| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
This one is going to take a bit longer to develop than our inquisitor book did, we are being inspired by the warlock that appeared in the Tome of Secrets and others that have appeared throughout the 3.5 Era, other classes that rely on pacts with extraplanar entities. This will be an original class design, though we will be using the iconic eldritch ray ability. We have our first playtest scheduled for this weekend going over the first 4 levels.
Eldritch Ray (Sp): At will as a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity, a warlock can launch a ray with a 60 ft. range as a ranged touch attack. This damage dealt by this ray is 1d6 at 1st level, and increases by 1d6 every two warlock class levels thereafter. Should the warlock score a critical hit with an eldritch ray, this damage is multiplied by 2 (critical multiplier x2). This is as a spell-like ability with a caster level equal to the warlock’s class level and a spell level equal to half the warlock’s class level (rounded down).
Regardless, what do you want to see in this product?
Different pacts similar but not identical to bloodlines.
New familiars and/or grimoires and/or outsider counsellors to accompany the warlock, with a strong magic bond- the warlock can't cast spells without his familiar/demonic ally/grimoire at hand.
Dire consequences of the pacts, similar to oracle curses. Maybe the "mark of the path" on the warlock's body, as was believed in Middle Ages.
Spellcasting with Charisma and sorcerer spell progression, but hex-like abilities. It should basically be for the witch what a sorcerer is for the wizard.
No alignment restrictions.
Something original. Not an update of a 3.5-class, and not yet another caster-class with a book and a familiar. That's what would get me excited!
|
I'd like a blend of original vs. warlock update
Keep the Eldritch Ray as that was iconic
No spells. I don't want it to be a spellcaster. For one, I come from family of pagans that get offended by people confusing warlocks and witches (its one of the few offenses I still take from my teen angst wanna-be pagan days). For another there's too damn many spellcasters as it is.
I like the idea of a rogue-type character that has gained power through a pact. It's also the type of person most willing to take that kind of deal.
Special abilities that work mechanically akin to hexes/rogue talents/ki powers but should have more spell-like qualities. Flashy would be a good term. This is the one class I could see borrowing the 4E will/encounter/daily format for all it's powers.
borrow from Bardess RE:bloodlines and mark of path. Path comes with a mark and defines the special abilities, which follow a theme. Since we've abandoned spells the special abilities should come far more oftent than bloodlines
Mark of the Pact will be added, it was something on my mind anyway.
I will be looking at pact magic (The secrets of pact magic here I come) closely, to see which direction, I want to go.
I believe I will have both a 3.5 era version and some archetypes that go in new directions, like a Binder.
Pact Magic? You got me vote. I LOVE Pact Magic. :)
That Binder was a 3.5 version, which was updated to PF I believe.
There is a conversion document, but no official PFRPG book yet, which is a massive pity - i loved the 3.5 iterations by Dario Nardi...
A combination of the previous edition Warlock and the Binder would be an interesting addition to what is presently available. Have the eldritch ray and limitless, spell-like invocations inspired by the Warlock; then dire pacts giving flavorful abilities at intervals inspired by the Binder.
While the previous edition warlock gained abilities at level intervals, those had limited variety outside of the pre-established fiendish pact archetype. I agree with others above, draw inspiration from the sorcerer bloodlines, oracle revelation/curse, and witch hexes/familiars. Make the pact their unique class feature differentiating them from others, their source of power (demons, devils, fey, jinn, aberrations, celestial, nature, otherworldly, etc). I would also prefer not to see another traditional spellcaster, but spin the pact and invocations into a magic subsystem based on the existing system like the original Warlock invocations.
Archetype wishlist:
- Blast-oriented warlock, eschewing other abilities.
- Invocation/Spell-like ability focused, but weaken eldritch ray. This one almost feels like a traditional caster.
- Pact bound warlock, pact heavy to detriment of everything else.
- Eldritch Melee type. Can't let Soulknives have all the fun.
What if the warlock were a fighting class, with a paladin-like spell progression and a d10 as hit dice?
If we get a combination of pact magic and the 3.5 Complete Magic warlock, I will be one happy customer.
And yes, please keep the eldritch ray.
There has been some discussion of calling it Rite Warlock or Pact Warlock :)
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I think one word class names are always a better choice, for whatever reason. I like the idea of not going the full spellcasting route. d8, 3/4 BAB, eldritch blast, bloodline-esque pacts. The pacts should all be related to a specific type or subtype of creature. Fey are an obvious first choice, as are demons and devils. It would be interesting to see acts be viewed not as evil, so pacts with diffent types of celestials (azatas, archons, agathions) would be very interesting to see. Eventually you should try to have every type of outsider have their own pact, if possible. I would love a qlippoth or aeon pact warlock.
Inevitables!