## Variant Pact Magic The following variant for the pact magic affords a warlock more spellcasts per day and importantly per encounter. Narratively, the patron slots represent power you obtain from your patron. As you grow more powerful you master this power and can hencforth use it more regularly at which point you obtain new, stronger powers from your patron that you again steadily master. ### Pact Magic Through your pact you are able to suffuse yourself with magic. Though this magic is, at first, gifted or siphoned from your patron, you learn to claim it for yourself. #### Cantrips Unchanged from PHB #### Spell Slots The Pact Magic table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your warlock spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these warlock spells, you must expend a slot of the spell's level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a short rest or long rest. For example, if you know the 1st-level spell *witch bolt* and have a 1st-level and a 2nd-level spell slot available, you can cast *witch bolt* using either slot. #### Patron Slots Starting at 3rd level, you also gain access to patron slots. The Pact Magic table shows how many patron slots you have and what the level of those slots is: all of your patron slots are the same level. Patron slots are spell slots but you regain all expended patron slots only when you complete a long rest. At 11th level, you have mastered the most powerful spells you are able to and no longer have access to your patron slots. Instead, your pact grants you access to greater magical secrets known as arcanums. #### Spells Known of 1st Level and Higher At 1st level, you know two 1st-level spells of your choice from the warlock spell list. The Spells Known column of the Warlock table shows when you learn more warlock spells of your choice of 1st level and higher. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots. For instance, when you reach 3rd level in this class, you can learn one new spell of 1st or 2nd level. Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the warlock spells you know and replace it with another spell from the warlock spell list, which also must be of a level for which you have spell slots. #### Spellcasting Ability Unchanged from PHB #### Spellcasting Focus Unchanged from PHB \columnbreak <div class='classTable'> ##### Pact Magic | Level | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | Patron <br> Slot Level | Patron <br> Slots | |:---|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:| | 1st | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | | 2nd | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | | 3rd | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2nd | 1 | | 4th | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2nd | 2 | | 5th | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 3rd | 1 | | 6th | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 3rd | 2 | | 7th | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 4th | 1 | | 8th | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 4th | 2 | | 9th | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 5th | 1 | | 10th | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 5th | 2 | | 11th | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | | 12th | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | | 13th | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | | 14th | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | | 15th | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | | 16th | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | | 17th | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | | 18th | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | | 19th | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | | 20th | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | </div> > ##### Balance Notes > * This is still balanced on the assumption that the party will take 2 short rests per long rest. > * This also assumes the spell point variant is a reliable indicator of balance > * Under these assumptions the variant is equivalent to other fullcasters at every level only straying by a single spell point between levels 3 and 16. > * At levels 1-2 there is no change and the warlock is comparatively more powerful than other casters. > * At levels 17+ the warlock is weaker due to missing out on and additional 5th, 6th and 7th level slot. The original pact magic grants and extra 5th level slot at 17th which is dramatically more powerful until level 20. > * The original pact magic, when converted to spell points, falls behind other casters at level 7 and remains significantly under the curve until they catch up at level 11.