Complete arcane Warlocks in Ravenloft

[alhoon]

How would you use this class in Ravenloft?

I mean Warlocks seem thematically good for Ravenloft as villains, but what about the power checks?

Most of their spell-like abilities seem to need a power check the way they are depicted. . . Not to mention they are inherintly demonic!

They are more in danger than Necromancers! Yes, I know that you don't need to roll PChecks for NPCs but if all their abilities usually call for a power check? Shouldn't they have fallen?

And if a PC says: "Hmm, I would like to play a character like this bad, bad man. However, my character won't be evil. His ancestors made a pact with a fiend but he wants to correct their crimes using this powers as a weapon if he must." Then what?

[RedundantZombie#33]

"Even the most beatiful vase left the craftsman's hands dirty"

Think about it.

[Vorpal Dragon]

If I recall, the invocations that change the shape of the eldritch blast were fine, but that's hardly much to build a non-evil character from. I would recommend creating a few not quite so vile invocations.

As for NPCs, I guess one has too ask how one handles fiends in the first place. Many things a fiend does by it's very nature will require a powers check. Whatever the answer is for fiends, the Warlock may not be far behind. Maybe they just have to take their chances....

[Mortavius]

I wouldn't change anything about the Warlock; they are what they are. Although I would look hard at each invocation and decide whether it required a Powers Check (which I am actually doing in my next QtR submission).

[alhoon]

I wouldn't change anything about the Warlock; they are what they are. Although I would look hard at each invocation and decide whether it required a Powers Check (which I am actually doing in my next QtR submission).

Save me the trouble, will you? That will be very helpful.

Whatever the answer is for fiends, the Warlock may not be far behind. Maybe they just have to take their chances....

That could mean that a warlock is almost by definition a darklord.

Now seriously, fiends are protected by their outsider nature etc. Warlocks on the other hand have the benefit of choice. They are not made evil. They could decide to become farmers and never use their powers or explore their potentional.
On the matter of fiend - warlock, I would just have to say that the sample acolyte of the skin, is now a warlock. In fact he is the only warlock used as a sample in the 17 prestige classes of the book.
To be frank, just checking the warlock class, I said: "Woo! That's a good class for memorable villains."
I have used 3 -4 warlocks as enemies in a year or so that I have the book, and while I was writting them to be used as NPCs, I decided to use them as evil NPCs.

If I recall, the invocations that change the shape of the eldritch blast were fine, but that's hardly much to build a non-evil character from. I would recommend creating a few not quite so vile invocations

Slightly paraphrased From the Complete arcane: The warlock uses baleful magical energy to deal damage to his foes.
This indicates that using the eldrich blast itself would need a powercheck.

"Even the most beatiful vase left the craftsman's hands dirty"

Think about it.

I agree.

PS. This is not a meaningless rant about how evil and unusuable the warlock is! They make good villains, I just point out that.

As for NPCs, I guess one has too ask how one handles fiends in the first place.

I discussed this with VAN, my sister, and she gave me an idea, that I present below. Thanks VAN.

[alhoon]

Mirianna Dev.
Female Tiefling Warlock lvl 11. Chaotic Evil

Str 10 Dex 16 Con 12 Int 15 Wis 12 Cha 16/18
HP 50 OR 3+ (depending on her showing her "talents" and evil temperament)
AC 20. Attacks: Eldrich blast +12 (6d6; ranged touch) or dagger (with hideous blow) +9 (1d4+1 +6d6)
Skills: Bluff +8, concentration +8, disguise +7, hide +5, intimidate +6, Knowledge (Arcana) +7, Knowledge (Planes) +5, Knowledge (Ravenloft) +4, listen +3, move silently +4, spellcraft +5, sense motive +3, speak language (Balok), spot +4, Use magic device +14
Feats: Maximize Spell like ability (Eldrich Blast), Extra Invocation, improved initiative, Weapon Focus (Ranged spells).
Invocations: Eldrich Spear, Hideous blow, Summon Swarm, Earthen Grasp // Fell Flight, Voidsense, Voracious dispel // Enervating shadow (DC 19)
Other Abilities: At will: Eldrich Blast (6d6), detect magic
1/day: darkness, Fiendish Resilience
damage reduction 3/cold iron, Deceive item, resistance to acid, cold, electricity, fire, sonic 5. Darkvision 60'
Equipment: Cloak +2 charisma, belt +2 saves, dagger +1, chain shirt +2, ring of protection +1, potion of invisibility, wand of cure moderate wounds (15 charges), Black Mask and gloves, make-up powder.
Languages known:Infernal, Mordentish, Draconic, Goblin, Balok

Mirianna is a tall woman, about 5' 10". She has short, fiery red, straight, parting hair, and her complection is almost paper-white. She has slightly curved long red nails. She has playful but cruel angular features. Her differences make her prefer heavy clothing and give her an OR 3. If her demonic heritage and practices are noticed, her OR increases to 5.
She entered Ravenloft accidentaly 6 years ago, already an accomplished and feared warlock. She discovered that her native tongue was similar to the language of Mordent, the domain she appeared in. Since her arrival, she has traveled throughout the South - western Core terrorizing the populace, working as an assassin for hire or living as strange woman. She is trying to leave for another plane, but doesn't put too much effort in the task. Recently she has gathered around her a gang of thugs and leg-breakers.

Mirianna is a menace. She is cruel, capricious, envious and vengeful. She is used to taking what she wants even by force. She usually takes residence in a village looking for opportunities for wealth or entertainment not causing any real trouble for a time. Then as her patience wears thin (or as the opportinities she was looking for present themselves) she kills someone for looking her wrong (or for a price), burns down a building or does a similar act of random violence (or commits a premeditated crime). If she is discovered, she kills anyone that stands in her way and escapes; if not she just leaves after a few days. While residing in a community she doesn't contact her gang publicly. On occasion, she and her gang live in the wilderness (perhaps taking over a far-away cottage) and opperate as highwaymen.
When she commits a crime, she prefers doning a black mask that covers half her face, black gloves, painting her nails also black and disguise herself as a human female to avoid attracting attention to her. Also she avoids (if reasonably possible) leaving witnesses of her attacks, if they have seen her tell-tale white skin. Also, her enervating shadow power cloaks her well since she has discovered it. However, she had burned through a few villages on a fit of rage on her "bad-mood" days (probably over a plate of cold soup or a rude remark) where many people remembered her throwing baleful energies to anyone in her path or just shouting and directing swarms of bats around while her thugs threw torches on houses. So she has found that the reputation of the "red-haired, pale witch" sometimes preceeds her even in far-away communities (ending in more bloodsheds).
Mirianna also has a fondness for freshly slain elven flesh. She would go out of her way to kidnap an elf so she can later kill him/her and eat him/her.

Although she isn't an outsider with the evil subtype, she has been protected from the Dark powers so far thanks to her fiendish heritage. If this will continue or if she will start failing PChecks for her atrocities remains to be seen.

[Drinnik Shoehorn]

Mirianna Dev.
Female Tiefling Warlock lvl 11Chaotic Evil

Str 10 Dex 16 Con 12 Int 15 Wis 12 Cha 16/18
HP 50 OR 3+ (depending on her showing her "talents" and evil temperament)
AC 18. Attacks: Eldrich blast +12 (6d6; ranged touch) or dagger (with hideous blow) +9 (1d4+1 +6d6)
Reality Wrinkle 1000' radius.
Skills: Bluff +8, concentration +8, disguise +7, hide +5, intimidate +6, Knowledge (Arcana) +7, Knowledge (Planes) +5, Knowledge (Ravenloft) +4, listen +3, move silently +4, spellcraft +5, sense motive +3, speak language (Balok), spot +4, Use magic device +14
Feats: Maximize Spell like ability (Eldrich Blast), Extra Invocation, improved initiative, Weapon Focus (Ranged spells).
Invocations: Eldrich Spear, Hideous blow, Summon Swarm, Earthen Grasp // Fell Flight, Voidsense, Voracious dispel // Enervating shadow (DC 19)
Other Abilities: At will: Eldrich Blast (6d6), detect magic
1/day: darkness, Fiendish Resilience
damage reduction 3/cold iron, Deceive item, resistance to acid, cold, electricity, fire, sonic 5.
Equipment: Cloak +2 charisma, belt +2 saves, dagger +1, chain shirt +1, potion of invisibility, wand of cure moderate wounds (15 charges), Black Mask and gloves, make-up powder.
Languages known:Infernal, Mordentish, Draconic, Goblin, Balok

Mirriana is a tall woman, about 5' 10". She has short, fiery red, straight, parting hair, and her complection is almost paper-white. She has slightly curved long red nails. She has playful but cruel angular features. Her differences make her prefer heavy clothing and give her an OR 3. If her demonic heritage and practices are noticed, her OR increases to 5.

Mirriana entered Ravenloft accidentaly 6 years ago, already an accomplished and feared warlock. She discovered that her native tongue was similar to the language of Mordent, the domain she appeared in. Since her arrival, she has traveled throughout the South - western Core terrorizing the populace. She is trying to leave for another plane, but doesn't put too much effort in the task.

Cool, Al. But a tiefling wouldn't have a reality wrinkle, you have to have the Evil subtype as well as the Outsider type.

[alhoon]

Corrected (+more info added).
So there goes my theory for "safe" Warlocks in Ravenloft. I have to make her a cambion for her to be safe, but I prefer her as a tiefling.

[Mortavius]

Slightly paraphrased From the Complete arcane: The warlock uses baleful magical energy to deal damage to his foes.
This indicates that using the eldrich blast itself would need a powercheck.

I disagree. While the exact wording is indeed baleful, this seems to be semantics. After all, the Eldritch Blast is not evil. It is simply magical damage. It's not even negative energy.

A fireball, when viewed from the point of view of the victim, would certainly be seen as "baleful."

My goal, when working on these books, is to change as little as possible. I only tweak the rules when they contradict Ravenloft; that is, I want to keep as much of the original flavor of the class as possible. I also still want to keep the material usable. As the Eldritch Blast is not evil, and not negative energy, then I won't change it.

Now if there is an invocation that changes the blast's effects, that's a different story...

[alhoon]

This has also come up in discussion with a few of my friends. What is the "baleful magic"?
We know that it harms everyone, no resistance/immunities. The first canditate is negative energy but the eldrich blast also damages undead. Then it is force (like magic missile) but the eldrich blast doesn't guarantee damage against incorporeal creatures like magic missile and force effects do. Perhaps it is some kind of harmful possitive energy, but then it would be more harmful to undead.

Anyway, the warlocks take their powers from demonic pacts etc, so their powers seem inherently evil, like using necromancy. I'll overlook this if I DM a warlock in Ravenloft (NPC or PC) but generally I agree with Reduntant Zombie.

[alhoon]

Continue from Mirianna:
Mirianna typically travels along with some riff-raff she gathers here and there, before she abandons them or kill them or before they leave her. She isn't very particular about hunting down her band, but puts some effort on the task.

Right now she has with her

Blurb: A Barb3/rog1 Calliban. Str 18 dex 14 con 15 int 8 wis 9 cha 7
He is equipped with a masterwork greataxe and a masterwork chainshirt.
He usually stays out of towns or villages the group resides. He is tall, has a hunchback and misplaced teeth. His voice is surly and he is covered in hairy warts.

Refiosa A rog3/rang2 half-elf Mirianna gathered a few months ago. The village she was staying was about to hung Refiosa for murder. Mirianna stormed the guarded house she was locked in and took Refiosa out, killing about 4 guards and 12 people in the process. After the "rescue" Mirianna pondered if she should kill the half-elf (after all, she freed her out of boredom, not pity) but decided to keep her around.
Str 12 dex 16 con 13 int 12 wis 13 cha 13
She is equipped with a masterwork chain shirt, a masterwork mighty bow and arrows and a masterwork longsword. She also carries a silver dagger.
She is about 5' 6" tall, with pretty features and long dark brown hair.
She is quite good in social skills and she usually gathers information for the targets of the group, the activity of the area or looks for opportunities.
Her elven heritage doesn't stop Refiosa from joining forces with an elf-eating fiend-spawn.

Lona Mard A 2nd level rogue/3rd level warlock. Mirianna sensed the potentional in the woman and took her as an "apprentice" of short.
Str 10 dex 16 con 12 in 12 wis 10 cha 14
She is equipped with a masterwork chain shirt and a masterwork rapier. She also carries a masterwork pistol and 10 silver +1 bullets.
Lona Mard has spend about a year and a half in the company of the tiefling. Mirianna is most proud about Lona and would go out of her way to save her. Once in the time they have spent together, an ambitious member tried to murder Lona while Mirianna was away. Lona has escaped and managed to injure the traitor. Mirianna finished the job by crucifying the maimed traitor.
She is 5' 7" tall and has a slim athletic body with green eyes full lips. Her hair have turned midnight black as also her nails. Her hair do not reflect light at all. Recently her complexion has turned a redish hue and she exudes a mild smell of brimstone (OR 2). She has lost 2 power checks.

Boranno Mareni A 1st level rogue/3rd level cleric of Olidammara.
Str 12 dex 13 con 12 int 12 wis 14 cha 13.
He carries a hidden masterwork dagger, a hand crossbow, poison and wears a masterwork chainshirt underneath his robes. He also carries a masterwork rapier when he can without looking suspicious. He also carries 2 scrolls of cure moderate wounds (as he channels negative energy).
Boranno is a short man with a wiry look. He has a large nose and dark oily hair.

Consab Reb A 1st level barbarian/1st level rogue/3rd level fighter. Consab was raised in Darkon but fled to Barovia shortly after the requiem. Having spent much time near the mountains of Misery he became a tough and cruel mercenary/high way man. When the caravan he was traveling with was attacked by Mirianna and her gang, he decided to fight against them. It didn't take much however to realize that it was futile to resist . . . so he turned against his employers and comrades. Mirianna liked that and she spared his life and taking her to her gang.
Str 18 dex 12 con 14 int 11 wis 12 cha 9
He carries a masterwork greatsword*, a masterwork breastplate and a mighty masterwork longbow [16].
He is a huge man, 6' 4" and stocky. He has austere, sharp features, auburn curly hair and a short beard.
Every weapon he carries in battle (after he betrayed his compatriots) gets a blood-red hue and leaves his hands bloody if he grips it, even if he doesn't use it. However the red of treachery as Mirianna calls it, makes the weapon magical.
In game terms, he always casts magic weapon as a 5th level caster (up to 3/day) on a weapon he has carried in battle before, but this leaves his hands bloody. Also any weapon he has carried in battle gets the redish hue even if he doesn't use it. If he loses the weapon the color returns to normal after about a week.


NOTE: I almost haven't used any magic items. This is intentional. Mirianna takes and sells the magic items found (which is rare). In case the gang kills someone that carries a magic weapon without her help, she may let them keep it.
On the other hand, she has killed more than 5 members of her gang for being "greedy" mortals.

[Episkopos]

How would you use this class in Ravenloft?

I mean Warlocks seem thematically good for Ravenloft as villains, but what about the power checks?

Most of their spell-like abilities seem to need a power check the way they are depicted. . . Not to mention they are inherintly demonic!

They are more in danger than Necromancers! Yes, I know that you don't need to roll PChecks for NPCs but if all their abilities usually call for a power check? Shouldn't they have fallen?

And if a PC says: "Hmm, I would like to play a character like this bad, bad man. However, my character won't be evil. His ancestors made a pact with a fiend but he wants to correct their crimes using this powers as a weapon if he must." Then what?

The question of power checks is not the "what", its the "why". Any power, spell, even assasination when done for the general good purpose, saying, assasinating a murderer knowing that will save the life of many little girls, even though assasination has large percentage of failing a power checks, I wouldn't even roll it. Sure if you tortured him first sure, but not just killing him.
You should always think why the PC does what he does. If his purpose is a noble and good one, don't roll for it, if its for personal satisfaction, fame, even revenge sometimes... you get the picture.
As for the example you gave about the warlock... sure he could escape power checks for some serious time if he uses his powers for redeeming the name of his family, but the beauty of Ravenloft is that noble souls like him when they start out, have a large chance of falling down to the sudaction of power and eventually using it for something vile... and most of the times you as a DM do not have to do anything. Players seem to get overjealous with the powers and mess up on their own

[Mortavius]

This has also come up in discussion with a few of my friends. What is the "baleful magic"?
Anyway, the warlocks take their powers from demonic pacts etc, so their powers seem inherently evil, like using necromancy. I'll overlook this if I DM a warlock in Ravenloft (NPC or PC) but generally I agree with Reduntant Zombie.

I think the usage of the word "baleful" is just a colorful term to describe the Eldritch Blast. Until it actually takes on the evil subtype, it isn't fair to say that it's evil magic.

As to Warlocks, remember, it may not have been the Warlock who made the pact with the demon/dark god. Warlocks can just as easily be born and inheret the powers of the pact, with no action on their part. Thus, you get a sort of tragic character, shackled with the sins of the father, and trying to redeem/escape his past and himself.