Warlock

Disclaimer: [Fiends Reach LWC made this class. I just have a copy here for my home game(s) so I can make edits for balance.]

**Patrons and Pacts**: Warlocks make pacts with powerful entities.  These outsiders are never full blown deities, but fall into the realm of quasi-deities: Archdevils, Demon Lords, Harbingers, Eldest, or Great Old Ones.  How and why a patron seeks out its Warlock varies by patron, and is rarely ever known. Unlike clerics who come together in churches, warlocks rarely align themselves with others of the same patron.  Often times even a warlock will be distrustful of other warlocks pactbound by the same patron. It is not rare that a patron will task their warlocks with the duty of finding another ‘assets’ that may stray.  The pacts that a Warlock makes can vary as much as the patron (and often the same patron will strike a different deal with different warlocks). Some sell their soul, others spend nearly all their time performing tasks for their patrons.  The pact will almost always seem too good to be true, often because they are. Most warlocks make their pacts in desperate circumstances, or without fully understanding the deal that they’re making. They usually only discover the extent of their agreement months, if not years after the proverbial ink has long dried.

**Role**: Warlocks fill a similar role to traditional spellcasters.  They exchange versatility for insane endurance, even more so than a sorcerer.  They are experts at understanding and utilizing magic items as well as creating magical effects all day.  Their powerful calling card can often fill a role similar to that of a kineticist or archer.

**Alignment**: A Warlock’s alignment usually closely matches that of their patron.

**Hit Dice**: d6

**Parent Classes**: Kineticist and Witch

## Class Skills

The Warlock’s class skills are Craft (Int), Fly (Dex), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (history) (Int), Knowledge (planes) (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Stealth (Dex), and Use Magic Device (Cha).

**Skill Ranks per Level**: 4 + Int modifier

## Warlock

### Weapon and Armor Proficiency

Warlocks are proficient with all simple weapons and light armor, but not shields.

### Pact

Warlocks make a pact with an otherworldly being for power. This pact can come in a variety of forms but comes in three general forms:

* **Soul Pact**: The Warlock’s soul is given over to the patron upon death. This makes it increasingly difficult to bring the Warlock back from the dead. Any spellcaster who attempts to bring the character back from the dead must attempt a caster level check (DC = 10 + the slain character’s Hit Dice). Success means the spell functions as normal, while failure means the spell fails and cannot be attempted again for 24 hours. Warlocks with the same patron, however, can raise the slain character normally, without a check, assuming they otherwise have the means. Upon reaching level 7, the Warlock becomes even more ensnared by their deal. they cannot be brought back by anything short of resurrection. Upon reaching level 14 they cannot be brought back by resurrection, instead requiring true resurrection. Finally, by reaching level 20, a wish or miracle is required (with the caster level check noted above) to temporarily free the soul of the Warlock, allowing the character to be resurrected normally.
* **Service Pact**: The Warlock must perform regular services for their patron. This might not be particularly dangerous or difficult, but it takes time. Each month the Warlock must devote 1 day per 3 Warlock level(s) towards furthering their patron’s agenda. This time need not be taken all at once, and can be broken up over multiple days, so long as the requirement per month is met. If the Warlock begins running out of time at the end of the month; they are affected by a Geas spell; and compelled to complete them, slowly accruing minuses to their ability scores if they continue to ignore their duties.
* **Ban Pact**: The Warlock has a certain set of actions that they are banned from performing. The Warlock becomes physically and mentally unable to perform these tasks, no matter how badly they may wish to do so. At 10th level the Warlock selects an additional ban. The following are examples of bans that are available to the Warlock to select:
	+ The Warlock cannot speak; other than performing the verbal components of Warlock class abilities. This functions as the Vow of Silence (but does not grant ki).
	+ The Warlock cannot wear any lavish or magical clothing. This includes outfits worth more than 1gp total; and magical items in the chest, body, boot, shoulders or head slots.
	+ The Warlock cannot wear shields or armor whatsoever (though spells and magical items that grant an armor bonus are still permissible).
	+ The Warlock cannot equip physical weapons whatsoever; though they may still inflict harm through other methods.
	+ The Warlock cannot speak Lies / Truths. This functions as a Vow of Truth / Vow of Lies, though it grants no Ki.
	+ The Warlock cannot equip Jewelry of any kind; magical or nonmagical.
	+ Certain actions displease certain patrons. The Warlock cannot make one type of skill check; chosen upon selecting this ban pact.
	+ The Warlock cannot cast spells, invocations, spell-like abilities, or use magic items created with spells of a particular spell school.
	+ The Warlock cannot trust others. they must always attempt to resist spells and other beneficial effects if they are aware of the effect (except raise dead and other similar spells). This functions as a Vow of Celibacy (though it grants no Ki).

*Once a Pact is chosen, it cannot be changed except via another warlock’s Recruitment (see below). The Pact is a dangerous thing that fundamentally chafes against some moral codes. As such, merely having a Pact is a violation of the Paladin’s Oath.*

### Patron

Warlocks make their pacts with a powerful outsider. This quasi-divine entity bestows him with powerful abilities that warp their very soul. Each patron-warlock relationship is unique, and even two warlocks who share the same patron will often find themselves in very different circumstances.

The different patrons offer each warlock something unique to their warlocks. Each patron falls within a general category which has a list of invocations that they offer their warlocks, adding to the list of those available to the warlock. they must otherwise meet the prerequisites of these invocations to select them.

The categories of patrons are: Eldest, the fey lords and most powerful residents of the First world; Archdevils, the rulers of Hell; Harbingers, truly powerful daemons; Demon Lords, powerful and unique demons that rule their own layer of the Abyss; Protean Lords, the most powerful form of protean spawned by the Maelstrom; and Great Old Ones, priests and heralds of their alien Outer Gods.

Once a Patron has been selected, it cannot be changed, except via Recruitment by another warlock. If this happens, the warlock who changes their patron is immediately stripped of any Invocation that was exclusive to their previous patron, replacing them with Invocations of the same level.

In spite of their quasi-divine nature, the abilities bestowed to a warlock are considered arcane (for instance, an eldritch blast cannot be fired into a source severance suppressing arcane magic).

*The base available patrons are included on the following pages: Archdevils, Demon Lords, Eldest, Great Old Ones, Harbingers, and Protean Lords.*

### Eldritch Blast (Sp)

The first thing that every Warlock receives from their pact with their patron is the Eldritch Blast.  This spell-like ability comes in many different forms, usually a combination of the patron’s themes, and the warlock’s personality.  It always takes the form of some kind of ranged projectile though.

The warlock can take a standard action to make a ranged touch attack against a target within 30 feet; that deals 1d6 + the Warlock’s Charisma modifier in damage.  Unless modified by Invocations (see below), this attack does not allow a saving throw, does allows for spell resistance, and is an evocation spell like ability with a spell level equal to ½ the Warlock’s class level (maximum spell level 9th). The Warlock is considered to have an effective caster level equal to their Warlock level.

At 3rd level, and every 2 levels thereafter, the Eldritch Blast’s damage increases by an additional 1d6, to a maximum of 10d6 + the Warlock’s Charisma Modifier at level 19. The blast manifests an additional Ray at 6th, 12th and 18th level(s).

Eldritch blasts do not count as a ranged weapon for the purpose of feats such as Deadly Aim / Rapid Shot. The warlock is never considered to be wielding or gripping the eldritch blast (regardless of effects from shape invocations; see Invocations), and they can’t use Vital Strike or Two-Weapon Fighting feats with eldritch blasts. A Warlock does not receive additional Eldritch Blasts from having a high BaB.

### Invocations (Sp)

At 2nd level a Warlock learns their first Invocation.  Unlike normal spellcasters, warlocks know only a handful of spells, but they can use them at will. Each Invocation has a level, which is the spell-like ability’s effective spell level.  A Warlock must be at least twice the level of the Invocation before they can select it. Any saving throw allowed by an Invocation is equal to 10 + 1/2 the Warlock's Class Lv + the Warlock’s Cha modifier. When utilizing Invocations that emulate spells; the Warlock is considered to have an effective caster level equal to their Warlock level.

Shape Invocations and Essence Invocations are a special type of invocation that modify the warlock’s Eldritch Blast.  Shape Invocations modify the shape of the blast, either by extending the range, or by turning it into an area effect. An Eldritch Blast can only be modified by one Shape Invocation at a time.

Essence Invocations instead change the essential nature of the blast.  This may change the damage type, or add on additional effects. Like Shape Invocations, only one Essence Invocation can modify a given Eldritch Blast.  Both a Shape and Essence Invocation can be used on the same Eldritch Blast though.

At 4th level, and every even level thereafter, a Warlock learns another invocation.  Warlock Invocations can be found here.

### See Magic (SLA)

At 1st level, the magical energies infused into a warlock’s soul attunes them towards other magic.  This is an extra invocation that allows them to use detect magic at will as a spell-like ability. When examining the aura of a magic item in this way, they may use Use Magic Device in place of Spellcraft.

### Emissary Familiar

At 2nd level your patron sends you an Emissary to help both communicate and enforce its will. This familiar functions as a Wizard’s Arcane Bond using the Warlock’s class level in place of a wizard level. The type of Familiar is dependent on the Warlock’s patron. Unlike a Wizard’s familiar, these emissaries are seen as expendable in the eyes of the Patron, and are simply replaced by the Patron if slain, reappearing the next time the Warlock takes a full night’s rest at no cost.

Archdevil bound warlocks receive an Imp familiar, Demon Lords an Isitoq, Eldest Warlocks a Faerie Dragon or Sprite, Harbingers a Cacodaemon, and Protean Lords a Protean Voidworm. Warlocks who worship the Great Old Ones may receive many different types of familiar's based on their patron's strange desires; however the default is a Clockwork Raven.

The Warlock’s familiar has the following changes from a wizard’s:

* The familiar has the extraplanar subtype, but is still a magical beast.

* The warlock and familiar treat Invocations and Eldritch Blast as spells for the purposes of share spells and deliver touch spell.

* The familiar gains speak with master at 1st level but never receives speak with animals of its kind.

### Eldritch Defense (Su)

At 3rd level, The Warlock gains supernatural resilience from their patron to help them further their esoteric goals. But such a boon comes at a cost. When the warlock attempts a saving throw against a hostile effect; they may choose to take up to 15 points of self-inflicted Hit Point damage as an Immediate Action. For every 3 Points of HP damage inflicted in this manner, the Warlock gains a +1 Profane bonus on their saving throws for the next minute, up to a Maximum profane bonus of +5 on any given save. This sacrifice can occur before or after the hostile effect, but must be resolved before the outcome of the hostile effect is known. This self-inflicted damage represents a sacrifice in blood to the Warlock's patron; and as a result, this damage can’t be healed by any means other than getting a full night’s rest, which removes all HP damage incurred in this manner.

### Faithful Servant:

At 5th level The Warlock gains one of the following feats as a bonus feat, though it must correspond to their specific patron: *Deific Obedience, Celestial Obedience, Demonic Obedience, Fey Obedience, Fiendish Obedience, or Monitor Obedience*

Unlike the Warlock’s Pact; the Warlock is not Supernaturally compelled to perform this obedience on a daily basis.

The Warlock is treated as though they had 2 more Hit Dice than they actually do for the purposes of determining what divine boons they gain as a result of performing their Patron's obedience.

Additionally, whenever they would gain a boon as a result of their Obedience feat, they can choose among the options available for evangelist, exalted, or sentinel boons. Once they make the selection, it is permanent, but they can choose from a different category each time they gain a new boon as they increase their Hit Dice.

If the Warlock's specific patron does not have an applicable obedience; they instead gain a bonus feat for which they qualify normally.

### Recruitment (SLA)

At 10th level, the warlock gains enough trust with their patron to begin recruiting others to their cause.  The warlock can cast atonement as a spell-like ability at will. they cannot use this to restore cleric or druid spell powers, nor can they restore lost class features for classes with an alignment restriction that does not match their patron’s alignment.

If the use of atonement would require the warlock to pay 2,500 gp in rare incense and offerings, instead the target of the atonement must accept a pact with the warlock’s patron.  This can allow a non-warlock to immediately retrain one level of an existing class into Warlock, selecting the same patron as the warlock who cast this.

If used on an ex-warlock, this allows the ex-warlock to gain the patron of warlock who is casting this spell, allowing him to begin taking levels in warlock again.  If the ex-warlock intentionally broke their pact, then they are subject to a second pact for 1 month (this second pact cannot be one that they already took, nor can it be the Soul Pact).

### Improved Eldritch Defense (Su)

At 12th level, The Warlock gains supernatural resilience from their patron to help them further their esoteric goals. But such a boon comes at a cost. When the warlock attempts a saving throw against a hostile effect; they may choose to take up to 30 points of self-inflicted Hit Point damage as an Immediate Action. For every 3 Points of HP damage inflicted in this manner, the Warlock gains a +1 Profane bonus on their saving throws for one minute therafter, up to a Maximum profane bonus of +10. This sacrifice can occur before or after the hostile effect, but must be resolved before the outcome of the hostile effect is known. This self-inflicted damage represents a sacrifice in blood to the Warlock's patron; and as a result, this damage can’t be healed by any means other than getting a full night’s rest, which removes all HP damage incurred in this manner.

### True Warlock

At 20th level the warlock has become a true vessel for their patron’s power.  they may apply two shape invocations, or two essence invocations to their Eldritch Blast(s) at once.

## Ex-Warlocks

A warlock cannot break their pact without bargaining for their literal soul; reclaiming it for themselves from the clutches of a being with deific powers. They are still bound by their Pact even if they take or retrain levels in another class. Soul Reclamation normally requires the intercession of another creature with similar levels of power.

While most Ex Warlocks are freed from service via *Miracle;* some do manage to bargain for their soul via bargaining and mundane correspondence. Results vary VASTLY from patron to patron.

## Prestige Classing with Warlock

As with any prestige class that advances spell casting, a warlock increases their eldritch blast damage, gains new invocations, and increases their effective caster level.

## Feats

### **Extra Invocation:**

**Prerequisites**: Warlock 2nd

You gain an extra invocation. You must qualify the normal prerequisites for the invocation you select; Including both your Patron; and Warlock level.

### **Potent Blast:**

**Prerequisites:** Warlock 6th

The damage die of your eldritch blast(s) increase by one step; up to 1d8's by default.

## Favored Class Bonuses

**Dwarf** Add ⅓ point of damage to Caustic Eldritch Blasts and Invocations that deal acid damage.

**Elf** Add ¼ to the warlock’s caster level when determining the effects of the patron exclusive invocations.

**Faery** Gain ⅕ of an Extra Invocation feat.  This feat must be spent on an Eldest Invocation.

**Gnome** Gain a +½ bonus on Use Magic Device checks.

**Gnome** Gain ⅕ of an Extra Invocation feat.  This feat must be spent on an Eldest Invocation.

**Half-Elf** Gain ⅙ of an Extra Invocation feat.

**Half-Orc** Add ⅓ point of damage to Baelfire Eldritch Blast and Invocations that deal fire damage.

**Halfling** Add ¼ to the warlock’s caster level when determining the effects of the patron exclusive invocations.

**Tiefling** Add +¼ to the DC of curse invocations.

**Tiefling (Daemon-Spawn)** Gain ⅕ of an Extra Invocation feat.  This feat must be spent on a Harbinger Invocation.

**Tiefling (Demon-Spawn)** Gain ⅕ of an Extra Invocation feat.  This feat must be spent on a Demon Lord Invocation.

**Tiefling (Devil-Spawn)** Gain ⅕ of an Extra Invocation feat.  This feat must be spent on an Archdevil Invocation.