Warlocks...how do they play?

[Thyrkill]

Hi,

I am starting a character (2nd level) in a new campaign, and was contemplating the Warlock class. I was curious as to how well do they play in the game, i.e. they seem powerful but do they have use in a party. I'm sure that the class has been discussed before (don't have the search option), so even a link to previous threads would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Matt

 

[I'm A Banana]

They are not a horrible replacement for a "blaster" or an archer-type, and can do middling well as a stealth-type.

A few things to note:

1 - They never run out of steam. While their individual things aren't that potent, the fact that they can do them ALL DAY LONG may come into play if you're a fan of whittling down rescources. The warlock has no real rescources to whittle down.

2 - Their abilities are selfish. They can't do a whole lot to help their party members, though they can do a whole lot to help themselves.

3 - They are the penultimate UMD class. Expect them to buy wands and scrolls of stuff they can't otherwise do.

Those are the main things to keep in mind. Don't expect the warlock to share his love, don't expect him to run out of steam, and do anticipate the need for wands, scrolls, staves, etc. for 'em.

 

[Thanee]

Warlock and Spellthief make a great team.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Emirikol]

We've got a warlock and a spellthief in our party..of course, it's a low magic campaign so I think the spellthief guy is re-thinking where he's going to put future class levels.

The warlock is a shallow blaster..that's about it.

All they do is blast...

Seems pretty boring to me (but I'm the DM and just get to watch

jh

 

[Andre]

We've got a warlock and a spellthief in our party..of course, it's a low magic campaign so I think the spellthief guy is re-thinking where he's going to put future class levels.

The warlock is a shallow blaster..that's about it.

All they do is blast...

Seems pretty boring to me (but I'm the DM and just get to watch

jh

I'm curious - one comment that I hear over and over is how boring warlocks are, that they are one-trick ponies, that playing one gets old sooner or later. Yet most fighters, barbarians, and archer-types suffer from the same issues. They're are as - or more - limited as a warlock, but except for people complaining about high-level fighters, I don't hear the same complaints.

So, is there really something wrong with the warlock, or is it a case of player's expectations not matching what the class offers?

 

[Emirikol]

I'm curious - one comment that I hear over and over is how boring warlocks are, that they are one-trick ponies, that playing one gets old sooner or later. Yet most fighters, barbarians, and archer-types suffer from the same issues. They're are as - or more - limited as a warlock, but except for people complaining about high-level fighters, I don't hear the same complaints. So, is there really something wrong with the warlock, or is it a case of player's expectations not matching what the class offers?

A fighter character always has the hit points, AC or skills to participate. Warlock has ZIP. Just a blast ability..chain blast..connect the blast..roast the blast...blast from the past..fast blast..miniature blast.not very interesting from what I've seen.

jh

 

[Kurotowa]

Warlocks are reliable. They have few abilities that run out, touch attacks for untyped magical damage, and some nice defensive tricks and DR. Their effectiveness never drops off. But the other side of the coin is that their effectiveness don't spike higher either. They have no Power Attack, nothing to match the highest level spells of an equal level caster, and few buffs that add significantly to them. Later on you can get Maximize SLA for your Eldrtich Blast, but that only gets you 3/day. Your Eldritch Blast is a ranged support weapon that's best used to help finish off whoever the main combat characters are beating on.

Where the Warlock finds their strength and role is in their Invocations, and with so few you really have to focus them carefully. Spiderwalk, Fell Flight, and Flee the Scene will give you unmatched mobility. Earthen/Stony Grasp and the Walls and Tentacles give you excellent battlefield control. Taking the stealth and vision Invocations will make you a useful scout. Beguiling Influence and Charm make you an effective party face. And you can always find clever things to do by shattering things with Baleful Utterance or dispelling enemy spells with Voracious Dispelling. The pinch is that you can only do about one and a half of these with the few Invocations you get. So pick carefully. Whatever you take is what you'll be doing with half your actions for the rest of the campaign.

 

[irdeggman]

A fighter can vary his tircks via various feats.

A warlock revolves around eldritch blast and since it is a spell liek ability, is only usable once per rund.

A warlock can combine a single essence and shape invocation on his blast. He can't apply 2 of either one at once though.

So if he wants any kind of range he uses his shape for edritch spear (range 250 ft instead of the mere 60 ft it normally hase) but he can't hit more than one target a round with it. If he eants to hit more than 1 target he is using eldritch chain, cone or doom) - which are all shape invocations and thus are much closer in range. Now chain requires successive attack rolls and each attack does less damage than the previous one, while cone and doom eith no attack rol allow a saving throw.

Yes he can take Quicken Spell Like Ability feat inorder to be able to use his eldtrich balst more than once in a round, but it is extremely limited in benefit.

QUICKEN SPELL-LIKE ABILITY [GENERAL]
Prerequisite: Spell-like ability at caster level 10th or higher.
Benefit: Choose one of the creature’s spell-like abilities, subject to the restrictions described below. The creature can use that ability as a quickened spell-like ability three times per day (or less, if the ability is normally usable only once or twice per day).
Using a quickened spell-like ability is a free action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. The creature can perform another action—including the use of another spell-like ability—in the same round that it uses a quickened spell-like ability. The creature may use only one quickened spell-like ability per round.
The creature can only select a spell-like ability duplicating a spell with a level less than or equal to half its caster level (round down) –4. For a summary, see the table below.
In addition, a spell-like ability that duplicates a spell with a casting time greater than 1 full round cannot be quickened.
Normal: Normally the use of a spell-like ability requires a standard action and provokes an attack of opportunity unless noted otherwise.
Special: This feat can be taken multiple times. Each time it is taken, the creature can apply it to a different one of its spell-like abilities.

Empower and Quicken Spell-Like Ability
Spell Level Caster Level to Empower Caster Level to Quicken
0 4th 8th
1st 6th 10th
2nd 8th 12th
3rd 10th 14th
4th 12th 16th
5th 14th 18th
6th 16th 20th
7th 18th —
8th 20th —
9th — —

Since the class gets no bonus feats the first tiem a warlock could take the feat is at 12th level. Then he could apply it to a single combination of invocations that have the highest SL equal to 2. And this feat has to be applied specifically to a single combination of invocations per feat (the warlock can't choose to switch the combinations at will).

 

[Crothian]

So, is there really something wrong with the warlock, or is it a case of player's expectations not matching what the class offers?

They do get boring. The most interesting thing about the Warlock is the UMD. I also don't think the abilities match the concept that well.

 

[frankthedm]

So, is there really something wrong with the warlock, or is it a case of player's expectations not matching what the class offers?

The class offers the comic book villainous spell caster. If you ever wondered what it would be like to be a caster without a set amount of spells per day, here it is. A bottomless source of power that forbids you from ever becoming close to lawful good.

If you ever wanted to blast every round, this is the class for you. You’ll be more limited than a sorcerer, and you might need to eldritch blast an innocent child once in a while to maintain your alignment, but such is the price you’ll pay. You’ll also be the one character in all of D&D that can activate blindly with confidence.

Overall it seems like a decent class, there are some issues with how some invocations can drastically affect some adventure types, but as long as:

Magic items are a salable commodity in the setting
Magic is as commonly available as the ruleset assumes
The normal breakneck speed character level advancement system is used.

The warlock is more or less a balanced class.