It's really group and style depending. Many DMs deviate from the assumed 6-8 encounters per day (which really should have been scaled by level) to have fewer, deadlier fights. This usually reduces the number of short rests to 1, or possibly even 0. In addition, if you have 2 PCs that recover abilities on a short rest, such as a warlock and fighter, you're more likely to have short rests to replenish those abilities. Our group used to take few short rests (max 1 per day), but lately we've started doing more of them as the overall number of encounters increases (we average 5-7 per long rest when not overland traveling).
D&D 5E Proposed Houserule: Warlock Spell Slots
- Thread starter doctorbadwolf
- Start date
doctorbadwolf
Heretic of The Seventh Circle
I'd rather put that at least as late as 11th level, but I do like the idea of bringing it down several levels.
I sympathise with the OP, and also agree with many of the comments already made about the proposal. Largely, the merits of adding a 3rd spell slot for a warlock at 5th level will be table-dependent. I can see where it may make a substantial difference to the power of the class, and equally where it will make little difference whatsoever.
If you were going to do this, however, I'd be inclined to shift the additional slot to 6th level, rather than 5th, as the warlock gets 3rd level slots at 5th, a proficiency bonus boost at 5th, and a eldritch invocation at 5th. At 6th, it would add to the warlock patron feature, but at least it spreads out the bennies a bit more (and see my suggestion below about making it an alternative feature to the 6th level warlock patron feature).
Nevertheless, the warlock class is not really one of those classes I'd put in the top tier of powergaming. Its principal powergaming abuse is as a 1-to-3-level multiclass dip for another Cha-based class. A single-classed warlock is generally not as flexible as a single-class caster of another spellcasting class (Tomelock, maybe?), nor as lethal in combat as a single-class nonspellcaster. In that light, I suspect adding a 3rd spell slot at 5th level (and presumably a 4th a 11th level?) won't make it that much more powerful, and might temper the characterisation of the class as an eldritch blast-cannon one-trick pony.
I wouldn't be a big fan of making additional spellcasting in the way you've described as just another invocation, as warlocks don't really have enough invocations anyway. In most campaigns, a single-class warlock is probably going to top out at 5 or 6 invocations, and of course will be playing for much of the campaign with less (i.e. most campaigns tend to end before the characters achieve 12th level). However, it would present a bit of an interesting character design choice for the player, so worth thinking about.
Another option along a similar vein would be to have an alternative warlock class ability as per Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, which substitutes for the warlock's 6th level warlock patron feature. At 6th level, the warlock could substitute their warlock patron feature of that level with a "patron spell slot" that can only be used to cast a spell from the patron's spell list (but otherwise is treated as any other warlock spell slot).
Cheers, Al'kelhar
If you were going to do this, however, I'd be inclined to shift the additional slot to 6th level, rather than 5th, as the warlock gets 3rd level slots at 5th, a proficiency bonus boost at 5th, and a eldritch invocation at 5th. At 6th, it would add to the warlock patron feature, but at least it spreads out the bennies a bit more (and see my suggestion below about making it an alternative feature to the 6th level warlock patron feature).
Nevertheless, the warlock class is not really one of those classes I'd put in the top tier of powergaming. Its principal powergaming abuse is as a 1-to-3-level multiclass dip for another Cha-based class. A single-classed warlock is generally not as flexible as a single-class caster of another spellcasting class (Tomelock, maybe?), nor as lethal in combat as a single-class nonspellcaster. In that light, I suspect adding a 3rd spell slot at 5th level (and presumably a 4th a 11th level?) won't make it that much more powerful, and might temper the characterisation of the class as an eldritch blast-cannon one-trick pony.
I wouldn't be a big fan of making additional spellcasting in the way you've described as just another invocation, as warlocks don't really have enough invocations anyway. In most campaigns, a single-class warlock is probably going to top out at 5 or 6 invocations, and of course will be playing for much of the campaign with less (i.e. most campaigns tend to end before the characters achieve 12th level). However, it would present a bit of an interesting character design choice for the player, so worth thinking about.
Another option along a similar vein would be to have an alternative warlock class ability as per Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, which substitutes for the warlock's 6th level warlock patron feature. At 6th level, the warlock could substitute their warlock patron feature of that level with a "patron spell slot" that can only be used to cast a spell from the patron's spell list (but otherwise is treated as any other warlock spell slot).
Cheers, Al'kelhar
FireLance
Legend
I've analyzed the warlock spell progression table recently, and I've concluded that they actually get one more spell slot than they should from 2nd to 4th level.
If I wanted to re-balance the warlock for a game with fewer but tougher encounters and fewer short rests, I'd remove the second spell slot from 2nd to 4th level and give the warlock the following ability:
Pact Arcanum
Starting at 2nd level, you can cast one spell from your Expanded Spell List of a level that you can cast without expending a spell slot, even if it is not one of your spells known. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to half your proficiency modifier (rounded up). You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
If I wanted to re-balance the warlock for a game with fewer but tougher encounters and fewer short rests, I'd remove the second spell slot from 2nd to 4th level and give the warlock the following ability:
Pact Arcanum
Starting at 2nd level, you can cast one spell from your Expanded Spell List of a level that you can cast without expending a spell slot, even if it is not one of your spells known. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to half your proficiency modifier (rounded up). You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
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doctorbadwolf
Heretic of The Seventh Circle
Since it’s a feature the DM has to approve in order to be available, and it’s purpose is to boost Warlocks in games when they need a boost, I’d just have it be an Enhancement Variant Feature, rather than a replacement.
A mutually exclusive option for other games might be to add a Pact Boon of The Chalice that gives a daily Spell Slot. Or maybe an Invocation for Tome Warlocks that does the same and gives 1 or more Prepared Spells.
No chance. 1 spell slot from 1-5 would be garbage for actual gameplay.
FireLance
Legend
I guess it depends on whether you think a low (1st to 4th) level warlock should play more like a wizard or more like a ranged eldritch knight.
I'm surprised that there aren't more Tome invocations to improve spells known.
My PC had a book of Infinite Spells from 2e so I have been thinking about ways to implement that in 5e. Possibly an extra spell 1 per long rest but if already on your spell list you can cast it 1 per short rest and make a concentration check to avoid the page turning with advantage if it's a spell you could cast normally and disadvantage if it is higher level than you can cast.
doctorbadwolf
Heretic of The Seventh Circle
It should play like a spellcaster. Like a character whose entire identity is magic. It sure as hell shouldn’t play like a fighter that has a tiny touch of magic.
