Warlocks!

[fmalfeas]

I will say, no matter what, I'm taking a lock straight to 20 pure, and seeing just what kind of firepower I can get out of that blast. Which reminds me...

Are we going to need Mobile Spellcasting or Shot on the Run, since we'll be semi-squishy, and thus, inclined to dodge and run as we fight?

[HastyPudding]

I will say, no matter what, I'm taking a lock straight to 20 pure, and seeing just what kind of firepower I can get out of that blast. Which reminds me...

Are we going to need Mobile Spellcasting or Shot on the Run, since we'll be semi-squishy, and thus, inclined to dodge and run as we fight?

Same, here. I intend to go pure, like I do with all of my spellcasters (even though warlock isn't a traditional spellcaster, it's always been a stronger pure than a multiclass).

I think Varg said that ranged-specific feats wouldn't work with eldritch blast, but I think they should get mobile spellcasting for free around mid-level, or at least give it to them somewhere in the enhancement trees.

[fmalfeas]

Yeah. As I mentioned earlier, the use of SP, and in such incredibly limited supply, makes the idea of not going for high speed dodging around worrisome unless that Eldritch Blast hits like a freight train. Keeping displacement running would be prohibitively costly unless you farmed Shroud to the point of drooling insanity. After all, no Uncanny Dodge means lower static Dodge ratings, and no 'burst dodge' for when things get tight like Rogues have. And I doubt the enhancements will give heals stronger than a ranger's ability to crank the CSWs. Plus, ranger and rogue have evasion for dealing with the fireballs that their light armor won't give as much MRR to mitigate.

[Failedlegend]

So I get why the devs went with a blue bar (ease of multi-classing and ED use) but I don't get why Locks got Bard SP values, if anything to reflect there normally unlimited casting they should get the MOST sp in the game (assuming they keep such limited amounts of spells slots, which I'm ok with)

Either that or keep the Bard SP values and make all Lock spells cost 1SP (0 if possible)

[TromboneFireTurtle]

So I get why the devs went with a blue bar (ease of multi-classing and ED use) but I don't get why Locks got Bard SP values, if anything to reflect there normally unlimited casting they should get the MOST sp in the game (assuming they keep such limited amounts of spells slots, which I'm ok with)

Either that or keep the Bard SP values and make all Lock spells cost 1SP (0 if possible)

Isn't there an item enchantment that reduces the amount of spell points that spells cost? What if Warlock enhancement trees had something similar, though probably restricted to a Warlock spells only.

[HastyPudding]

Isn't there an item enchantment that reduces the amount of spell points that spells cost? What if Warlock enhancement trees had something similar, though probably restricted to a Warlock spells only.

I would be happy with that. I don't see any reason why the tainted scholar tree (seeing as that's probably the most caster-specific of the trees) couldn't have a 10%/25%/40% SP cost discount in it in the tier 5 or 18-20 cores. Heck, go ahead and make it 2 AP per tier, I'd still be happy with it. Or even go a step further and say every AP spent in the tainted scholar tree reduces SP costs by 1% or have the cores give a 5%/10%/15%/20%/25%/30% sp discount.

[Failedlegend]

or have the cores give a 5%/10%/15%/20%/25%/30% sp discount.

If were talking Locks spells only I think 10% reduction per core wouldn't be uncalled for. Culminating in 60% reduction

Of course we haven't seen the enhancement trees yet so who knows maybe this is already true of Tainted Scholar

[HatsuharuZ]

About warlocks and spell points...

I'd suggest giving Warlocks an improved benefit from "Echoes of Power" which improves only with Warlock level. Call it "Improved Echoes of Power". The improved benefit would take the form of a heightened spell point regen cap.Then, make it so that the base cost of Warlock spells do not exceed the amount of spell points granted by "Imp. Echoes" at class level 20. Well, except maybe for things like Wail and the Power Word spells. It would be a bit OP if those could be used indefinitely. The point is for the warlock to be able to keep fighting when wizards and even sorcs run out of SP.

This would mean that a pure warlock would be able to use most of his spells/invocations as much as he likes, so long as he doesn't use metamagics with them.

There could also be enhancements that increase the rate at which "Echoes of Power"/"Imp. Echoes" regenerates spell points. Probably in the Tainted Scholar tree.

[Gurdomli]

This is my very first DDO post, even though I've been playing for nearly 3 years. I've been waiting for my second favorite class after the wizard to pop up for a while, and blimey am I happy to see it come.

I've been a D&D player, both pnp and most of the PC games (BG1, BG2, Icewind Dales, Neverwinter Nights etc... But not the new Neverwinter MMO for obvious reasons).

Here's my two cents as someone who's mostly played 3.5 rules but is open to flexibility of imagination.

1) alignement restrictions: while it's established warlocks can have pacts with more... Benevolent spirits, they can also have personal goals that are aimed towards good. So personally I'd be comfortable with any non Lawful alignments.

2) invocations and SP usage: no... No no no SP for warlocks. They shouldn't have to use SP at all it's a breach of what makes a warlock... A Warlock. If worried about being able to use EDs well many classes don't have SP and still use the destinies fine, even those that use SP, especially in the primal trees. Maybe balance this with double Cooldown or something.

3) warlock spells: warlocks never had many spells and that's ok because they were unique to them (for the most part). I'd like to see unique spells for the warlock, or at least unique ones depending on the pact they chose.

[Silverleafeon]

Isn't there an item enchantment that reduces the amount of spell points that spells cost? What if Warlock enhancement trees had something similar, though probably restricted to a Warlock spells only.

[GeoffWatson]

I'd like the Great Old One pact to have options for Light damage, like the 4E Warlock.

Geoff.

[Luckfast]

Looking forward to seeing the Warlock Class added and i think having them fit more similarly to a bard than a full caster seems perfect.

I was admittedly hoping they would be tied in with a release of Teifling Iconics as we dont really have an iconic race tailored as a caster type. Also possibly a release of Epic Level Amrath since its an area of the game that gets largely ignored now.

I like the idea of a Fey possibility and having Alignment restrictions on the Fiend and Old-One Trees.
I always assumed that Summoning/Minion Control and Buff would be a bigger element of the Class. I would have thought that Dominate Fey/Fiend spells would have been added similarly to how bards can focus on mind controlling Humanoids, Druids with Animals etc etc.

I REALLY like the suggestion of having a Summon Imp or Wisp in the Fiend/Fey Trees. Wisp perhaps to offer some buff/healing and magic missile combat support and Imp could possibly be able to Search/Disable/LockPick (as Tree TOP enhancement) I think DDO would benefit from having another class that can deal with trapping even if it is seriously nerfed abilities compared to that of arti/rogues and not in the traditional sense that its their classes skill, more of a summonable Imp mischief maker with limited skill and obviously cant wear ++trapping kit. If the mechanic to have pets deal with traps in this sense is added, i've also always felt that Druid wolves should be able to search and spot for secret doors. Having pets become a bigger focus for some classes is something i'd like to see work on. Ie scrap the Ranger Stealth focused Tree somewhat for a Pet and Pet buffs related Beast Master Tree, With the option of both druids and Rangers picking their pets species. It has become apparent lots of artis/druids dont even bother summoning pets. I love mine and always take the time to fully buff him up before i zone in crash and loose the buffs on entry ;o)

I like the idea of Fey being good Crowd Control/Summoning/Off Healing, Fiend Being Damage/Summoning/Crowd Control and i always hoped Old-One would be the main self sufficiency Tree with possibly a Polymorph into Melee Daemon Tree Top Enhancement Damage/Crowd Control/Self Healing. I feel these are suggestions that would really separate the class as something new to DDO rather than just a pewpew bard/eldritch knight rehash that can already kind of be made by multiclassing.

Keeping an eye on the progress and thanks for taking suggestions

~Luckfast~

[Niaobe]

What if warlocks had the feat option to take the book of shadows feat like in 5e for some more spells???

[voodoogroves]

On the topic if melee, etc. and pivoting off of what someone else suggested.

What if both the melee warlock AND the underperforming EK had some sort of spell power boost but only for implement spell power? Perhaps two in the tree (not knowing the warlock trees I'll use EK as a base); like a T3 that maybe doubles your implement spell power and a T5 that does some other multiplier. Attach it to an existing component(s).

This would encourage them to fight with weapons that had spell effects, as opposed to just ... weapons .. and could create a micro economy (plus boost them a bit).

[IronClan]

TO me the way to make Warlock seperate from other classes is to make it's casting fluid and not cause a slow down. Also hard tab targeting must be avoided, allow all "invocations" to hit whatever is soft targeted or under the target cursor of the player... there MUST NOT be "invalid target" or "you're not facing Hobgoblin shamen" this must be avoided at all costs or it wont play fluid and invocations will not feel like anything but just spells...

To me the best bang for the buck to make Warlock more interesting and more of a real stand alone class is to give more "invocations" and those need to have new graphics/animation or at least cleverly modified ones. They need to have the Invocation feel: that is they need to be constantly refreshed and not use SP this means they are short duration and limited effect (small areas, short range, instantly casting).

For example a short duration half area size EQ where tentacles come up and grab mobs and pull them down... Entangle just isn'tvery effective as a CC, so if you make a short instant casting entangle no one will bother using it... it's also a spell that is target finicky... as discussed this is a terrible "feel" for warlock. If Entangle is to be a SLA invocation equivelent you must improve it to be less fiddly.

Earthquake is not fiddly, it doesn't care about targets, it will drop down 100 times out of 100 on top of where you are pointing, OR whatever soft target you have. It is also effective where entangle is mostly very ineffective with the same DC's (I know because my Elven Druid used the entangle SLA extensively and found it very lacking).

THis is off topic but I would love if after the character balance pass if Turbine would go through and personally USE EVERY SPELL in combat for a few hours and every Special ability and SLA and mark down the ones that have terrible targeting quirks, the ones that have a completely useless DC, the ones that are simply non-working, and improve them to be more fluid and fun to use... There are so many of these in DDO that I literally base considerable oppotunity cost in building a character on using the fun non-fiddly non-klunky stuff over the not fun stuff. This ends up being harder and more costly than you might expect it to be, and in many cases the results are only "half there" the un-fun is only partially mitigated, and the build does not turn out satisfying to play.

Fun is the entire point after all.

[The_Human_Cypher]

I was admittedly hoping they would be tied in with a release of Teifling Iconics as we dont really have an iconic race tailored as a caster type. Also possibly a release of Epic Level Amrath since its an area of the game that gets largely ignored now.

We won't get Tieflings with Update 26 and perhaps never due to the cost of production that would be involved (the devs have already discussed this earlier). However, we are getting Warlocks for the Devil themed / Shavarath Update 26 in June, which is excellent timing.

I just hope that however Warlocks turn out, the DDO Warlock is somewhat close to the pencil and paper Warlock and the Warlock class is different enough from Bards, Sorcs, and so on that there is a unique reason to play the class.

[HatsuharuZ]

What if warlocks had the feat option to take the book of shadows feat like in 5e for some more spells???

Vargouille said that they have extra spells/invocations in the "Tainted Scholar" enhancement tree.

[Violith]

So, has there been any mention on changing the damage type? Force may seem right, but there is a few mobs that either are immune, or heal from force damage. And im not sure about 4/5e, but in 3.5 it was untyped. as its the main form of offense for warlocks, I dont see why they would've changed its type to allow mobs to be immune to it.

[Gljosh]

I picture this being kind of like monk like, their "ki" is constantly regaining so their attacks have both cool down and need a certain amount of "ki" to work. I used "ki" just for a current in game term.

[Gratch]

My first thoughts on Warlock proposal:

Want new spells... even if some are borrowed things off of current monsters. Beyond the eldritch blast, some spells of their own will really help individualize Warlocks. Sadly at this point I would trade 10 new spells for an arty tree, even though arties really need a revamp and a new tree. Though in that case I'd also want a few of the spells shared with bards who have so few choices.

Personally I'm okay with warlocks using spell points. Though I wouldn't care if you hit them with some double-wizard-cooldown-time but half-total-sp-cost mechanic to bring things closer in line with "infinite castability" that other people say defines the class.

I'll hold my thoughts on eldritch blast until I see it in action on Lama. Hopefully it's a fun mechanic. I see the enhancement trees will add bonuses to the main blast as well as blast "shapers" and one-shot other types of blasts. Any chance of also having a UI "Eldritch Blast Charge" mechanic on blasts similar to the rune-arm one? Just to vary the UI game play? Or is that completely outside of Warlock pnp?

Most Fey are chaotic. If the other paths have restriction then add non-lawful to Fey. Done.