Occult Magic (5e Variant Rule)

Author: Zhenra-Khal (talk) Date Created: 12-17-21 Status: Complete Editing: Don't edit without discussion. Unauthorized edits will be reverted.

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Occult Magic

Have you ever played a Warlock and been really sad because you got suckered into a spell that is normally really good, only to find out it doesn't scale and you have to spend a 5th-level slot to cast it? Yes, we're looking at you, Hexblade.

Have you ever wanted to upcast a spell to 6th or 7th level, only to find out that you can't because you don't actually have any slots above 5th level?

Do you ever wish Warlock wasn't as heavily dependent on Short Rests in order to function? It sucks to be the guy always whining about needing a nap in a party full of Long Rest casters, even though you're just trying to contribute more than a cantrip.

Have you ever wished your Patron would just give you the goddamn bonus spells instead of just adding them to your class spell list, when most of the other caster and half caster subclasses get them for free?

Ever had a Coffeelock make you cry?

If you answered "yes" to two or more of the above questions, harass your DM about using this variant rule.

Additionally, I would recommend checking out My Warlock rebuild, which utilizes this mechanic, and features better invocations, better subclasses, better pact boons, and a new Hex system in place of boring Eldritch Blast: The Class gameplay.

The Tables

Table: Occult Magic

Level	Proficiency Bonus	Features	Arcana Points	Arcana Limit	Mystic Arcana
					Minor	Major
1st	+2	Occult Magic	2	2	1st	-
2nd	+2	-	3	2	-	-
3rd	+2	-	4	2	2nd	-
4th	+2	-	5	2	-	-
5th	+3	-	6	3	3rd	-
6th	+3	-	7	3	-	-
7th	+3	-	8	3	4th	-
8th	+3	-	9	3	-	-
9th	+4	-	10	5	5th	-
10th	+4	-	11	5	-	-
11th	+4	-	11	5	-	6th
12th	+4	-	12	5	-	-
13th	+5	-	12	6	-	7th
14th	+5	-	13	6	-	-
15th	+5	-	13	6	-	8th
16th	+5	-	14	6	-	-
17th	+6	-	14	7	-	9th
18th	+6	-	15	7	-	-
19th	+6	-	15	7	-	-
20th	+6	-	15	7	-	-

Occult Magic Spell Costs

Spell Level	Arcana Point Cost
1st	2
2nd	3
3rd	5
4th	6
5th	7

The Mechanics

This variant rule completely replaces the Pact Magic feature with the Occult Magic feature. The changes are as follows.

Arcana Points

With the Occult Magic class feature, no longer are you limited entirely by spell slots. Instead, you gain Arcana Points, which you must use to cast spells. You gain a number of Arcana Points based on your Warlock level, as noted in the Arcana Points column of the Occult Magic table above.

When casting a spell, you must spend a number of Arcana points based on the level at which you wish to cast the spell; Thus, if you want to cast the 3rd-level spell Fireball, or cast the 1st-level spell Burning Hands as if from a 3rd-level spell slot, you would spend the appropriate number of points for a 3rd-level spell. The Occult Magic Spell Costs table above shows the cost of each spell level. You cannot spend more Arcana Points on a single spell than the number listed for your level in the Arcana Limit column of the Occult Magic table above.

When you finish a Long Rest, you regain all of your expended Arcana Points.

Additionally, when you finish a Short Rest, you regain Arcana Points equal to your Arcana Limit.

When a Warlock class or subclass feature, including Invocations, requires you to spend a Warlock spell slot (Such as the Thief of Five Fates or Eldritch Smite invocations), you instead expend Arcana Points equal to the level of the spell (If the feature casts a spell, or possesses variable effects based on the spell slot's level, such as Eldritch Smite), or, if the feature doesn't replicate a spell or have variable slot-level-based effects, a number of Arcana Points equal to your Arcana Limit.

Mystic Arcanum

At 1st level, your forbidden knowledge and devotion to your patron grants you a magical secret, called an Arcanum. You gain one 1st-level spell slot, which you may use in place of Arcana Points to cast your Warlock spells; This is called a Minor Arcanum. You gain additional Minor Arcanum spell slots as follows:

• One 2nd-level spell slot at 3rd level;
• One 3rd-level spell slot at 5th level;
• One 4th-level spell slot at 7th level;
• And one 5th-level spell slot at 9th level.

You regain all of your expended Minor Arcanum spell slots when you finish a Short or Long Rest.

At 11th level, you gain one 6th-level spell slot; This is called a Major Arcanum. You gain additional Major Arcanum spell slots as follows:

• One 7th-level spell slot at 13th level;
• One 8th-level spell slot at 15th level;
• And one 9th-level spell slot at 17th level.

You regain all of your expended Major Arcanum spell slots when you finish a Long Rest.

Mystic Arcanum supersedes the feature of the same name gained by the Warlock class, and is gained even if you are not a Warlock.

Warlock-Specific Features

The following features are gained by the Warlock class only, but can be used as inspiration for other Pact Magic classes using this variant rule.

Bestowed Spells

You automatically learn the spells granted to you by your Patron's Expanded Spell List feature; They do not count against the number of Warlock spells you may know.

Occult Recovery

Beginning at 11th level in the Warlock, you gain the ability to focus on your connection to your Influence, drawing on its hidden reserves of power. As an action, you regain expended Arcana Points equal to your Arcana Limit.

Once you use this feature, you must finish a Long Rest before you can use it again.

Occult Master

At 18th level in the Warlock, your ability to draw on your Influence for power improves. When you use Occult Recovery, you also regain all of your expended Minor Arcanum spell slots.

Occult Master replaces the Eldritch Master feature gained by the Warlock class at 20th level.

Half and Tertiary Occult Casters

In the case of a Tertiary Pact Magic user - Such as an Order of the Profane Soul Blood Hunter - They would instead treat their effective Warlock level as equal to one-third (Rounded down) of their class level (Blood Hunter level, etc.), and consult the Occult Magic table above to determine their Arcana Points, Mystic Arcanum slots, and etc.

In the case of a Pact Magic Half Caster - None currently exist in 5e to my knowledge at the time of this writing - They would instead treat their effective Warlock level as equal to one-half (Rounded down) of their class level, and consult the Occult Magic table above to determine their Arcana Points, Mystic Arcanum slots, and etc.

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