Warlock?

[(contact)]

It looks like in 4e, there will be no niche for the sorcerer (as all spellcasters will have once-per-round spells), but we will have the warlock.

Can anyone give me a quick run-down of the class as it stands in 3e? Themes, game niche, etc.?

Thanks in advance, all!

 

[TerraDave]

I will let someone more exp with the class answer...

but in terms of niches (and joining the pointless speculation)

We have the defender, controler, striker and leader

So
Wizard: arcane controler
Warlock: arcane striker
Sorcerer: arcane leader or defender(?!)

And of course bard was the original "arcane leader"

 

[(contact)]

My understanding was that combat roles wouldn't be tightly connected to classes. A wizard might be a defender, controller or striker, depending on how he's built.

 

[FreeXenon]

Wizard: arcane controler
Warlock: arcane striker
Sorcerer: arcane leader or defender(?!)

And of course bard was the original "arcane leader"

That is a very interesting breakdown you have. I like the idea. Do you have a quote for that or is that a very cool speculation.

 

[TerraDave]

Like I said, speculation.

Contact, they have made a big deal about how classes will fit their niches. If they say a cleric is a "leader" (probably a nice way of saying supporter), then their supposed to be that, even if they do some other stuff. And for this there are quotes...will see if I can find.

EDIT: From the front page

From GamerZer0's interview with James Wyatt: There are four "roles".
Defender: fighter & paladin classes
Leader: cleric & warlord classes
Controller: wizard class
Striker: rogue & ranger classes

Although two PCs may serve the same role, they may do it in different ways. (Like fighters with different styles.) The roles are geared towards combat; a PC's non-combat aspects can differentiate him further. He also said that they are still considering the possibility of there being a class or two that doesn't quite fit the four "roles"

From this and other statements, I am getting that, unless they are of the exceptions, they need to fill their slot.

 

[FreeXenon]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing. I think you might be close to right. With 4 base class types (Warrior, Divine Caster, Arcane Caster, and Skill guy) and 4 roles (Defender, Leader, Striker, and Controller) that would amount to 16 base classes or there abouts, which is a few to many, I am thinking, to fit them all in the PHB though.

 

[(contact)]

Contact, they have made a big deal about how classes will fit their niches. If they say a cleric is a "leader" (probably a nice way of saying supporter), then their supposed to be that, even if they do some other stuff. And for this there are quotes...will see if I can find.

Perhaps I've mis-understood, but that wasn't my understanding at the seminar. My understanding was that while the roles will be defined more clearly, classes won't be limited to one role.

-----

Warlock breakdown anyone?

 

[Caliber]

I'm not 100% certain of what you're looking for, but I'll give it my best shot.

A warlock is someone who has a in-born connection to magic, like a Sorceror, but stemming instead from chaotic/evil entities. They don't cast spells, but have "invocations" which are at-will spell-like abilities they can do as many times a day as they want. Most of the invocations are more defensive/utility abilities, except for the ones that change their eldritch blast, which is their other big class feature. Eldritch blast is a ranged touch attack that does 1d6 at 1st and scales upwards from there, with unlimited uses (just like the invocations). They get a handful of invocations that attach status affects/areas/damage types to their blast (which doesn't have a save by default, but which does have to check SR). They have a handful of minor abilities relating to wand-use and some resistances based on their fiendish powers.

I've only seen a Warlock in play at lower levels, but she was a pretty good damage dealer, and with constant See Invisibility, she gave a good bit of help when we were attacked by invisible foes. Also, I'm not sure where, but I saw some write-ups of alternate versions that were powered not by fiendish might, but by faerie/celestial/draconic/other? abilities. If anyone knows what I'm talking about, I'd love to find that write-up again, it was pretty cool.

Is that kinda what you were looking for?

 

[(contact)]

Yes, that's perfect, thanks!

So the warlock is kind of the sorcerer in concept, but with the good fluff left in (extraplanar voices in the head). Wonder which race will have this as a linked class?

Interestingly enough, the 3e warlock mechanic sounds pretty close to general spellcasting in 4e. I wonder what mechanics will differentiate the warlock?

 

[TerraDave]

there is no question the Warlock is a model for 3ed(funny typo) 4ed, and probably the most popular class outside the PHB.

And, it sounds like a natural striker.