Andorax
2011-06-27, 11:04 AM
Borrowing off of the concept behind "substitution levels", I have been toying with several different substitution approaches to the Warlock class, based on the different environment books (Sandstorm, Stormwrack, Frostburn).
Generally speaking, each one provides a slightly more powerful option at a cost of lost flexibility (a common trait amongst substitution levels). As an added provision, they are exclusive to one another...one can only choose to take substitution levels from a single environment (other suggested pre-requisite requirements would be welcome, though they would have to be attainable at 1st).
The Winter Witch (1st, 6th, 16th):
Add Survival to the Warlock's list of skills.
Lvl BAB Frt Ref Will Special Invoc Known
1st +0 +0 +0 +2 Eldrich Blast (1d6), Endure the Cold 1
6th +4 +2 +2 +5 Deepest Chill 4
16th +12/+7/ +5 +5 +10 Frozen Tomb 10
+2
Endure the Cold: At 1st level, the Winter Witch gains the ability to use Endure Elements as the spell, but only to withstand cold temperatures. This takes the place of her choice of a least invocation.
Deepest Chill: At 6th level, the Winter Witch gains a variation on the Hellrime Blast Essense Invocation as her choice of a lesser invocation. This invocation still deals cold damage, but instead of the simple -2 to Dexterity, the warlock may choose to have her Hellrime Blast cause either Frostbite or a degree of Hypothermia (the fortitude save still applies).
Frozen Tomb: At 16th level, the Winter Witch gains the ability to use Entomb as the spell (with no material component). This takes the place of her choice of a dark invocation. The Winter Witch may only have one Entomb in place at a time...if a second one is created, the first shatters instantly.
SPECIAL: A Winter Witch with both the 1st and 6th level substitution levels may count that as equivalent to the "feats" and "spells" requirement of the Frost Mage prestige class, with the following modifications:
The "Gain Knowledge" class benefit is lost
The "Piercing Cold" class benefit may be applied to a Deepest Chill invocation, but doing so causes the Winter Witch to be unable to utilize Eldrich Blast at all the following round.
In that case, the Winter Witch may still opt to gain the "modified" Invocation benefits of the 16th level substitution level when she first obtains access to a dark invocation (and only on the level when this new level of invocations first comes available).
The Warlock of the Wastes (1st, 6th, 11th):
Add Survival to the Warlock's list of skills.
Lvl BAB Frt Ref Will Special Invoc Known
1st +0 +0 +0 +2 Eldrich Blast (1d6), Endure the Heat 1
6th +4 +2 +2 +5 Burning Blast 4
11th +7/+2 +3 +3 +7 DR 3/Cold Iron, Eldrich Blast (6d6), Sleeping Sands 7
Endure the Heat: At 1st level, the Warlock of the Wastes gains the ability to use Endure Elements as the spell, but only to withstand hot temperatures. This takes the place of his choice of a least invocation.
Burning Blast: At 6th level, the Warlock of the Wastes gains a variation on the Brimstone Blast Essense Invocation as his choice of a lesser invocation. This invocation still deals fire damage, but the warlock may choose to have his Brimstone Blast cause the target either to catch on fire as normal (Reflex save to resist) or to become Dehydrated (Fortitude save to resist).
Sleeping Sands: At 11th level, the Warlock of the Wastes gains the ability to use Sleep Mote as the spell (with no material component). This takes the place of his choice of a greater invocation. The Warlock of the Wastes may only have one Sleep Mote in place at a time...if a second one is created, the first dissapates instantly.
SPECIAL: A Warlock of the Wastes can qualify for the Sand Shaper prestige class, with the following modifications:
The "Desert Insight" class benefit is lost
The "Improved Dust Magic" and "Greater Dust Magic" class benefits may be applied to Eldrich Blasts or other Invocations as if they were cast spells.
In that case, the Warlock of the Wastes may still opt to gain the "modified" Invocation benefits of the 11th level substitution level when he first obtains access to a greater invocation (and only on the level when this new level of invocations first comes available).
The Deepcaller (1st, 6th, 11th and 16th):
Add Swim to the Warlock's list of skills.
Lvl BAB Frt Ref Will Special Invoc Known
1st +0 +0 +0 +2 Eldrich Blast (1d6), Spiney Form 1
6th +4 +2 +2 +5 Form of the Depths 4
6th* +4 +2 +2 +5 Form of the Shore 4
11th +7/+2 +3 +3 +7 DR 3/Cold Iron, Eldrich Blast 6d6, Eyes of the Depths 7
16th +12/+7/+2 +5 +5 +10 Call of the Depths 10
Spiney Form: At 1st level, the Deepcaller gains the ability to use Urchin's Spines as the spell (with a 24 hour duration, but self only). This takes the place of his choice of a least invocation.
Form of the Depths: At 6th level, the Deepcaller gains the ability to use Transformation of the Deeps as the spell (with a 24 hour duration, but self only) that likewise grants a swim speed equal to his normal movement rate, but is accompanied by more dramatic physical changes in accordance with the granted abilities. This takes the place of his choice of a lesser invocation.
*Form of the Shore: An alternate version for aquatic Deepcallers, Form of the Shore grants a similar ability to use Air Breathing and a walking speed equal to the Deepcaller's swim speed.
Eyes of the Depths: At 11th level, the Deepcaller gains the ability to use Flowsight as the spell (requiring no material component). This takes the place of his choice of a greater invocation.
Call of the Depths: At 16th level, the Deepcaller gains the ability to use Rapture of the Deep as the spell (requiring no focus, but requiring a touch attack). This takes the place of his choice of a dark invocation. The Deepcaller may only have one Call of the Depths in effect at any time...if the invocation is used a second time, the first target is freed from the effect.
SPECIAL: A Deepcaller with both the 1st and 6th level substitution levels may count that as equivalent to the "spells" requirement of the Sea Witch prestige class. In that case, the Deepcaller may still opt to gain the "modified" Invocation benefits of the 11th and 16th level substitution levels when he first obtains access to a greater or dark invocation (and only on the level when these new levels of invocations first come available).
Generally speaking, each one provides a slightly more powerful option at a cost of lost flexibility (a common trait amongst substitution levels). As an added provision, they are exclusive to one another...one can only choose to take substitution levels from a single environment (other suggested pre-requisite requirements would be welcome, though they would have to be attainable at 1st).
The Winter Witch (1st, 6th, 16th):
Add Survival to the Warlock's list of skills.
Lvl BAB Frt Ref Will Special Invoc Known
1st +0 +0 +0 +2 Eldrich Blast (1d6), Endure the Cold 1
6th +4 +2 +2 +5 Deepest Chill 4
16th +12/+7/ +5 +5 +10 Frozen Tomb 10
+2
Endure the Cold: At 1st level, the Winter Witch gains the ability to use Endure Elements as the spell, but only to withstand cold temperatures. This takes the place of her choice of a least invocation.
Deepest Chill: At 6th level, the Winter Witch gains a variation on the Hellrime Blast Essense Invocation as her choice of a lesser invocation. This invocation still deals cold damage, but instead of the simple -2 to Dexterity, the warlock may choose to have her Hellrime Blast cause either Frostbite or a degree of Hypothermia (the fortitude save still applies).
Frozen Tomb: At 16th level, the Winter Witch gains the ability to use Entomb as the spell (with no material component). This takes the place of her choice of a dark invocation. The Winter Witch may only have one Entomb in place at a time...if a second one is created, the first shatters instantly.
SPECIAL: A Winter Witch with both the 1st and 6th level substitution levels may count that as equivalent to the "feats" and "spells" requirement of the Frost Mage prestige class, with the following modifications:
The "Gain Knowledge" class benefit is lost
The "Piercing Cold" class benefit may be applied to a Deepest Chill invocation, but doing so causes the Winter Witch to be unable to utilize Eldrich Blast at all the following round.
In that case, the Winter Witch may still opt to gain the "modified" Invocation benefits of the 16th level substitution level when she first obtains access to a dark invocation (and only on the level when this new level of invocations first comes available).
The Warlock of the Wastes (1st, 6th, 11th):
Add Survival to the Warlock's list of skills.
Lvl BAB Frt Ref Will Special Invoc Known
1st +0 +0 +0 +2 Eldrich Blast (1d6), Endure the Heat 1
6th +4 +2 +2 +5 Burning Blast 4
11th +7/+2 +3 +3 +7 DR 3/Cold Iron, Eldrich Blast (6d6), Sleeping Sands 7
Endure the Heat: At 1st level, the Warlock of the Wastes gains the ability to use Endure Elements as the spell, but only to withstand hot temperatures. This takes the place of his choice of a least invocation.
Burning Blast: At 6th level, the Warlock of the Wastes gains a variation on the Brimstone Blast Essense Invocation as his choice of a lesser invocation. This invocation still deals fire damage, but the warlock may choose to have his Brimstone Blast cause the target either to catch on fire as normal (Reflex save to resist) or to become Dehydrated (Fortitude save to resist).
Sleeping Sands: At 11th level, the Warlock of the Wastes gains the ability to use Sleep Mote as the spell (with no material component). This takes the place of his choice of a greater invocation. The Warlock of the Wastes may only have one Sleep Mote in place at a time...if a second one is created, the first dissapates instantly.
SPECIAL: A Warlock of the Wastes can qualify for the Sand Shaper prestige class, with the following modifications:
The "Desert Insight" class benefit is lost
The "Improved Dust Magic" and "Greater Dust Magic" class benefits may be applied to Eldrich Blasts or other Invocations as if they were cast spells.
In that case, the Warlock of the Wastes may still opt to gain the "modified" Invocation benefits of the 11th level substitution level when he first obtains access to a greater invocation (and only on the level when this new level of invocations first comes available).
The Deepcaller (1st, 6th, 11th and 16th):
Add Swim to the Warlock's list of skills.
Lvl BAB Frt Ref Will Special Invoc Known
1st +0 +0 +0 +2 Eldrich Blast (1d6), Spiney Form 1
6th +4 +2 +2 +5 Form of the Depths 4
6th* +4 +2 +2 +5 Form of the Shore 4
11th +7/+2 +3 +3 +7 DR 3/Cold Iron, Eldrich Blast 6d6, Eyes of the Depths 7
16th +12/+7/+2 +5 +5 +10 Call of the Depths 10
Spiney Form: At 1st level, the Deepcaller gains the ability to use Urchin's Spines as the spell (with a 24 hour duration, but self only). This takes the place of his choice of a least invocation.
Form of the Depths: At 6th level, the Deepcaller gains the ability to use Transformation of the Deeps as the spell (with a 24 hour duration, but self only) that likewise grants a swim speed equal to his normal movement rate, but is accompanied by more dramatic physical changes in accordance with the granted abilities. This takes the place of his choice of a lesser invocation.
*Form of the Shore: An alternate version for aquatic Deepcallers, Form of the Shore grants a similar ability to use Air Breathing and a walking speed equal to the Deepcaller's swim speed.
Eyes of the Depths: At 11th level, the Deepcaller gains the ability to use Flowsight as the spell (requiring no material component). This takes the place of his choice of a greater invocation.
Call of the Depths: At 16th level, the Deepcaller gains the ability to use Rapture of the Deep as the spell (requiring no focus, but requiring a touch attack). This takes the place of his choice of a dark invocation. The Deepcaller may only have one Call of the Depths in effect at any time...if the invocation is used a second time, the first target is freed from the effect.
SPECIAL: A Deepcaller with both the 1st and 6th level substitution levels may count that as equivalent to the "spells" requirement of the Sea Witch prestige class. In that case, the Deepcaller may still opt to gain the "modified" Invocation benefits of the 11th and 16th level substitution levels when he first obtains access to a greater or dark invocation (and only on the level when these new levels of invocations first come available).