Good Warlock-y Classes

[petermcleod117]

Hello!
So, I really like the magic system for the warlock from the Complete Arcane, and would like to see what else is there for them. I already know about the Dragonfire Adept, and I have also encountered ErrantX's Ebon Initiate, Channeler, Iron Man, and Generator homebrew base classes which all use the basic invocation mechanics of the Warlock.

Is there anything else like that on the site?

[Maat Mons]

Stretching the definition of "on this site," I'll post a link to some of my attempts (http://minmaxforum.com/index.php?topic=18245).

[StSword]

Not on this website but I felt compelled to direct you to check out the Spheres of Power wiki (http://spheresofpower.wikidot.com/).


It takes the basics of invocations and expands it considerably, wouldn't take much to make the Mageknight a Warlock's Paladin/Ranger equivalent, or the Armorist into a Hellsmith class that summons weapons and armor from the infernal armory. That sort of thing.

[Weasel of Doom]

Arguably the Tome of Battle and Incarnum classes and the Binder are similar in the sense that they have various magic-adjacent abilities that aren't limited by spell slots.

[Anthrowhale]

You might know, but any spell advancing prestige class without a spell level requirement can be entered by a warlock and advances warlock invocations. This provides many possibilities which Troacctid covers (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CQ7sA64GiD_Ja5bXO3RpmTJoTCyJ2sIATCyIRwx7AN8/edit#).

[petermcleod117]

Arguably the Tome of Battle and Incarnum classes and the Binder are similar in the sense that they have various magic-adjacent abilities that aren't limited by spell slots.

yeah, i've thought of using those. i have the "secrets of pact magic" book for the binder class.

[Fizban]

The thing about Warlock/invocations is that they don't need a bajillion variants, particularly in separate base class forms. They're defined by their invocation selection (as spellcasters should be by their spell selection). Before you have reason to even bother with new classes, you need enough invocations for there to be significant variation between invocation users. Many homebrew invocation users are just warlocks with differently flavored minor abilities and a couple new invocations.

Vael's homebrew (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?60676-The-Homebrewer-s-Extended-Signature&p=13321110#post13321110) has a bunch of great invocations and some warlock variants. I have a pile of my own invocations as well, but I don't think I've posted them anywhere yet?

[Mordante]

Just play a Warlock and maybe add a splash of Acolyte of the Skin or Hellfire Warlock.

No you will not be super powerful but from a roleplay perspective it's a lot of fun.

[Biggus]

You might know, but any spell advancing prestige class without a spell level requirement can be entered by a warlock and advances warlock invocations.

I didn't know that. Where does it say that?

[Anthrowhale]

I didn't know that. Where does it say that?

Complete Arcane, page 18. It opens up many possibilities. Play with the warlock column in the spreadsheet here (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1geywITbI4M-Up08SGD-rUHlnobR66aIgKqu7mILkmhU/edit#gid=691970088) (also by Troacctid). You can turn into a bear, gain telepathy, gain proficiency with all weapons/armor, be a skill monkey as well, etc... via this route.

[Grod_The_Giant]

I think I used Invocations or Invocation-equivalents in some of my Giants and Graveyards (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?329161-Giants-and-Graveyards-Grod-s-collected-3-5-revisions) class rewrites. Lemmie look back...

My Barbarian (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?328113-Barbarian-now-with-150-more-beef-(3-5-PEACH))used Brute Powers, which are functionally just (Ex) Invocations.
I actually did two Bard rewrites (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?392463-The-Bard-v2-%28Spell-less-and-Fixed-List-Caster-Project-Versions%29), one with traditional casting and one with a funky Invocation offshoot. Looks like "Compositions" were stronger, but cost Bardic Music uses to activate; their power partially depended on an initial Performance check; and each "Composition" had one "Chord" effect that took place immediately, and one "Refrain" that remained in place as long as you kept concentrating.
I did a Dragon Shaman/Dragonfire Adept/Dragon Disciple replacement class (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?282016-Dragon-Disciple-(3-5-base-class-replaces-Dragon-Shaman-and-Dragonfire-Adept)&p=15167076#post15167076) that used classic Invocations.
My Savage (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?240943-The-Savage-one-part-barbarian-one-part-druid-one-part-Wolverine-3-5-PEACH-WIP) benefited from a couple different types of mutation that were vaguely similar to Invocations in terms of being at-will and often passive abilities?

I also wrote a "Legend (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?242782-The-Legend-(sort-of-a-fighter-fix-sort-of-a-warlock-3-5-PEACH-WIP)&p=13207547#post13207547)" at one point that was sort of a martial version of the Warlock, but of questionable quality-- a lot of their not-Invocations wound up being recycled in later homebrew. There's also an evolution in the "Myth (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?307285-The-Myth-Tier-1-quot-Mundane-quot-Challenge-Accepted!)," which departs from the Invocation template in a couple ways and departs from generally accepted game balance in many ways (ie, I balanced against high-op spellcasters).

[petermcleod117]

I think I used Invocations or Invocation-equivalents in some of my Giants and Graveyards (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?329161-Giants-and-Graveyards-Grod-s-collected-3-5-revisions) class rewrites. Lemmie look back...

My Barbarian (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?328113-Barbarian-now-with-150-more-beef-(3-5-PEACH))used Brute Powers, which are functionally just (Ex) Invocations.
I actually did two Bard rewrites (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?392463-The-Bard-v2-%28Spell-less-and-Fixed-List-Caster-Project-Versions%29), one with traditional casting and one with a funky Invocation offshoot. Looks like "Compositions" were stronger, but cost Bardic Music uses to activate; their power partially depended on an initial Performance check; and each "Composition" had one "Chord" effect that took place immediately, and one "Refrain" that remained in place as long as you kept concentrating.
I did a Dragon Shaman/Dragonfire Adept/Dragon Disciple replacement class (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?282016-Dragon-Disciple-(3-5-base-class-replaces-Dragon-Shaman-and-Dragonfire-Adept)&p=15167076#post15167076) that used classic Invocations.
My Savage (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?240943-The-Savage-one-part-barbarian-one-part-druid-one-part-Wolverine-3-5-PEACH-WIP) benefited from a couple different types of mutation that were vaguely similar to Invocations in terms of being at-will and often passive abilities?

I also wrote a "Legend (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?242782-The-Legend-(sort-of-a-fighter-fix-sort-of-a-warlock-3-5-PEACH-WIP)&p=13207547#post13207547)" at one point that was sort of a martial version of the Warlock, but of questionable quality-- a lot of their not-Invocations wound up being recycled in later homebrew. There's also an evolution in the "Myth (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?307285-The-Myth-Tier-1-quot-Mundane-quot-Challenge-Accepted!)," which departs from the Invocation template in a couple ways and departs from generally accepted game balance in many ways (ie, I balanced against high-op spellcasters).

the savage looks interesting. a major part of the setting I'm crafting involves mutants called EVOs (Exponentially Variegated Organisms), so the savage would be a perfect fit.

[Grod_The_Giant]

the savage looks interesting. a major part of the setting I'm crafting involves mutants called EVOs (Exponentially Variegated Organisms), so the savage would be a perfect fit.
I'm glad you like it! If you're looking for EVO mechanics, you might also enjoy my Endocist (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?396248-The-Endocist-Synthesist-Summoner-as-a-Base-Class-(3-5-PEACH))-- it's a back-porting of the Synthesis Summoner from Pathfinder, with (hopefully) improved balance. You'd probably need to futz around with the class abilities to shift the focus from outsiders to (presumably) aberrations, but it could be helpful as at least a template for a build-your-own-monster player class?

[Kitsuneymg]

Spheres of Power has been mentioned. If you’re allowing Pathfinder stuff, the Avowed playtest is still somewhere on this site. It’s a warlock expanded to be a large number of pacts instead of the evilish one the 3.5 warlock has.

[Melayl]

What would you say is/are the Divine warlock-type "all day , no downtime" class(es)? Particularly something with healing and/or channeling.

[petermcleod117]

What would you say is/are the Divine warlock-type "all day , no downtime" class(es)? Particularly something with healing and/or channeling.

ErrantX has the Channeler (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?196557-3-5-The-Channeler-an-angelic-invoker-Base-Class)