Witch the new Warlock

[Craig Frankum]

Myself and a few of my friends really enjoyed the Warlock class of 3.x. We have been looking for a replacement or comparable class (archetype) to replace this void in our hearts without having to convert the class over to Pathfinder. Sorcerer of the Abyssal or Infernal Bloodline seemed like a good fit, but really lacks something. With the introduction of the Witch class, Pathfinder may have been onto something. After all, historically both are practicianers of "Black Magics" where females were labeled witches and males labeled warlocks. Could the Witch class be Pathfinder's an attempt at a balanced version of 3.x's Warlock? What are hexes if not a form of invocation? Although similarities exist, there is one key abality that no class encompasses... ELDRITCH BLASTS!!! It was OP in 3.x, but if limited to a # of times per day similar to the Alchemist's bomb class feature. Is that too much to ask?

[AbsolutGrndZer0]

Maybe, but the witch has spells. That's far better and more versatile than eldritch blast.

[JonGarrett]

You could grab the Arcane Blast for the same feel. Heck, I don't think most GM's will object to taking it early, since how powerful it is works off the level of spell you burn to fire it.

EDIT: Arcane Shield is also fun.

[kyrt-ryder]

Heh heh heh, once again we run into that conflict of playstyles and opinions Craig. In my GMing experience Eldritch Blast was horribly underpowered and any Warlock who tried to focus on it found himself floundering without accomplishing much of anything.

That being said, it shouldn't be difficult to take the Alchemist and make a Warlock Archetype out of him. Reflavor Mutagens as Pact Mutations aborne out of dark alliances, replace Bombs with either an at-will (still a Standard Action) equal power or significantly stronger single target Eldritch Blast effect, and swap the Extracts for a form of Spontaneous Casting.

It Might be easiest to just trade the Alchemist's entire spells per day rules for the spells known/spells per day of the Bard.

As for the spell list... I'm sure you can come up with a good sized list of appropriate spells (or just note that spells known can come from any list but must be thematically appropriate to a Warlock and run by the DM.)

[Corlindale]

Try to take a look at the Cryptic, a psionic class from Dreamscarred Press. They get an at-will ability that is very similar to Eldritch Blast (which, as kyrt-ryder just said, was in no way, shape or form even remotely overpowered in 3.5!). Otherwise the class is a little more rogue-inspired than the 3.5 warlock, though.

[Anonymous Visitor 163 576]

Go with alchemist, and change bomb (a ranged touch attack) to eldritch blast (a ranged touch attack)

No other changes needed.

[AbsolutGrndZer0]

kyrt-ryder wrote:

Heh heh heh, once again we run into that conflict of playstyles and opinions Craig. In my GMing experience Eldritch Blast was horribly underpowered and any Warlock who tried to focus on it found himself floundering without accomplishing much of anything.

Interesting. When I GMed 3.5 nobody wanted to play a Warlock and the only other person GMing besides me saw a class with an at will ability and thought OMFG that's OP and banned warlocks.

[golem101]

The 3.5 Warlock has an undeserved and often misunderstood reputation for OP or UP, depending on who you ask.

Me, I think it's effectively OP only for the first 4-5 levels, after which the class experiences growing limitations and dimishing returns on efficiency, until it becomes severely gimped at medium to high levels - possibibly starting as soon as 13th level, maximum at 15th.

Its main feature - the at-will eldritch blast - is a good idea with a bad execution in gaming terms.

[AbsolutGrndZer0]

golem101 wrote:

The 3.5 Warlock has an undeserved and often misunderstood reputation for OP or UP, depending on who you ask.

Me, I think it's effectively OP only for the first 4-5 levels, after which the class experiences growing limitations and dimishing returns on efficiency, until it becomes severely gimped at medium to high levels - possibibly starting as soon as 13th level, maximum at 15th.

Its main feature - the at-will eldritch blast - is a good idea with a bad execution in gaming terms.

Yeah, from what I remember you sound about right. That's why my friend being all "OMFG AT WILL IS OP" about it I always thought was kinda funny. As much of a stickler as he was for game balance, he had a few things he did that *I* thought were crazy imbalanced. Like he was a GM who used the 3 natural 20's rule (if you roll a natural 20 to confirm a crit, roll a 3rd time if it's another 20 it's instant death)