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This is my attempt at a Warlock archetype (for the Magus class), based on the Dresden Files. It hopefully captures the flavor of the series, if not the precise mechanics. And I think it has more of a 'multitalented' feel than the regular 'combat magus' feel, with more lore and investigation potential.
I think that at this point, most of Harry's and the other wizards' abilities are covered in this archetype. Is there anything else I could work in? Anything else from Magus that should be taken out?
I'd love to hear what you think.
Warlock archetype:
Diminished Spellcasting: A warlock can cast 1 fewer spell of each level than a magus (minimum 0). If this reduces the number of spells he can cast of a certain level to 0, he may only cast spells of that level if his Intelligence score grants him bonus spells.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A warlock never gains the ability to wear medium or heavy armor.
Arcane Pool: A warlock does not gain the ability to enhance his weapons using his arcane pool. Instead, he gains the ability to detect residual magic. When he casts detect magic, he can spend 1 point from his arcane pool as a swift action to note whether spells were cast in the area in the past 24 hours; if he makes his spellcraft check, he can tell what spells were cast.
Eldritch Blast: At 1st level, a warlock gains the ability to deliver a devastating blast of energy. He must choose one type of energy: cold, electricity, fire, or sonic. This ability functions as a cleric’s channel energy ability, except that a warlock cannot use this ability to heal—only to deal damage. A Reflex save, not a Will save, can cause a creature to take half damage. Creatures in the warlock’s square are automatically exempt from damage. A warlock can select channel feats that enhance his eldritch blast (such as Extra Channel and Intense Channel), but not feats that alter it (such as Versatile Channeler and Alignment Channel).
Occult Lore: At 2nd level, a warlock gains a bonus equal to half his level on Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (planes), and Knowledge (religion) checks.
Warlock Arcana: A warlock may choose any of the following in place of a magus arcana:
Fey Veil: As a standard action, a warlock can spend 2 points from his arcane pool to veil himself for 10 minutes per level. This functions as invisibility, except that if the warlock calls attention to himself (by attacking, speaking loudly, or moving quickly), the veil is temporarily dispelled. Once the warlock stops calling attention to himself, the veil goes back into effect.
Hellish Blast: A warlock may only select this arcana if his eldritch blast is of the cold or fire type. This changes the blast to hellfrost or hellfire: Half of the damage from the warlock’s eldritch blast is cold or fire, as usual, but the other half is now unholy damage, which cannot be negated by cold or fire resistance. Evil creatures are not subject to unholy damage; nor are creatures using protection from evil or a similar effect. A warlock must be at least 9th level to select this arcana.
Magic Circle: As a full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunity, a warlock can spend 2 points from his arcane pool to draw a magic circle around himself. This wards him and all other creatures in his square against one type of creature, chosen at the time the circle is drawn: aberrations, extraplanar creatures (choose either the chaotic, evil, good, or lawful subtype), fey, monstrous humanoids, or undead. Creatures of the selected type cannot enter the circle or attack creatures within it. The circle’s effects last for 1 minute.
True Name: At 4th level, a warlock gains the ability to use the names of creatures in his spells. Whenever he casts a single-target spell that requires a saving throw, he can use the target’s full name (if he knows it) to increase the DC by +2. A warlock can use this ability a number of times per day equal to his Charisma modifier (minimum 1). This replaces spell recall.
Multitalented: Whenever a warlock could select a bonus combat feat, he may instead select an arcane talent from the list of those available to wizards.
Warder: At 7th level, a warlock adds the following spells to his spell list (but not automatically to his spellbook): alarm (1st), arcane lock (2nd), glyph of warding (3rd), fire trap (4th), mage’s private sanctum (5th), and greater glyph of warding (6th). This replaces knowledge pool.
Counterspell Master: At 11th level, a warlock gains Improved Counterspell as a bonus feat. Instead of countering a spell as a readied action, the warlock can do so as an immediate action; on his next turn, he can only take a move action and a swift action—not a standard action. This replaces improved spell recall.
Focused Blast: At 16th level, a warlock can spend 1 point from his arcane pool to redirect his arcane blast into a 60-ft cone instead of the usual 30-ft. spread. This replaces counterstrike.
Master Warlock: At 20th level, a warlock becomes a true master of magic. He gains detect magic as a constant spell-like ability, and Spell Resistance equal to his warlock level plus 6. In addition, he automatically knows when he is within 30 ft. of a fey, undead, or aberration—though he does not know precisely where the creature is, or what type of creature it is.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A warlock never gains the ability to wear medium or heavy armor.
Arcane Pool: A warlock does not gain the ability to enhance his weapons using his arcane pool. Instead, he gains the ability to detect residual magic. When he casts detect magic, he can spend 1 point from his arcane pool as a swift action to note whether spells were cast in the area in the past 24 hours; if he makes his spellcraft check, he can tell what spells were cast.
Eldritch Blast: At 1st level, a warlock gains the ability to deliver a devastating blast of energy. He must choose one type of energy: cold, electricity, fire, or sonic. This ability functions as a cleric’s channel energy ability, except that a warlock cannot use this ability to heal—only to deal damage. A Reflex save, not a Will save, can cause a creature to take half damage. Creatures in the warlock’s square are automatically exempt from damage. A warlock can select channel feats that enhance his eldritch blast (such as Extra Channel and Intense Channel), but not feats that alter it (such as Versatile Channeler and Alignment Channel).
Occult Lore: At 2nd level, a warlock gains a bonus equal to half his level on Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (planes), and Knowledge (religion) checks.
Warlock Arcana: A warlock may choose any of the following in place of a magus arcana:
Fey Veil: As a standard action, a warlock can spend 2 points from his arcane pool to veil himself for 10 minutes per level. This functions as invisibility, except that if the warlock calls attention to himself (by attacking, speaking loudly, or moving quickly), the veil is temporarily dispelled. Once the warlock stops calling attention to himself, the veil goes back into effect.
Hellish Blast: A warlock may only select this arcana if his eldritch blast is of the cold or fire type. This changes the blast to hellfrost or hellfire: Half of the damage from the warlock’s eldritch blast is cold or fire, as usual, but the other half is now unholy damage, which cannot be negated by cold or fire resistance. Evil creatures are not subject to unholy damage; nor are creatures using protection from evil or a similar effect. A warlock must be at least 9th level to select this arcana.
Magic Circle: As a full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunity, a warlock can spend 2 points from his arcane pool to draw a magic circle around himself. This wards him and all other creatures in his square against one type of creature, chosen at the time the circle is drawn: aberrations, extraplanar creatures (choose either the chaotic, evil, good, or lawful subtype), fey, monstrous humanoids, or undead. Creatures of the selected type cannot enter the circle or attack creatures within it. The circle’s effects last for 1 minute.
True Name: At 4th level, a warlock gains the ability to use the names of creatures in his spells. Whenever he casts a single-target spell that requires a saving throw, he can use the target’s full name (if he knows it) to increase the DC by +2. A warlock can use this ability a number of times per day equal to his Charisma modifier (minimum 1). This replaces spell recall.
Multitalented: Whenever a warlock could select a bonus combat feat, he may instead select an arcane talent from the list of those available to wizards.
Warder: At 7th level, a warlock adds the following spells to his spell list (but not automatically to his spellbook): alarm (1st), arcane lock (2nd), glyph of warding (3rd), fire trap (4th), mage’s private sanctum (5th), and greater glyph of warding (6th). This replaces knowledge pool.
Counterspell Master: At 11th level, a warlock gains Improved Counterspell as a bonus feat. Instead of countering a spell as a readied action, the warlock can do so as an immediate action; on his next turn, he can only take a move action and a swift action—not a standard action. This replaces improved spell recall.
Focused Blast: At 16th level, a warlock can spend 1 point from his arcane pool to redirect his arcane blast into a 60-ft cone instead of the usual 30-ft. spread. This replaces counterstrike.
Master Warlock: At 20th level, a warlock becomes a true master of magic. He gains detect magic as a constant spell-like ability, and Spell Resistance equal to his warlock level plus 6. In addition, he automatically knows when he is within 30 ft. of a fey, undead, or aberration—though he does not know precisely where the creature is, or what type of creature it is.