Dungeons & Dragons’ ‘Warlock’ Trailer Got Me Ready to Slang This Magic

A while back I wrote a piece about playing Dungeons & Dragons as a magic user, so I’m sure you can see why I’m excited by the Warlock trailer.

The trailer reveals that we will be playing as a titular warlock who has made a pact with our patron, the powerful archmage and witch queen, Tasha, of Tasha’s Hideous Laughter spell namesake.

This trailer actually gives us a good bit of early (alpha, as it says at the opening) gameplay footage, so let’s talk about what can be seen so far.

Once thrusted into the world at Crickshank, the warlock is talking to their imp companion about it. Several minor spells are used to unblock a path in front of them; first floating a lantern to them and then throwing it at the vines to set them ablaze, followed by pulling water from a small pond and putting out the fire.

As someone who has enjoyed magical elements and magic users since I started watching tv, seeing the warlock immediately just go straight into using powers for small things was pretty cool, because yes, I’m using my powers whenever I can outside of battle.

Speaking of battle…

After entering the village that clearly is put off by the warlock being a warlock, the warlock gives a beggar a coin, and the beggar gives information about people being taken away to a cellar that happens to be nearby. The warlock finds blood and drag marks and follows it.

This ultimately leads to a quick altercation with a beholder. Instead of staying to fight (likely not leveled up enough for it), the warlock uses magic to get around it and leaves to continue on their quest.

Now, I know you can watch the trailer for yourself to get the full effect, so I’ll skip to the end and a big combat reveal. Unlike Baldur’s Gate 3‘s turn-based combat system, Warlock goes for the mixed melee style, where you can swing a sword as well as use magic on your own timing against enemies.

This gave me more of a Dragon Age: The Veilguard feel. Besides the orb, I loved using my magic-based Rook’s elemental magic-infused dagger up-close and personal.

Once the Warlock ends the fight and claims the raw magic they were after, the trailer/gameplay ends with a title reveal and coming 2027 date.

I want this game, but there are a couple of things I must admit first. 1. I have not started playing Baldur’s Gate 3. I have had this game for well over a year and have barely touched it. Life be life-ing, and I am more of a casual game player, so it just got put on the backburner, even though I really enjoy D&D. 2. I have not finished Veilguard. I am literally at the final push to the end according to my best friend, but once again life and other casual games I wanted to play pushed it to the side. 3. I get so anxious about beginning and ending games like this. I think it’s the scale, the epicness of them. With casual games, I can sit back and just play, but games like Baldur’s Gate, Veilguard, and now Warlock require more attention and finesse, and I am barely good at side-scrollers and Mario Kart. Though, I guess there is something to be said about getting to the end of Veilguard (on maybe not the hardest difficulty, lol). I have promised my friend that I will finish it soon.

Hopefully, soon is before Warlock comes out in 2027.

One last thing, while I am excited by this, it must be said that I am not a fan of the push to end physical disc and media.

Cover image via GeekWire

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