Yet Another Warlock Fix

[The Shadowmind]

Welcome to the second installment of Yet Another X Fix. With your host the insane and mad Shadowmind. As always I'm aiming for Tier 3. So for today we are attempting a homebrew fix with the well know to be interesting, and flavorful class the Warlock. Unlike the first YAXF class the Hexblade, the Warlock needs less work to make it decent, and before the artificer stole it's crafter niche was considered to be a bit better.

Warlock
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|Invocations Know

1st|
+0|
+0|
+0|
+2|Eldritch Blast 1d6, Invocation(least),Bonus Feat|2

2nd|
+1|
+0|
+0|
+3|Eldritch Blast 2d6,Detect magic|2|

3rd|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+3|Bonus Feat,Combat Casting|4|

4th|
+3|
+1|
+1|
+4|Eldritch Blast 3d6,Deceive item|6|

5th|
+3|
+1|
+1|
+4|Magical Aptitude, Fell Completion|6|

6th|
+4|
+2|
+2|
+5|Eldritch Blast 4d6,Imbue Item, New Invocation(Lesser or least),Scribe Scroll|8|

7th|
+5|
+2|
+2|
+5|Eldritch Magic|8|

8th|
+6/+1|
+2|
+2|
+6|Eldritch Blast 5d6,Fell craft 10%,Fiendish Resilience 1|10|

9th|
+6/+1|
+3|
+3|
+6|Craft Wondrous Item,Bonus feat|10|

10th|
+7/+2|
+3|
+3|
+7|Eldritch Blast 6d6,Energy Resistance 5|12|

11th|
+8/+3|
+3|
+3|
+7|Improved Eldritch Magic,New Invocation (Least, Lesser, or Greater)|14|

12th|
+9/+4|
+4|
+4|
+8|Eldritch Blast 7d6, Bonus Feat|14|

13th|
+9/+4|
+4|
+4|
+8|Fiendish Resilience 2|16|

14th|
+10/+5|
+4|
+4|
+9|Eldritch Blast 8d6,Fell craft 20%|16|

15th|
+11/+6/+1|
+5|
+5|
+9|New invocation(Least, Lesser, Greater, or Dark)|18|

16th|
+12/+7/+2|
+5|
+5|
+10|Eldritch Blast9d6,Greater Eldritch Magic|20|

17th|
+12/+7/+2|
+5|
+5|
+10|Bonus Feat|20|

18th|
+13/+8/+3|
+6|
+6|
+11|Eldritch Blast 10d6,Fiendish Resilience 5|22|

19th|
+14/+9/+4|
+6|
+6|
+11|Bonus Feat|22|

20th|
+15/+10/+5|
+6|
+6|
+12 |Eldritch Blast 11d6,Utterdark Soul, Fell craft 30%,Energy Resistance 10|24|
[/table]

Eldritch Blast A Warlock's Eldritch Blast damage is equal 1d6+1d6/2 levels. For the purpose of increasing caster levels treat a warlock as an arcane caster.
Eldritch Magic At level 7, a warlock uses some of the eldritch power given to him to fuel the use of magic items increasing their potency, because of this the save DC of each effect of every spell completion item increases by 2, this ability improves at level 11, then again at level 16.

Improved Eldritch Magic The save DC of each effect of every spell completion item increases by an additional +2, the save DC of each effect of every spell completion item increases by 2.

Greater Eldritch Magic The caster level of spell completion items used by the warlock increases by 2, and the DC of each effect of every spell completion item increases by an additional +2.

Fell Completion At fifth level a warlock is able to use a spell completion magic item in light armor with no chance of arcane spell failure.

Fell Craft A warlock draws for the ancestral pact when making item, causing him to put less effort into making magic items, this causes the warlock to use less experience in making magic items, the warlock uses 10% less experience in crafting in all magic items at level 8, and increases 10% every six levels.

Utterdark Soul At level 20 a warlocks soul has become corrupted by fiend and fey energy. From this, a warlock heals from both positive and negative energy, and is immune to death effects.

Bonus Feat:At levels 1,4,9,12,17,19 a warlock may select the following feats as bonus feats if he meets to prerequisite:Ability Focus: (Eldritch Blast), Alertness, Extra Invocation, Flyby Attack,Point blank Shot, Precise shot, Skill Focus(UMD), Toughness, any item creation fear, or any heritage feat.
***
Okay the number of invocations has been doubled, added much more synergy to imbue item and deceive item ability, removed the DR/cold iron, might add it back depending on how others feel.

Questions? Commented? Dancing like a moneky? Technically within the rules Flaming? Be honest folks on what do you think of it. And be sure to check out the first YAXF:Hexblade (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8463278#post8463278)

Oh, yeah if anyone is wonder why I give so many bonus feats, it is because I feel a class should not need to use the feats gained to from leveling to simply use it own abilities; that a feat should make the character better a something or more versatile instead.

[ZeroNumerous]

Wait... Isn't the Warlock already Tier 3? When did Warlocks need fixing?

[The Shadowmind]

The warlock is Tier 4, so it doesn't need much of a fix, and it isn't really broken, just weak.
Sure with cheese the warlock's Eldritch blast damage can get really high, but that involves things like blood line abuse, and legacy weapon stacking to get epic progression pre-epic on hellfire warlock.
With only 3 of each grade of invocation know, which makes which invocations that are know quite narrow.

The Imbue Item ability has no in class support, and wands normally have a low DC if you want them to be affordable. The Fell craft is there because most of the cost/exp/time item creation feats are in Eberron, which being setting specific means the likely hood of it not being in the allowed books is much higher.

[nonsi]

It’s really depressing that so many of the class fixes out there are just about pumping them with steroids.

Yes, warlocks do need more invocations, but not as many as twice over (and why dark invocations at level 15?). Assuming there are sorcerers in your game, you’ve just made it pointless to take one.
What about dual-essence ?
What about transdimensional EB and breaching SR ?
What about magical sustenance, like the Shadowcaster ?
What about features that affect a warlock’s eyes and/or voice ?

How about you bring some new ideas of yours ?

Why does it always have to be about pointlessly pumping stats and making the class-remake into a hyper-cannon with infinite ammunition ?



Oh, and one more thing.
“a warlock invokes powerful magic through nothing more than an effort of will” (Complete Arcane; p.5)
Given the above, Deceive Item and Imbue Item make no sense (And even Detect Magic should be limited to “magical (yes/no)?”), since nothing about this class says that a warlock has any understanding of the forces s/he wields (something that common sense deems necessary to manipulate them in items and to bind them into items).


Let’s see if you could bring something really inspiring at “take-2”.

[Boci]

Fell Completion At fifth level a warlock is able to use a spell completion magic item in light armor with no chance of arcane spell failure.

Do magic items suffer from ASF? I always thought it didn't.

Also, isn't allowing warlocks to full attack with eldritch blast usually used for a fix? Why ED 11d6? Just make it equal SA. Allowing them at higher levels to switch their essence and shape during a full attack at higher levels could be cool.

Also, welcome nonsi, assuming you are the poster of the same name from gleemax.

[nonsi]

Also, welcome nonsi, assuming you are the poster of the same name from gleemax.

Thanks, I am. And you would be (at gleemax)........ ?

[Jane_Smith]

This was a variant of warlock I created for pathfinder. Easily enough converted to 3.5. It hasnt been hyper-buffed majorly or anything, but it deals 1d6 more damage then the core warlock, and has access to a 'few' more invocations, a little bit more Dr, and so on. Enjoy/use for inspiration as you please. ^.^




The Warlock

Alignment: Any.
Hit Dice: d8.
Base Attack: Average.
Saves: Poor Fortitude, Poor Reflex, Good Willpower.

Class Skills
The warlock's class skills are Acrobatics (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Fly (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (the planes) (Int), Knowledge (religion) (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), and Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.


The Warlock Table
1st-- Eldritch Blast 1d6, Deceive Item, Detect Magic, Invocations I
2nd-- Damage Reduction 1/-
3rd-- Eldritch Blast 2d6
4th-- Energy Resistance 5, Invocations II
5th-- Eldritch Blast 3d6
6th-- Fiendish Resilience 1
7th-- Eldritch Blast 4d6
8th-- Damage Reduction 3/-
9th-- Eldritch Blast 5d6
10th- Energy Resistance 10, Invocations III
11th- Eldritch Blast 6d6
12th- Fiendish Resilience 3
13th- Eldritch Blast 7d6
14th- Damage Reduction 5/-
15th- Eldritch Blast 8d6
16th- Energy Resistance 15, Invocations IV
17th- Eldritch Blast 9d6
18th- Fiendish Resilience 5
19th- Eldritch Blast 10d6
20th- Damage Reduction 10/-


Class Features

Weapons and Armor Proficiency: Warlocks are proficient with all simple weapons. They are proficient with light armor but not with shields.
Because somatic components required for warlock invocations are relatively simple, a warlock can use any of his invocations while wearing any type of armor or shield without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. A multiclass warlock still incurs the normal arcane spell failure chance for arcane spells received from other classes.

Invocations: A warlock does not prepare or cast spells as others do. Instead, he possesses invocations that require him to focus on the power that suffesus his soul. A warlock can use any invocation he knows at will as spell-like abilities. Using a invocation is a standard action that provokes attacks of opportunity. A warlock is entitled to a concentration check to successfully use an invocation if he is hit by an attack while invoking, just as another spellcaster would be. A warlock can choose to use an invocation defensively, to avoid provoking attacks of opportunity. A warlock's invocations are subject to spell resistanc. A warlock's caster level with his invocations is equal to his warlock level. The save DC for an invocation (if it allows a save) is 10 + the equivilent spell level + the warlock's charisma modifier. Since spell-like abilities are not actually spells, a warlock cannot benefit from the Spell Focus and simular feats.
A warlock begins with knowledge of two invocations, which must be the lowest grade (least). As a warlock gains levels, he learns new invocations. At any level when a warlock learns a new invocation, he can also replace an invocation he already knows with another invocation of the same or a lower grade.

Eldritch Blast (Sp): A warlock can attack his foes with eldritch power, using baleful magical energy to deal damage. An eldritch blast is a ray with a range of 60 feet. It is a ranged touch attack that affects a single target, allowing no saving throw. An eldritch blast deals 1d6 points of damage at 1st level and increases by 1d6 every two levels thereafter. An eldritch blast is the equivalent of a spell whos level is equal to one-half the warlock's class level (round down) with a minimum level of 1st and a maximum of 9th when a warlock reachs 18th level or higher. An eldritch blast is subject to spell resistance.

Deceive Item (Ex): A warlock has the ability to easily manipulate magic items made for the use of other characters. when making a Use Magic Device check, a warlock can take 10 even if distracted or threatened, and can take 20 on such a check in only half the required time.

Detect Magic (Su): A warlock can use detect magic as the spell at will as a supernatural ability. His caster level equals his class level.

Damage Reduction (Su): Fortified by the supernatural power flowing in his body, a warlock becomes resistant to physical attacks, gaining damage reduction 1/- at 2nd level. At 8th level, this damage reduction improves to 3, at 14th level to 5, and at 20th level to 10.

Energy Resistance (Su): At 4th level, the warlock has resistance 5 against any two of the following energy types: acid, cold, electricity, fire, and sonic. At 10th level, these resistances grow to 10. At 16th level, it further increases to 15 points.

Fiendish Resilience (Su): Beginning at 6th level, the warlock gains fast healing 1. At 12th level, this becomes fast healing 3, and at 18th level, fast healing 5.


Invocations Known
Level/Number Known
1st-- 2
2nd-- 3
3rd-- 3
4th-- 4
5th-- 5
6th-- 5
7th-- 6
8th-- 6
9th-- 7
10th- 8
11th- 8
12th- 9
13th- 9
14th- 10
15th- 11
16th- 11
17th- 12
18th- 12
19th- 13
20th- 14

[The Shadowmind]

Do magic items suffer from ASF? I always thought it didn't.

Also, isn't allowing warlocks to full attack with eldritch blast usually used for a fix? Why ED 11d6? Just make it equal SA. Allowing them at higher levels to switch their essence and shape during a full attack at higher levels could be cool.
Spell Trigger items(wands and staffs) don't suffer from from ASF, but Spell Completion items(scrolls) do.

The reason the the ED is at 11d6 because the formula is 1d6+1d6/2 level, so the actual ED could be higher or lower depending on items and feats, and makes a multiclassed warlock not suffer as much, by taking Practiced Spell caster to keep 2d6's of the blast damage. The eldritch glaive using warlock is normally the way to get multiple blast damages per turn, and swapping essences/shape between attacks would make eldritch glaive much weaker in comparison, and might make that feature overpowered.



It’s really depressing that so many of the class fixes out there are just about pumping them with steroids.

Yes, warlocks do need more invocations, but not as many as twice over (and why dark invocations at level 15?).
Okay, maybe twice as many is to much, but 12 made it so few utility invocations got used, and instead the same few invocations are all to common because the options are to limited. The dark at 15 was part of the rough version, and I forgot why that it comes a level sooner.


Assuming there are sorcerers in your game, you’ve just made it pointless to take one.The sorcerer still overshadows this warlock still in almost every function other that item crafting and scroll use. But the sorcerer is Tier 2, and this is suppose to be Tier 3, so that is expected.



Why does it always have to be about pointlessly pumping stats and making the class-remake into a hyper-cannon with infinite ammunition?
An extra base 2d6, hardly make a hyper-cannon. An a total of +6 to the DC and 2 caster levels for using scrolls, which normally have poor DC's because they have the minimum DC they could be made at, and caster level is low because of cost.(There is a feat to duplicate the +2 caster level for wands, and possibly staffs, but I'm unsure if there is one for scrolls.)




Oh, and one more thing.
“a warlock invokes powerful magic through nothing more than an effort of will” (Complete Arcane; p.5)
Given the above, Deceive Item and Imbue Item make no sense (And even Detect Magic should be limited to “magical (yes/no)?”), since nothing about this class says that a warlock has any understanding of the forces s/he wields (something that common sense deems necessary to manipulate them in items and to bind them into items)..
Spellcraft as a class skill seems to say they understand how magic works, and what the forces look like. "Warlocks harbor great reserves of magical of mystical energy" Complete Arcane; p.5, no where is is said the warlock can't use this to fuel the creation of magic items, which is exactly what Imbue Item does.

[Boci]

Spell Trigger items(wands and staffs) don't suffer from from ASF, but Spell Completion items(scrolls) do.

The reason the the ED is at 11d6 because the formula is 1d6+1d6/2 level, so the actual ED could be higher or lower depending on items and feats, and makes a multiclassed warlock not suffer as much, by taking Practiced Spell caster to keep 2d6's of the blast damage.

Is multi classing really a problem for warlocks? Its a reasonable dip class without extra support, and if you are actually making you build focus on the warlock and if you not dipping, wouln't you be taking a prestige class that advances EB damage and invocations anyway?


Thanks, I am. And you would be (at gleemax)........ ?

Prince_of_Parkness.

[The Shadowmind]

Is multi classing really a problem for warlocks? Its a reasonable dip class without extra support, and if you are actually making you build focus on the warlock and if you not dipping, wouln't you be taking a prestige class that advances EB damage and invocations anyway?


Normally, the multiclass isn't that much of a problem, but the formula method was so +X caster level items and such make the blast better, since true casters could nearly duplicate the damage effect and some other effects with Reserve feats and still have the power of spells, which made the all day power niche of the warlock less interesting. And, the Orb spells overshadow the eldritch blast damage by a large amount, before you add the meta-magic tricks to ridiculous damage. A dip in Binder or maybe 2 in Chameleon are the normal dips, or maybe a bit in wizard or cleric for Eldritch Theurge(which this warlock version qualifies for a level earlier). or Eldritch Disciple, and while is still doesn't make up for the lack of invocation progression lost it does make the Eldritch damage of the Enlightened spirit prestige class progress faster.