D&D 5E Warlock invocations using spell slots

[Runny]

Well worst case scenario, at level 20 you could theoretically have eight of these. However, there are only seven.

So that is a daily use of: Bane, Bestow Curse, Compulsion, Confusion, Conjure Elemental, Polymorph and Slow.

These all look pretty good spells to me. On the other hand, a lot of these are Concentration spells so your unlikely to use them all in the same combat.

On the surface, it doesn't really look like having them not consume a warlock spell slot is going to massively change things.

I think they would mostly be used by warlocks that wanted a more castery experience. Most warlocks would stick to at will invocations, after all that is one of the main attractions of the class. I know that I can't wait for 9th level when I can start Jumping everywhere with my blade lock.

 

[bganon]

Well, the baseline assumption in 5e seems to be for 1-2 short rests per day, with about 2 encounters between short rests.

So if you make all those "cast X spell 1/day" invocations slotless, they might start to add up.

At level 11, a warlock has 3 5th-level slots, 5 invocations, and their 6th-level arcanum. If every one of those invocations is "cast X 3rd-4th level spell 1/day without a slot", then that warlock effectively has 6-9 5th level slots/day plus 5 more at 3rd-4th, plus the arcanum. That seems like a lot of casting, actually, enough to be throwing higher-level spells for 2-3 rounds of each combat. Not game-breaking, but I think I see why the designers might have wanted to throw up some fences.

But if you trust your players not to abuse slotless spell invocations, and don't allow a short rest after every encounter, then you're probably fine.

 

[Runny]

In actual play, any warlock that took all spells would be giving up 1-2 signature abilities (agonizing blast, tome one, familiar one, thirsting blade, devil's sight). It would be more like three daily spells at 11th. Compulsion, Polymorph, and Slow. Still way behind other casters, but better than nothing.