D&D General There can be only ONE: Bard v. Warlock

[steeldragons]

(Put this as a "General D&D" because I'm really asking about/for my homebrew, so it could be applied viewed as for several different versions of D&D or OSR or whatever systems you prefer.)

Assumption #1: There is a game with 4 categories of classes: The Warrior classes, who primarily use weapons and combat expertise; The Wizard classes, who primarily use spells and magic expertise; The Rogue classes, who primarily use stealth and skill expertise; and the Mystic classes, who primarily channel power from an external source and combine magic with combat expertise to varying extent.
Assumption #2: Upon release, the initial game will include 12 -ONLY 12, NO MORE or LESS than 12- classes. There will be THREE (3) classes for each class category.
Assumption #3: There is ONE (1) Mystic category class slot up for grabs. The class will be considered a Mystic class. There are no slots in other categories to be had.
Assumption #4: The game breaks up "Magic" into the realm s of the Arcane, the Divine, Nature, Psychic, and the Occult.

Cleric is a (the default) Mystic class. Channeler of Divine power/magic. Certain armor wearing. Certain weapon wielding. Divine magic spell-casting on top of their channeled divine powers.
Druid is a Mystic class. Channeler of the forces/power of Nature. Certain armor wearing. Certian weapon wielding. Nature magic spell-casting on top of their channeled nature powers.

The third Mystic class could a Bard. Would be another "Nature" channeler. Certain armor wearing. Certain weapon wielding. Bardic magic (includes all magic types except Occult) spell-casting on top of the channeled powers.

Or the third Mystic class could be a Warlock. Channeler of Arcane power/magic. Certain armor wearing. Certain weapon wielding. Occult magic spell-casting on top of channeled powers.

 

[Minigiant]

Depends...

What are the 3 Wizard classes?

 

[Reynard]

I'm not sure why a bard would be a mystic class, or nature magic focused. And warlocks don't channel magic -- they are taught secrets no mortals are meant to know. they are still "wizards" but without any of that pesky studying.

So, neither. Make an elemental bender instead.

PS: Why does everyone separate the cleric and druid?

 

[Stormonu]

Is multiclassing allowing? I mean, the bard originally came from the fusion of three classes, Fighter/Druid/Rogue. If players can multiclass, I think I'd go with Warlock and have Bard just be a multiclass build.

This picture below was how I mapped out my class scheme for D&D - perhaps it might be of use for you?

Spoiler

 

[Minigiant]

PS: Why does everyone separate the cleric and druid?

Because Turn Undead and Wild Shape are not equal in power and Driven spells and Druidic spells are different in theme.

 

[steeldragons]

Depends...

What are the 3 Wizard classes?

Well, not a Warlock or Bard. hahaha.

The Wizard classes are:

• Mage: the default/generalist arcane magic-user. (Optional choice of 2 specialists available at 1st level: Illusionist or what D&D would term an "Abjurer." But a Mage need not be either.)
• Psychic: the mental powers class. (Discipline area choice necessary at character creation, additional ones gained at advanced levels).
• and a Swordmage/Magus/fighter-magicuser mutli-class archetype. Weapon-wielder who studies/trains in arcane magic, primarily, for use in combat....anything from ye olde Elvish chain wearing Fighter/Magic-user to a "Witcher" to a "Gandalfian wizard who is remarkably effective at wielding a sword."

 

[steeldragons]

Is multiclassing allowing? I mean, the bard originally came from the fusion of three classes, Fighter/Druid/Rogue. If players can multiclass, I think I'd go with Warlock and have Bard just be a multiclass build.

This picture below was how I mapped out my class scheme for D&D - perhaps it might be of use for you?

Spoiler

View attachment 374406

I am basically looking at Multi-classing only be possible with one or both of the classes having to be a "default" class: Fighter, Mage, Cleric, or Thief.

Triple-classing I was not considering.

 

[Mistwell]

If you're going to pit tradition over modernity, I am going to choose tradition for the long term health of the game. Genre's do better with a sense of history to them, and Bard has a much stronger sense of history to it in the game than Warlock.

But I like Warlocks. So fortunately we're not forced to choose only one

 

[Yaarel]

I prefer the Bard narrative. I prefer the Warlock mechanics.

Bardlock?

 

[Stormonu]

I'm not sure why a bard would be a mystic class, or nature magic focused. And warlocks don't channel magic -- they are taught secrets no mortals are meant to know. they are still "wizards" but without any of that pesky studying.

So, neither. Make an elemental bender instead.

PS: Why does everyone separate the cleric and druid?

Also, I've seen a lot of people have Druid as a nature worshiper, with no ultimate god(s) to answer to. Combined with the different suite of powers and attitude toward combat (the Cleric is usually more of a Hospitaler Knight than a robe-wearing priest, where the Druid is usually more often depicted in robes and a crummy fighter).