Deepbluediver
2013-02-25, 02:03 PM
Intro
There's been a bunch of Warlock stuff floating around lately, and why not? The class was a pretty good mix of power and versatility, and fits in with the preferred playstyle of a large segment of the population.
IMO if I had to redesign 3.5 all over again, I'd replace the Sorcerer with the Warlock to help differentiate the differene between low use/high-versatility (embodied in the wizard) and it's polar opposite.
But in the meantime, it's got me thinking about how we can impart a little bit of warlock-flavor (and fun) to other classes, without going overboard.
Wizards and Sorcerers (and Wu-jen, and Archivists, and etc etc etc) are powerful, but that's because SPELLS are (too) powerful. Unless you are playing some of the game-breaking variants, you do need to somewhat ration your spell use. If a full-casting class runs out of spells (or high level spells) they can quickly become a liability.
And there are plenty of spells that fit into the "useful but boring" category.
So what I'm thinking about is some sort of Eldritch Blast or Invocation-like casting that allows other casters to have unlimited spell-like ability useage. Rather than just having damage, I kind of like the idea that the caster can pick whatever spell they want, within limits. I'm still working on the names, but for now I'll refer these abilities as "Incantations" for arcane casters, and "Graces" for divine magic users.
Rules
An Incantation or Grace can be any spell with a casting time of 1 standard action; it also cannot consume XP or components that cost more than 1 gp.
It has no limit on how often it can be cast, and does not require a focus or material components. Incantations and Graces are otherwise subject to normal spell limitations. They cannot be modified by metamagic.
As a player levels up, the maximum level of the unlimited-use abilities fall behind somewhat, but by that point they will have more uses of their limited-spells to compensate. I think it balances out.
Prepared Casters
Including: Wizards, Wu-Jen, Archivists, Clerics, Shadowcasters
{table=head]Level|Max Level Use|Incantations or Graces Known
1st|0th|1
2nd|0th|1
3rd|0th|1
4th|1st|1*
5th|1st|1
6th|1st|1
7th|1st|2
8th|2nd|2*
9th|2nd|2
10th|2nd|2
11th|2nd|2
12th|3rd|2
13th|3rd|3*
14th|3rd|3
15th|3rd|3
16th|4th|3*
17th|4th|3
18th|4th|3
19th|4th|3
20th|5th|3*[/table]
*Each time the maximum level of Incantation or Grace you can use increases, you can replace one existing Incantation or Grace known with another.
**If the Wizard is a specialist, at least one Incantation known must be from his chosen school.
***Graces must be chosen from the Clerics domains.
Spontaneous Casters
Including: Sorcerers, Shugenja, Favored Souls, Dread Necromancers, Warmages, Healers, & Spirit Shamans
{table=head]Level|Max Level Use|Incantations or Graces Known
1st|0th|1
2nd|0th|1
3rd|1st|1*
4th|1st|1
5th|1st|1
6th|2nd|1*
7th|2nd|1
8th|2nd|1
9th|3rd|1*
10th|3rd|1
11th|3rd|2
12th|4th|2*
13th|4th|2
14th|4th|2
15th|5th|2*
16th|5th|2
17th|5th|2
18th|5th|2
19th|6th|2*
20th|6th|2[/table]
*[SIZE="1"]Each time the maximum level of Incantation or Grace you can use increases, you can replace one existing Incantation or Grace known with another.
Partial Casters
Including: Bards, Duskblades
{table=head]Level|Max Level Use|Incantations Known
1st|0th|1
2nd|0th|1
3rd|0th|1
4th|0th|1
5th|1st|2*
6th|1st|2
7th|1st|2
8th|1st|2
9th|1st|3
10th|2nd|3*
11th|2nd|3
12th|2nd|3
13th|2nd|4
14th|2nd|4
15th|3rd|4*
16th|3rd|4
17th|3rd|5
18th|3rd|5
19th|3rd|5
20th|4th|5*[/table]
*[SIZE="1"]Each time the maximum level of Incantation of Grace you can use increases, you can replace one existing Incantation or Grace known with another.
Melee-Heavy Casters
Including: Rangers, Paladins, Hexblades
{table=head]Level|Max Level Use|Incantations Known
1st|—|—
2nd|—|—
3rd|—|—
4th|—|—
5th|—|—
6th|1st|1
7th|1st|1
8th|1st|1
9th|1st|1
10th|1st|2
11th|2nd|2*
12th|2nd|2
13th|2nd|2
14th|2nd|3
15th|2nd|3
16th|3rd|3*
17th|3rd|3
18th|3rd|4
19th|3rd|4
20th|3rd|4[/table]
*[SIZE="1"]Each time the maximum level of Incantation of Grace you can use increases, you can replace one existing Incantation or Grace known with another.
I think that's most of the casting classes in books that I've got access too; let me know if there is anything I missed, or if you have other suggestions.
There's been a bunch of Warlock stuff floating around lately, and why not? The class was a pretty good mix of power and versatility, and fits in with the preferred playstyle of a large segment of the population.
IMO if I had to redesign 3.5 all over again, I'd replace the Sorcerer with the Warlock to help differentiate the differene between low use/high-versatility (embodied in the wizard) and it's polar opposite.
But in the meantime, it's got me thinking about how we can impart a little bit of warlock-flavor (and fun) to other classes, without going overboard.
Wizards and Sorcerers (and Wu-jen, and Archivists, and etc etc etc) are powerful, but that's because SPELLS are (too) powerful. Unless you are playing some of the game-breaking variants, you do need to somewhat ration your spell use. If a full-casting class runs out of spells (or high level spells) they can quickly become a liability.
And there are plenty of spells that fit into the "useful but boring" category.
So what I'm thinking about is some sort of Eldritch Blast or Invocation-like casting that allows other casters to have unlimited spell-like ability useage. Rather than just having damage, I kind of like the idea that the caster can pick whatever spell they want, within limits. I'm still working on the names, but for now I'll refer these abilities as "Incantations" for arcane casters, and "Graces" for divine magic users.
Rules
An Incantation or Grace can be any spell with a casting time of 1 standard action; it also cannot consume XP or components that cost more than 1 gp.
It has no limit on how often it can be cast, and does not require a focus or material components. Incantations and Graces are otherwise subject to normal spell limitations. They cannot be modified by metamagic.
As a player levels up, the maximum level of the unlimited-use abilities fall behind somewhat, but by that point they will have more uses of their limited-spells to compensate. I think it balances out.
Prepared Casters
Including: Wizards, Wu-Jen, Archivists, Clerics, Shadowcasters
{table=head]Level|Max Level Use|Incantations or Graces Known
1st|0th|1
2nd|0th|1
3rd|0th|1
4th|1st|1*
5th|1st|1
6th|1st|1
7th|1st|2
8th|2nd|2*
9th|2nd|2
10th|2nd|2
11th|2nd|2
12th|3rd|2
13th|3rd|3*
14th|3rd|3
15th|3rd|3
16th|4th|3*
17th|4th|3
18th|4th|3
19th|4th|3
20th|5th|3*[/table]
*Each time the maximum level of Incantation or Grace you can use increases, you can replace one existing Incantation or Grace known with another.
**If the Wizard is a specialist, at least one Incantation known must be from his chosen school.
***Graces must be chosen from the Clerics domains.
Spontaneous Casters
Including: Sorcerers, Shugenja, Favored Souls, Dread Necromancers, Warmages, Healers, & Spirit Shamans
{table=head]Level|Max Level Use|Incantations or Graces Known
1st|0th|1
2nd|0th|1
3rd|1st|1*
4th|1st|1
5th|1st|1
6th|2nd|1*
7th|2nd|1
8th|2nd|1
9th|3rd|1*
10th|3rd|1
11th|3rd|2
12th|4th|2*
13th|4th|2
14th|4th|2
15th|5th|2*
16th|5th|2
17th|5th|2
18th|5th|2
19th|6th|2*
20th|6th|2[/table]
*[SIZE="1"]Each time the maximum level of Incantation or Grace you can use increases, you can replace one existing Incantation or Grace known with another.
Partial Casters
Including: Bards, Duskblades
{table=head]Level|Max Level Use|Incantations Known
1st|0th|1
2nd|0th|1
3rd|0th|1
4th|0th|1
5th|1st|2*
6th|1st|2
7th|1st|2
8th|1st|2
9th|1st|3
10th|2nd|3*
11th|2nd|3
12th|2nd|3
13th|2nd|4
14th|2nd|4
15th|3rd|4*
16th|3rd|4
17th|3rd|5
18th|3rd|5
19th|3rd|5
20th|4th|5*[/table]
*[SIZE="1"]Each time the maximum level of Incantation of Grace you can use increases, you can replace one existing Incantation or Grace known with another.
Melee-Heavy Casters
Including: Rangers, Paladins, Hexblades
{table=head]Level|Max Level Use|Incantations Known
1st|—|—
2nd|—|—
3rd|—|—
4th|—|—
5th|—|—
6th|1st|1
7th|1st|1
8th|1st|1
9th|1st|1
10th|1st|2
11th|2nd|2*
12th|2nd|2
13th|2nd|2
14th|2nd|3
15th|2nd|3
16th|3rd|3*
17th|3rd|3
18th|3rd|4
19th|3rd|4
20th|3rd|4[/table]
*[SIZE="1"]Each time the maximum level of Incantation of Grace you can use increases, you can replace one existing Incantation or Grace known with another.
I think that's most of the casting classes in books that I've got access too; let me know if there is anything I missed, or if you have other suggestions.