Warlock Pre-Errata.

[Egres]

Hi, folks--

Just wanted to give you all a heads-up on a couple of pieces of errata for the warlock. We're not quite ready to turn out the full errata file for Complete Arcane (there's always some, as you know), but there are two things that have really been bugging me and I want to let you know about them.

1. Eldritch blast is an invocation and is subject to the arcane spell failure chance of any other invocation if you wear medium or heavy armor. On page 8, under Warlock Invocations, ignore the bold header "Invocations and Eldritch Blast."

2. Eldritch blast is equivalent to a 1st-level spell (or the spell level equivalent of any blast shape or eldritch essence you attach to it). So, you'll be able to use the Empower Spell-like Ability, etc., feats to modify your eldritch blast if you wish. On page 7, under Eldritch Blast, 2nd paragraph, just change the last sentence to read, "An eldritch blast is the equivalent of a 1st-level spell, unless modified by a blast shape or eldritch essence."


Sorry about the confusion; we'll have our standard errata information assembled soon, and we'll make it available as quickly as possible. I just wanted to get this in front of you folks, since you've been asking a lot of questions about it.
__________________
Rich Baker
Senior Designer
Roleplaying R&D
Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

Have fun with your 1st level Eldritch Blast then.

 

[ThoughtfulOwl]

OMG! A first-level spell-like ability that breaks the damage cap! It must be broken!!!


On a more serious tone, Mr. Baker has just saved us from a lot of arguments about metamagic feats for spell-like abilities and how they apply to eldritch blast. Thanks Go... ahem, Baker.

 

[Essence]

Yes, we now know that, at 12th level, every Warlock EVAR will take the Quicken Spell-Like Ability feat.

Actually, the requirements of the meta-SLA feats aren't cumulative, so it's probably likely that every Warlock will have Empower, Maximize, and Quicken SLA by 12th level.

 

[Saeviomagy]

Yes, we now know that, at 12th level, every Warlock EVAR will take the Quicken Spell-Like Ability feat.

Actually, the requirements of the meta-SLA feats aren't cumulative, so it's probably likely that every Warlock will have Empower, Maximize, and Quicken SLA by 12th level.

They're not THAT good. The 3/day enhancement of your blast is nice, but there's plenty of other feats you could be taking.

 

[Shin Okada]

1st-level spell? So, unless combined with some other blast shape or Eldritch essence, a 20th-level Warlock's Eldritch blast can be negated by Lessor Globe of Invulnerability?

 

[shilsen]

1st-level spell? So, unless combined with some other blast shape or Eldritch essence, a 20th-level Warlock's Eldritch blast can be negated by Lessor Globe of Invulnerability?

Yep

 

[Thanee]

BTW, if you quicken the Eldritch Blast and then use a blast invocation or something like that... can you use the combined blast as a free action, too, or only the pure blast without any "invocation upgrades"?

Bye
Thanee

 

[Shin Okada]

BTW, if you quicken the Eldritch Blast and then use a blast invocation or something like that... can you use the combined blast as a free action, too, or only the pure blast without any "invocation upgrades"?

Bye
Thanee

Wow .... It seems that this new rule still needs a lot of clarifications.

 

[Nail]

They're not THAT good. The 3/day enhancement of your blast is nice, but there's plenty of other feats you could be taking.

Name one.

Quicken Spell-like ability is that good. You'd be a fool not to take it ASAP.

 

[shilsen]

BTW, if you quicken the Eldritch Blast and then use a blast invocation or something like that... can you use the combined blast as a free action, too, or only the pure blast without any "invocation upgrades"?

Bye
Thanee

I'd allow it if the new modified spell level (using the blast invocation or whatever else is added) fits under the restrictions of the quicken spell-like ability. So a Warlock12 (caster level 12) would be able to get the benefits of Quicken Spell-Like Ability with an eldritch blast modified by an eldritch spear (2nd lvl) blast shape invocation but not an eldritch chain (4th lvl) blast shape invocation.

Purely a personal interpretation, of course, till it's clarified.