Warlocks with wands, staffs and daggers?

[ZombieRoboNinja]

What I'm wondering is what kinds of "extra" effects you can get on wizard/warlock/cleric/etc. implements. What is "dark reward"? Would a wizard, or a cleric, or heck, a warlord be able to get the benefit from it? (It seems weird to me to have a weapon only one specific class can use, but where are the limits?)

Presumably a wizard can cast spells through a +3 wand, orb or staff to add +3 to hit and damage (maybe only on certain spells for each). Can he cast through a +3 warhammer? Can a warlock or paladin?

The warlock implements are what really puzzles me, honestly. They would seem likely to use the same iconic weapons as a wizard - staff, dagger, rod, etc. - but they probably won't do the "wizard implement" thing per se. Are "wizard implements" sort of like fighter weapon specializations, and a warlock can use any of them? Or... what?

 

[1of3]

Are "wizard implements" sort of like fighter weapon specializations(...)?

I think that was mentioned in one of the first podcasts.

 

[Black Knight Irios]

Are "wizard implements" sort of like fighter weapon specializations(...)?

I think that was mentioned in one of the first podcasts.

The wizard implements are like +x weapons (i.e. +3 longsword). Not like those feats.

 

[Cadfan]

Hmm.

I wouldn't draw conclusions from the art.

Historically, this is one aspect of WOTC's art control that has been really terrible. The books tend to be littered with pictures alleging that they are of a particular character or a particular character class, while holding weapons that are improbable for that character.

Book of Nine Swords is one of the worst in this regard- its filled with characters who are non proficient in ranged weapons and yet are holding bows, or who have loads of abilities that use only a single melee weapon, but who are dual wielding swords for inexplicable reasons.

Its not restricted to just that book, of course. And sometimes the differences are subtle, like characters using weapon options that are possible but dumb- like wielding a single weapon in one hand, and nothing in the other. That's an option that's fantasy-appropriate, but which D&D has basically decided is just dumb and no one should actually use. And yet the artists draw it all the time.

So... yeah. I wouldn't read too much into it yet. The best clue that warlocks will have some kind of implement is the need for symmetry with other classes in terms of the three "required" magic items. I wouldn't reach conclusions based on what the art depicts.

 

[Derren]

Book of Nine Swords is one of the worst in this regard- its filled with characters who are non proficient in ranged weapons and yet are holding bows, or who have loads of abilities that use only a single melee weapon, but who are dual wielding swords for inexplicable reasons.

Or remember the BoED, the Vow of Poverty character which had dozends of magical items....

 

[Irda Ranger]

I wouldn't draw conclusions from the art.

Historically, this is one aspect of WOTC's art control that has been really terrible. The books tend to be littered with pictures alleging that they are of a particular character or a particular character class, while holding weapons that are improbable for that character.

I'm betting that the art is at least somewhat accurate, as the art direction for 4E has been pretty closely tied to the implied setting and rules. At least the art available from R&C and W&M lines up closely with what we know so far.

One thing that occurred to me is that all pictures of warlocks so far have them carrying wands or staffs or daggers. It makes me wonder if those will do anything special for them, other than using a dagger to stab things with. Somehow I don't think they do the same things for warlocks as wands and staffs do for wizards, and in the end it could just be an art thing for dramatic effect.

I see daggers, but I'm not seeing wands or staves. The staff pictures are wizards, and as for the other pictures, I see rods.

The Gnome warlock in that one playtest had a +3 rod too. Rods have a long history in D&D (quick!, save vs. R/S/W!), but they're neither a weapon nor one of the named Wizardly implements. I'm wondering if rods and daggers are some form of "warlock weapon" which has not yet been disclosed to the public.

 

[Chimera]

Presumably a wizard can cast spells through a +3 wand, orb or staff to add +3 to hit and damage (maybe only on certain spells for each). Can he cast through a +3 warhammer? Can a warlock or paladin?

That would be similar to something I proposed on this board a couple of years ago, which met with very little reaction.

That was to have Wands that were essentially 'plus weapons', adding to the character's to hit with touch attacks.

 

[D.Shaffer]

I like the implements.

It'll make my Nanoha-clone that much more thematic!

...I'm not alone!! I always though the magic that she and Fate uses are pretty good analogues for arcane Strikers. Probably doesnt help against the 'It's so anime!!' argument though.

If Starlight Breaker isnt an epic level power, I'll be seriously dissapointed.