Playing a warlock ... as I see it

[johnlewismcleod]

I think the chaotic origin of the power pretty well says it all: a warlock doesn't really know what they risk by possessing and using chaotic/other worldly power. Maybe as long as they live they are safe from the clutches of the source..maybe not.

In either case I would think any near death experience would be incredibly frightening to a warlock. Eternity is a long time in the clutches of "X", yes? (and in Faerun this is real and everyone knows it)

The eternity bit, I mean

[kid]

and on that matter...

another subject i've been thinking about.

Can a warlock who promised his soul be rezzed?

Would the demon just give it back? (:

[NESchampion]

DMs call. I doubt any of the source books go into such minutia as "well if he promises his soul to a demon but is a faithful follower of tyr who gets the soul".

[Ronan]

Fiendish Codex II may have rules on soul-selling and rezes.

[SwordSaintMusashi]

No. If you promise your soul to a demon or devil, only True Resurrection, Wish and Miracle can restore you to life after you've died. Its one of the downsides of selling your soul for power.

[boombrakh]

Its one of the downsides of selling your soul for power.

Pfft! The real downside is that it's only a "minor roleplaying effect" in ALFA
I doubt I'll get any real powzah if Rolo sells his soul.

[Brokenbone]

Stretch your imagination as to how a Hellfire Warlock PRC quest might unfold. There might be some bargaining along that path, at the end of which is some tasty power.

[Lady Crankenstein]

Ok we. Been and and over all the how to , when and if some one can identify an Eldritch blast ... But ... Might another warlock be able to recognize an invocation ?
... Or... Is it that since the sources of power can vary so much that each elditch blast has it's own character... Not identifiable by another warlock just because of same class?

LC

[SwordSaintMusashi]

Technically, every Eldritch Blast could look different. But a warlock cannot just automatically know what another player is doing is an Eldritch Blast no more than a wizard or cleric. They still need to roll Spellcraft like everyone else to identify another warlock's powers.

ADDITION: Complete Arcane, Page 7: "An eldritch blast is the equivalent of a spell whose level is one-half the warlock's class level (round down)..."

So the Spellcraft DC does go up as the Warlock gets higher level, as the DC is 15 + spell level, and the spell level of an Eldritch Blast is 1/2 the Warlock's total Warlock levels.

Thanks to NES for finding this.

[Ithildur]

7 pages of this... do we have any rulings/concensus on any of this yet? I've been avoiding reacting IC to a warlock PC so far because I have no idea what is considered acceptable.

I'm starting to think the class as a whole just is more trouble than it's worth between all the recent controversy and broken mechanics on top of everyone and their mother having a different view of the fluff/crunch.

[Blindhamsterman]

if they cast an invocation or use eldritch blast, roll a standard spellcraft roll yourself, if you beat the DC then you know what they did was, and that they're a warlock, how much you know about warlocks is dependant on knowledge arcana skill or IC previous experience

[Zelknolf]

ADDITION: Complete Arcane, Page 7: "An eldritch blast is the equivalent of a spell whose level is one-half the warlock's class level (round down)..."

WotC actually updated this on its website over here:http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/er/20040125a

Seems an eldritch blast is actually level 1 unless modified by a shape or essence (when it takes on the level of its shape or essence). Which is good; that's what the engine does for us anyway.

[Brokenbone]

In major events, I am sure my own PC has seen EBs fired off fifty times. Siege of Tempus Tears for example, some BG folks will recognize.

Spellcraft is a "trained only" skill, much like open locks or disable device, if you haven't trained, you have 0% chance of ever hitting DC 16 Spellcraft.

Me, my PC would have got to roll 50 d20, and added his Spellcraft ranks to see "gee, did I ever manage to beat a 16"? Answer statistically would be "yeah, of course." Kind of like taking 20 in that instance.

Not that I actually care for current RP purposes, no warlock ever "dun Rhaggot no hurt," but there's plenty of lawful or goodly or similar concepts about where hey, they might care. Just as they might care about a priest of Cyric drinking at their favourite bar in full ceremonial gear and whatnot.

*shrugs*

Unfortunately it also only takes one person's interpretation / misinterpretation to say ICly to folks who are trying to play off say, their zero ranks of spellcraft, to say "HELLO MEET THIS WARLOCK" and all hell can conceivably break loose. Kind of like walking up and saying "oh this guy is my friend, see the Zhents aren't all bad" and a huge secret gets cracked open, perfectly carelessly but maybe at the same time, perfectly innocently or ignorant of maybe impact on course of others' games n' plans.

Oh well. Small world to share!

[SwordSaintMusashi]

ADDITION: Complete Arcane, Page 7: "An eldritch blast is the equivalent of a spell whose level is one-half the warlock's class level (round down)..."

WotC actually updated this on its website over here:http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/er/20040125a

Seems an eldritch blast is actually level 1 unless modified by a shape or essence (when it takes on the level of its shape or essence). Which is good; that's what the engine does for us anyway.

*shot through the heart, but he's too late. Zelk gives love...a bad name.*

[Ithildur]

if they cast an invocation or use eldritch blast, roll a standard spellcraft roll yourself, if you beat the DC then you know what they did was, and that they're a warlock, how much you know about warlocks is dependant on knowledge arcana skill or IC previous experience

So how does one reconcile this if they make the spellcraft DC easily (can be seen in the game engine rolls window), but has little or no Knowledge Arcana ranks currently, and may come from say, a region that some sources claim has known warlocks, and other sources are completely silent about?