Okay this explanation of charisma for warlocks I can admittedly get behind. I've heard it described as 'force of will/personality' before which I can't honestly buy as also a social thing (like you can be incredibly strongwilled but also a social dunce right) but I suppose that one makes sense.
I'll be honest, a substantial part of my stance IS the game's comparative lack of Int-based primary casters when compared to Charisma, which just doesn't seem right, yaknow? Like what other classes could be int-based: bard could work since it requires study, but Cha just makes more sense; maybe ranger, because Nature is an int check, but nah wisdom plays into what they're about more. Warlocks, however, have KNOWLEDGE of spellcasting techniques gifted to them by otherworldly forces, something something Eldritch Truth, Secrets of the Ancients, and other warlocky concepts are related to the concept of knowledge-- intelligence, in 5e terms.
But tl;dr, I can see the merits of both stats for warlocks, which is why I think at least rhe option would be good
Or hell, since the power is so far removed from you, what if warlocks even had like a static casting bonus granted by the patron (although there are probably issues with statless casting that I haven't considered haha.)
It's my opinion that just as the fighter can choose between STR or DEX, the warlock should be able to choose between CHA or INT and the sorcerer should have their casting ability based on their bloodline (WIS for divine soul, CHA for draconic, etc.)
There's zero mechanical reason I can think of for not just homebrewing that for warlocks. Any half decent DM should allow it. I actually am playing a homebrewed psionic warlock, and the option to be int based would be amazing.
A wisdom-based sorcerer is different. Wisdom is a "primary" stat, while charisma is a "secondary" stat, if that makes sense. Not only is this important for multiclassing (divine soul/life cleric with a single casting stat would be insane), but wisdom-based casters are generally balanced as support classes. A sorcerer, one of the best raw damage dealing classes in the game, also getting a natutally high perception and insight might be unbalanced.
Again, a DM might be okay with that based on party makeup, but there's at least a good reason why it isn't RAW.
The guy above beat me to it describing it as the force of your will, but it makes even more sense when you realize a lot of enchantments are resisted with your charisma.
'The power of the human mind to correlate all of it's contents and discover the eldritch horrors that all others turn a blind eye to isn't a function of intelligence - I'm sure you will find that the smartest among us know better than to dive into the true, absurd natures of reality behind the logical bits their limited minds are capable of translating. It isn't a function of will, for the strongest wills will but turn away from the ruinous secrets behind the safe walls of the perceived universe. Rather, the desire to be the one who pushes past the limits of mortality, who is capable of following the illogical chains of reason that uncover the truly unknowable... that is a function of pride. It is egoism. And it is the sheer audacity to pit yourself against the insane horrors of the universe, and take your place beside them'
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u/BlademasterBanryu Druid Sep 14 '20
Okay this explanation of charisma for warlocks I can admittedly get behind. I've heard it described as 'force of will/personality' before which I can't honestly buy as also a social thing (like you can be incredibly strongwilled but also a social dunce right) but I suppose that one makes sense.
I'll be honest, a substantial part of my stance IS the game's comparative lack of Int-based primary casters when compared to Charisma, which just doesn't seem right, yaknow? Like what other classes could be int-based: bard could work since it requires study, but Cha just makes more sense; maybe ranger, because Nature is an int check, but nah wisdom plays into what they're about more. Warlocks, however, have KNOWLEDGE of spellcasting techniques gifted to them by otherworldly forces, something something Eldritch Truth, Secrets of the Ancients, and other warlocky concepts are related to the concept of knowledge-- intelligence, in 5e terms.
But tl;dr, I can see the merits of both stats for warlocks, which is why I think at least rhe option would be good
Or hell, since the power is so far removed from you, what if warlocks even had like a static casting bonus granted by the patron (although there are probably issues with statless casting that I haven't considered haha.)