Untold wonders and secrets exist for those skillful enough to discover them. Through cleverness, talent, and magic, these cunning few unravel the wiles of the world, becoming adept in the arts of persuasion, manipulation, and inspiration. Typically masters of one or many forms of artistry, bards possess an uncanny ability to know more than they should and use what they learn to keep themselves and their allies ever one step ahead of danger. Bards are quick-witted and captivating, and their skills might lead them down many paths, be they gamblers or jacks-of-all-trades, scholars or performers, leaders or scoundrels, or even all of the above. For bards, every day brings its own opportunities, adventures, and challenges, and only by bucking the odds, knowing the most, and being the best might they claim the treasures of each.

<php>echo “<b>Hit Dice:</b>”;</php> d6
<php>echo “<b>Alignment:</b>”;</php> Any nonlawful
<php>echo “<b>Armor Proficiencies:</b>”;</php> Light armor and all shields (except tower shields)
<php>echo “<b>Weapon Proficiencies:</b>”;</php> All simple weapons, plus the longbow, longsword, rapier, sap, shortsword, shortbow, and whip
<php>echo “<b>Skill Points/Level:</b>”;</php> 6 + Int
<php>echo “<b>Class Skills:</b>”;</php> Acrobatics (Dex), Arcana (Int), Athletics (Str), Concentration (Con), Cosmology (Int), Deception (Cha), Diplomacy (Cha), Dungeoneering (Int), History (Int), Insight (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Linguistics (Int), Nature (Wis), Perception (Wis), Perform (Cha), Religion (Int), Stealth (Dex), Streetwise (Cha), Thievery (Dex), Trade (Int), Warfare (Int)

<php>echo “<b>Invocations:</b>”;</php> A warlock does not prepare or cast spells as other wielders of arcane magic do. Instead, he possesses a repertoire of attacks, defenses, and abilities known as invocations that require him to focus the wild energy that suffuses his soul. A warlock can use any invocation he knows at will, with the following qualifications:
A warlock’s invocations are spell-like abilities; using an invocation is therefore a standard action that provokes attacks of opportunity. An invocation can be disrupted, just as a spell can be ruined during casting. A warlock is entitled to a Concentration check to successfully use an invocation if he is hit by an attack while invoking, just as a spellcaster would be. A warlock can choose to use an invocation defensively, by making a successful Concentration check, to avoid provoking attacks of opportunity. A warlock’s invocations are subject to spell resistance unless an invocation’s description specifically states otherwise. A warlock’s caster level with his invocations is equal to his warlock level.
The save DC for an invocation (if it allows a save) is 10 + equivalent spell level + the warlock’s Charisma modifier. Since spell-like abilities are not actually spells, a warlock cannot benefit from the Spell Focus feat. He can, however, benefit from the Ability Focus feat (see page 303 of the Monster Manual), as well as from feats that emulate metamagic effects for spell-like abilities, such as Quicken Spell-Like Ability and Empower Spell-Like Ability (see pages 303 and 304 of the Monster Manual).
The four grades of invocations, in order of their relative power, are least, lesser, greater, and dark. A warlock begins with knowledge of one invocation, which must be of the lowest grade (least). As a warlock gains levels, he learns new invocations, as summarized on the table above and described below. At any level when a warlock learns a new level of invocation, he can also replace an invocation he already knows with another invocation of the same or a lower grade. At 6th level, a warlock can replace a least invocation he knows with a different least invocation (in addition to learning a new invocation, which could be either least or lesser). At 11th level, a warlock can replace a least or lesser invocation he knows with another invocation of the same or a lower grade (in addition to learning a new invocation, which could be least, lesser, or greater). At 16th level, a warlock can replace a least, lesser, or greater invocation he knows with another invocation of the same or a lower grade (in addition to learning a new invocation, which could be least, lesser, greater, or dark).
Finally, unlike other spell-like abilities, invocations are subject to arcane spell failure chance. However, because the somatic components required for warlock invocations are relatively simple, a warlock can use any of his invocations while wearing light armor without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. However, like arcane spellcasters, a warlock wearing medium or heavy armor or using a shield incurs a chance of arcane spell failure (all invocations, including eldritch blast, have a somatic component). A multiclass warlock still incurs the normal arcane spell failure chance for arcane spells received from levels in other classes. Warlocks can qualify for some prestige classes usually intended for spellcasters; see page 18 of the Complete Arcane for details.

<php>echo “<b>Eldritch Pact:</b>”;</php> In order to obtain his power, a warlock must enter a pact with a powerful entity, an agreement sealed in blood. A warlock gains access to exclusive invocations and abilities depending on the entity in which he enters the pact with. A warlock must choose one eldritch pact upon taking his first level of warlock. Once made, this choice cannot be changed. A warlock who changes to a prohibited alignment or otherwise dishonors his eldritch pact may suffer consequences as the DM sees fit. Typically, if the warlock strays from his allowed alignment, he may not advance as a warlock until his alignment changes to one within the limits of the pact. If the warlock does something more drastic, such as breaking his pact completely, or directly acting against the entity in which he has entered the pact, the warlock may lose his class features and ability to cast invocations, or may suffer the direct wrath of the entity in question. Again, the DM has final say on the matter and should act as he sees fit.