[DF] Designing a Warlock occupational template

[LoneWolf23k]

So, got to thinking about what other D&D Classes could be converted into Dungeon Fantasy, and it struck me that one of the most popular classes, the Warlock, should be relatively easy to do in GURPS, just by taking the Wizard and adding the Pact limitation to its Magery, with the addition of Patron, and a Duty disadvantage to represent your supernatural Patron making demands of you from time to time.

For more crunch, the Assisting Spirits rules from GURPS Thaumatology would also work well to represent a Warlock's relationship with their magical Patron, with the additional twist of Spiritual Distortion to represent the Warlock struggling to maintain their self-control as the Patron begins to exert more influence on them.

Maybe there could be Sorcery-style Power Ups to represent a closer connection to the Patron, with the Archfey granting the ability to blink-teleport, or the Eldritch Horror granting tentacles..

That's all I can think about right now. Any suggestions?

[ravenfish]

I am not familiar with the most recent incarnations of DnD, but the version of the Warlock that I am familiar with (from edition 3.5) was characterized by having a more limited selection of magical abilities than other spellcasters but by being able to use them without regard to daily limits. If this is still the case, the logical GURPS conversion would be the Sorcery system of magic as powers, set forth in Thaumatology - Sorcery and with a Dungeon Fantasy character template in Pyramid 82. If later versions have the patron being more involved in the warlock's life, your suggestion of a Pact modifier seems appropriate, or, if the Patron is particularly finicky, you could adapt the Spirit power modifier from Powers where every ability use needs a reaction roll to see if the patron is willing to cooperate.

[LoneWolf23k]

The 5e Warlock definitely works more like a traditional D&D Spellcaster class, with spell slots and everything, but since every 5e Class gets access to At-Will Cantrips, they turned the Eldritch Blast into a Cantrip and gave the Warlock some unique spells.

They still get Eldritch Invocations, which operate in addition to the spell slots.

So in GURPS terms, the Warlock is more a Wizard/Sorcerer combination with Pact-based Magery.

[Anders]

You can also use the Divine Favor route - take the patron as a... well, Patron and buy other spells as Alternative Abilities to the Patron advantage.

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by Anders

You can also use the Divine Favor route - take the patron as a... well, Patron and buy other spells as Alternative Abilities to the Patron advantage.

This is probably what I'd do.

[Phantasm]

I'd probably make a D&D 3.5 conversion of the Warlock (because I've only ever done a halberd fighter with 5e, and I know 3.5 better), which would probably be a Pact-based Sorcery route (and possibly with a dash of Imbuements for flavor).

[Hide]

I often play as a warlock in GURPS DF, and my preferred approach is magic as powers; I recommend GURPS - Thaumatology: Chinese Elemental Powers.

[Tymathee]

When I played DnD 5E, it was fun to just dip into the Warlock for the Eldritch Blast. Then if you mixed with Sorcerer you could become a Eldritch Blast-machine gun.

It'd be fun to have a warlock that could be blasty.