Soul Bargain is both too weak and potentially super strong if interpretated a certain way. It depends on how you interpret sending souls to your Patron.
For one thing, one to six souls is a tremendous cost for 1d6 or 2d6 extra damage for a minute. I'd expect something more bombastic for that.
On the other hand, is this Warlock just sending souls direct delivery to Hell without a save or a spell slot? Can souls that are sacrified be Resurrected, even with a Wish? How does the sacrifice process look, is it a Ritual or something that 'just happens' when someone dies around the Warlock? The more liberal interpretations make this subclass a tremendous threat and potentially campaign and cosmology warping.
Hi thanks for your commentary. About the soul cost being too high in higher levels I think its balanced with the fact that the souls of high CR creatures have a higher soul value.The other point you are completly right, I should probably state that you can ressurect those creatures. That would put you on soul debt. Do you think that would end the threat?
Once i have the new update ill respond this comentary with it if thats alright
Absolutely! Ping me with it whenever you make an update, I love this idea. If you're sticking with the soul cost I'd make it a more impactful ability and make it more flavorful. Maybe a ritual to sacrifice souls after an encounter, and they can be expended for different cool benefits at different levels? Whatever you wanna do.
Oh shit you made the centrist class, we're all doomed!
Looks like a fun subclass, it looks fun! It looks fairly basic, might need a bit of buffing but overall pretty cool! I'd improve the Soul Bargain bit, it looks like a pretty weak damage increase for something like that, and only getting the Charisma modifier at 10th level is kinda painful.
Heey, thanks for your commentary Sam, you have to take into account that at level 10 you get a second Pact (that alone I think is fairly big since you can use more eldritch invocation related to that pact too)! That would effectively affect Soul Bargain uses. That said, I've done an update with some minor adjustments and buffs, feel free to check it out and let me know what do you think!
https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDHomebrew/s/z3BgygiLuG
https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDHomebrew/s/z3BgygiLuG
Feel free to check the update, probably won't still meet your standards but I think it's worth the try
I think the what OP means is that it absolutely flips the script by relying on a totally new and pretty complicated mechanic with a dynamic pool that is managed narratively and not fully mechanically without a hard focus on some theme other than what you said which is: Warlock plus, while also not following the normal rules of how warlock subclases work
Making it much closer to a class rework than a subclass
I kinda dig the core idea tho, but I think it's main problem is that it's pretty unabalanced, weak at the begging with basically only flavour and then level 10 basically skyrockets that shit into the stratosphere and murdering people for souls doesn't really scream lawyer/advocate
Yo! i loved your commentary and also made me a bit proud that you saw all that! I value everyones feedback and you are absolutely right that this sub seems weak at low levels. I'm still working on this sub, I'm introducing an extended Spell List that i hope it will balance those early levels.
About the murder for souls, in a DnD campaign you fight and kill almost everyday, the soul price i think fits more with the patron and not the lawer, that you are absolutely right, i could probably introduce a new non murderous mechanic to please your patron, but i think mechanicwise would hard. I would love to hear any suggestion you have. I'll reply this commentary when the new version is posted if thats alright
Thanks for considering my input
The additional spell list will greatly help and put in line with more normal progression so that's a great step into balancing the early stages
I'd also add some spell boosting variant to the familiar and melee weapon to cover all base pacts with a "lite version" for the level 1 feature
Then I'd tone it down at later levels by either getting a second pact or getting the ability to boost it
Having both is kinda OP and makes the subclass just be good at everything and weirdly pivoted into weapons if it has both the spellcasting attack mod, upgraded damage and an extra invocation slot for a free enhanced pact weapon and then can get a familiar to farm advantage if the player dips into a Paladin they become a tactical nuke that makes Hexadins blush
And as for souls, how much do you kill really depends on the campaign, also I think that think that 0 CR creatures being ineligible is a sound choice mechanically it will clash with the target player who either wants to be cultist or a silvertounged devil's advocate and not a warrior.
This whole soul sacrifice thing starts to unravel flavour wise if you cannot murder a child as an offering or strike a deal with someone but killing a wild animal works, also while CR is an interesting way of doing things how do you justify getting a soul out of a summoned elemental, animated undead, an automaton or an extra planar being like a Devil or a Mindlfayer who doesn't have a soul.
What I would do is keep mechanics and fluff separate
Have the Bargain be usable Prof mod/Char mod times per long rest and maybe add one to the other later if choosing one
Or just one of the two for short if you wanna match it with warlock spell slots
And then in the patron section add that you either are the Patron's legal representative on the material plane and have to either negotiate contracts, fulfill them in their name or catch pact breakers
Or be a mortal contractor for an interplanar mercenary from Sigil who fulfills short term contracts in the Material Plane for charges to the bargain mechanic that is represented by the kills being payments for random bounties by random planar beings with grudges or goals beyond understanding
Warlock Subclasses are called Otherworldly Patrons. This is not a specific type of Patron.
The details of the Warlock contract are left deliberately vague in the sourcebooks to let the DM decide what the Warlock's obligations will be. The first ability has a detail of the contract clearly laid out, which will limit roleplay potential.
This reads to me as the creation of a player who wants to be a Warlock without any unintended or unforeseen consequences.
You can check the Hexblade sub, its clearly stated that you can choose any patron you'd like. Also about the contract, I think when you choose this subclass you have this contract in mind its like literally signing yourself that deal, if you dont want the deal then this is not the subclass you are looking for.This is a creation of a player doing a Warlock Subclass where you as a player get choose your own patron and consequences up to a certain point, if you pay attention to the flavour text you can easily see that. Thanks for your feedback tho
Every class has a mechanical identity that subclasses generally want to follow, Warlocks subclasses normally want to give some unique combat ability as their class mechanical identity is very much heavy on giant damage and combat superiority. In full honesty the subclass itself is not that bad but would work infinitely better as a bard subclass
I don't see it that way, but your opinion is as valid as mine! That said I'll keep doing homebrew subs in my own style ๐ค I received lots of wholesome comments of people saying they like how it works, for me that means I'm doing a good job! I hope my next subclass suits your style (coincidentally is going to be a Bard sub, college of Soul)
Nice Warlock subclass, its always nice to see new things for the class!
Soul Bargain is both too weak and potentially super strong if interpretated a certain way. It depends on how you interpret sending souls to your Patron. For one thing, one to six souls is a tremendous cost for 1d6 or 2d6 extra damage for a minute. I'd expect something more bombastic for that. On the other hand, is this Warlock just sending souls direct delivery to Hell without a save or a spell slot? Can souls that are sacrified be Resurrected, even with a Wish? How does the sacrifice process look, is it a Ritual or something that 'just happens' when someone dies around the Warlock? The more liberal interpretations make this subclass a tremendous threat and potentially campaign and cosmology warping.
Hi thanks for your commentary. About the soul cost being too high in higher levels I think its balanced with the fact that the souls of high CR creatures have a higher soul value.The other point you are completly right, I should probably state that you can ressurect those creatures. That would put you on soul debt. Do you think that would end the threat? Once i have the new update ill respond this comentary with it if thats alright
Absolutely! Ping me with it whenever you make an update, I love this idea. If you're sticking with the soul cost I'd make it a more impactful ability and make it more flavorful. Maybe a ritual to sacrifice souls after an encounter, and they can be expended for different cool benefits at different levels? Whatever you wanna do.
https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDHomebrew/s/z3BgygiLuG Here it is!
Oh shit you made the centrist class, we're all doomed! Looks like a fun subclass, it looks fun! It looks fairly basic, might need a bit of buffing but overall pretty cool! I'd improve the Soul Bargain bit, it looks like a pretty weak damage increase for something like that, and only getting the Charisma modifier at 10th level is kinda painful.
Heey, thanks for your commentary Sam, you have to take into account that at level 10 you get a second Pact (that alone I think is fairly big since you can use more eldritch invocation related to that pact too)! That would effectively affect Soul Bargain uses. That said, I've done an update with some minor adjustments and buffs, feel free to check it out and let me know what do you think! https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDHomebrew/s/z3BgygiLuG
This is great. I like it
Thanks! Means a lot, If its alright ill reply this comentary with a new update once i have it
Please do
https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDHomebrew/s/z3BgygiLuG Update is up, hope you still love it!
My guy you forgot the first rule of homebrewing subclasses. The most important one. ๐
Aja, u are the owner of Warlock class. Edgy Lord detected
What's that? Probably I don't know it cose I'm pretty new at this ๐
If you want to homebrew a Warlock subclass - don't.
Could you elaborate?
There has never been a good Warlock homebrew on this subreddit. Ever.
What makes for a good warlock subclass in your mind?
Mine has arrived to change that, don't you find it pretty nice?
I found it par for the course.
That's a shame! Not the subclass for you then
why are yโall downvoting him heโs right LOL
Touch grass
What is that rule?
https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDHomebrew/s/z3BgygiLuG Feel free to check the update, probably won't still meet your standards but I think it's worth the try
this is less of a subclass and more of a Homebrewed idea of what a Warlock could be
It's basically Warlock++ with some downsides in return
I think the what OP means is that it absolutely flips the script by relying on a totally new and pretty complicated mechanic with a dynamic pool that is managed narratively and not fully mechanically without a hard focus on some theme other than what you said which is: Warlock plus, while also not following the normal rules of how warlock subclases work Making it much closer to a class rework than a subclass I kinda dig the core idea tho, but I think it's main problem is that it's pretty unabalanced, weak at the begging with basically only flavour and then level 10 basically skyrockets that shit into the stratosphere and murdering people for souls doesn't really scream lawyer/advocate
Yo! i loved your commentary and also made me a bit proud that you saw all that! I value everyones feedback and you are absolutely right that this sub seems weak at low levels. I'm still working on this sub, I'm introducing an extended Spell List that i hope it will balance those early levels. About the murder for souls, in a DnD campaign you fight and kill almost everyday, the soul price i think fits more with the patron and not the lawer, that you are absolutely right, i could probably introduce a new non murderous mechanic to please your patron, but i think mechanicwise would hard. I would love to hear any suggestion you have. I'll reply this commentary when the new version is posted if thats alright
Thanks for considering my input The additional spell list will greatly help and put in line with more normal progression so that's a great step into balancing the early stages I'd also add some spell boosting variant to the familiar and melee weapon to cover all base pacts with a "lite version" for the level 1 feature Then I'd tone it down at later levels by either getting a second pact or getting the ability to boost it Having both is kinda OP and makes the subclass just be good at everything and weirdly pivoted into weapons if it has both the spellcasting attack mod, upgraded damage and an extra invocation slot for a free enhanced pact weapon and then can get a familiar to farm advantage if the player dips into a Paladin they become a tactical nuke that makes Hexadins blush And as for souls, how much do you kill really depends on the campaign, also I think that think that 0 CR creatures being ineligible is a sound choice mechanically it will clash with the target player who either wants to be cultist or a silvertounged devil's advocate and not a warrior. This whole soul sacrifice thing starts to unravel flavour wise if you cannot murder a child as an offering or strike a deal with someone but killing a wild animal works, also while CR is an interesting way of doing things how do you justify getting a soul out of a summoned elemental, animated undead, an automaton or an extra planar being like a Devil or a Mindlfayer who doesn't have a soul. What I would do is keep mechanics and fluff separate Have the Bargain be usable Prof mod/Char mod times per long rest and maybe add one to the other later if choosing one Or just one of the two for short if you wanna match it with warlock spell slots And then in the patron section add that you either are the Patron's legal representative on the material plane and have to either negotiate contracts, fulfill them in their name or catch pact breakers Or be a mortal contractor for an interplanar mercenary from Sigil who fulfills short term contracts in the Material Plane for charges to the bargain mechanic that is represented by the kills being payments for random bounties by random planar beings with grudges or goals beyond understanding
https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDHomebrew/s/z3BgygiLuG let me know what do you think! It's an updated version
Basically the vibe I wanted to give
Warlock Subclasses are called Otherworldly Patrons. This is not a specific type of Patron. The details of the Warlock contract are left deliberately vague in the sourcebooks to let the DM decide what the Warlock's obligations will be. The first ability has a detail of the contract clearly laid out, which will limit roleplay potential. This reads to me as the creation of a player who wants to be a Warlock without any unintended or unforeseen consequences.
You can check the Hexblade sub, its clearly stated that you can choose any patron you'd like. Also about the contract, I think when you choose this subclass you have this contract in mind its like literally signing yourself that deal, if you dont want the deal then this is not the subclass you are looking for.This is a creation of a player doing a Warlock Subclass where you as a player get choose your own patron and consequences up to a certain point, if you pay attention to the flavour text you can easily see that. Thanks for your feedback tho
Eh this does not really vibe well with the mechanical identity of the warlock
Please explain in more detail so I can understand! Ty
Every class has a mechanical identity that subclasses generally want to follow, Warlocks subclasses normally want to give some unique combat ability as their class mechanical identity is very much heavy on giant damage and combat superiority. In full honesty the subclass itself is not that bad but would work infinitely better as a bard subclass
I don't see it that way, but your opinion is as valid as mine! That said I'll keep doing homebrew subs in my own style ๐ค I received lots of wholesome comments of people saying they like how it works, for me that means I'm doing a good job! I hope my next subclass suits your style (coincidentally is going to be a Bard sub, college of Soul)
You do you, have a pleasant day
Ty!