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<blockquote data-quote="procproc" data-source="post: 6621478" data-attributes="member: 6791328">The Warlock isn't a good enough spellcaster to compare toe to toe with a Wizard or Cleric. It has much more in common with a ranged martial character (say, an EK Fighter with a focus in Archery) than it does with a primary caster.You guys can argue over whether that was the design intent until you're blue in the face, but I think we can agree on the following:1. Blade Pact does not turn the Warlock into an EFFECTIVE, PRIMARY front line melee warrior; and2. A significant number of players perceive that the intent of Blade Pact is to turn the Warlock into an effective, front line melee warrior.Personally, I think the Dex-based Bladelock works reasonably well mechanically in that role. But a lot of people see the melee abilities and the demonic pact and want to play a demon-charged, Str-based warrior, and the mechanics don't work quite so well for that.Another piece of the problem is, as someone mentioned earlier, that you don't choose a Pact feature until 3rd level. That's fine in the abstract, but when you want to start adding in core abilities (such as the ability to wear armor for a frontline fighter) those are really things you want as class features from level 1. Even if everyone could agree on certain changes that were desirable for Blade Pact, such as proficiency in Medium Armor, it works sort of poorly for a character to be unable to fulfill his/her desired function for a few levels.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="procproc, post: 6621478, member: 6791328"] The Warlock isn't a good enough spellcaster to compare toe to toe with a Wizard or Cleric. It has much more in common with a ranged martial character (say, an EK Fighter with a focus in Archery) than it does with a primary caster. You guys can argue over whether that was the design intent until you're blue in the face, but I think we can agree on the following: 1. Blade Pact does not turn the Warlock into an EFFECTIVE, PRIMARY front line melee warrior; and 2. A significant number of players perceive that the intent of Blade Pact is to turn the Warlock into an effective, front line melee warrior. Personally, I think the Dex-based Bladelock works reasonably well mechanically in that role. But a lot of people see the melee abilities and the demonic pact and want to play a demon-charged, Str-based warrior, and the mechanics don't work quite so well for that. Another piece of the problem is, as someone mentioned earlier, that you don't choose a Pact feature until 3rd level. That's fine in the abstract, but when you want to start adding in core abilities (such as the ability to wear armor for a frontline fighter) those are really things you want as class features from level 1. Even if everyone could agree on certain changes that were desirable for Blade Pact, such as proficiency in Medium Armor, it works sort of poorly for a character to be unable to fulfill his/her desired function for a few levels. [/QUOTE]

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