100,000 gp

I cite the ALDMG because A: we don't have the 2024 DMG & B: I've not seen or heard any indication that the 2024 DMG has a return of WBL or this bizarre litrpg system driven style shredder box driven Wealth by session. It's kinda weird that wotc seems to be embracing litrpg useful to PC "system" elements like that without pairing it with any of the common tropes where said system overtly pushes back or resists being manipulated.

AL still a thing?

 

[tetrasodium]

AL still a thing?

I was initially going to comment about how gold was not even given to players in AL to point out how wotc doesn't even consider the 10gp to be a limit & went to look for the exact text when I found the updated version where players each get a minimum amount of gold per session. Now the 10gp/summon is not a limit & doesn't even add up to a meaningful low level coinpurse hit even in AL where players have full on LitRPG loot->coin exchange boxes running while adventuring.


AS to AL itself, yea it's still a thing. I quit running it at the local FLGS where I used to run it twice a week but it's still a reghular thing with other GMs there.

 

[Zardnaar]

I was initially going to comment about how gold was not even given to players in AL to point out how wotc doesn't even consider the 10gp to be a limit & went to look for the exact text when I found the updated version where players each get a minimum amount of gold per session. Now the 10gp/summon is not a limit & doesn't even add up to a meaningful low level coinpurse hit even in AL where players have full on LitRPG loot->coin exchange boxes running while adventuring.


AS to AL itself, yea it's still a thing. I quit running it at the local FLGS where I used to run it twice a week but it's still a reghular thing with other GMs there.

I don't think holding it up as an exampke is that effective.

10gp isn't a lot in a typical game but you can't spam it early on at least.

 

[tetrasodium]

I don't think holding it up as an exampke is that effective.

And?... That would be why the post you originally quoted of mine talked about the lack of new dmg & lack of coverage for the new DMG indicating anything either way

10gp isn't a lot in a typical game but you can't spam it early on at least.

The post I quoted when I mentioned AL's gold literally talked about the 10gp helping at low levels. "It may not seem like much, but it helps prevent the spam-cast approach to using the familiar at the lower levels. It's definitely powerful at first level, but becomes less so over time." My point was the fact that the 10gp doesn't really do much of anything to limit PCs from spam casting it pending availability or coverage of the new dmg indicating anything either way.

 

[Zardnaar]

And?... That would be why the post you originally quoted of mine talked about the lack of new dmg & lack of coverage for the new DMG indicating anything either way

The post I quoted when I mentioned AL's gold literally talked about the 10gp helping at low levels. "It may not seem like much, but it helps prevent the spam-cast approach to using the familiar at the lower levels. It's definitely powerful at first level, but becomes less so over time." My point was the fact that the 10gp doesn't really do much of anything to limit PCs from spam casting it pending availability or coverage of the new dmg indicating anything either way.

You used AL. I'm saying it's not a good example as it's only applicable in AL.

10gp won't matter for to long but it may at level 1-3. There's not that much loot in DoSI for example.