D&D General Disaster Patrons and Their Longsuffering Warlocks

[bedir than]

Pledging myself to the version of Bacchus from The Magicians TV show

 

[Stormonu]

At first I had some resistance against this, but a blundering patron could make for some interesting tales.

I think it clicked when I thought of Wu-Kong, the monkey king if he were someone's patron. A patron of Fizban (instead of a cleric) might be another way to go...

 

[Seramus]

I absolutely love the idea.

But also, now I'm thinking about actual disasters as your Patron. Like, you're the long-suffering warlock of a titanic hurricane or avalanche, and the longer you stay in one area (measured in days or weeks) the more your patron manifests.

Or the disaster might even be mildly sapient and urge you to stage minor disasters that resemble itself!

 

[doctorbadwolf]

At first I had some resistance against this, but a blundering patron could make for some interesting tales.

I think it clicked when I thought of Wu-Kong, the monkey king if he were someone's patron. A patron of Fizban (instead of a cleric) might be another way to go...

Yep, or imagine Jester from Critical Role as a Warlock.

My wife has a warlock tied to Hyrsam, based heavily on the 4e Hyrsam lore, and it’s kinda like that.

 

[Fifinjir]

Thinking about this, given how Outsiders tend to be promoted there’s probably a good deal of Peter Principle going on in the Outer Planes. So a patron could be someone who was really good at their old job but not so much their current one.

 

[Stormonu]

Taking this a step further, what named patrons might fit for 5E for various subclasses? Taking a stab here...

ARCHFEY

• Baccus
• Pan

CELESTIAL
- Fizban

FANTHOMLESS
- ?

FIEND
- Faustus

GENIE
- Genie of the Ring (from 1001 Arabian Nights, not the Disney Genie)

GREAT OLD ONE
- The Whateley family

HEXBLADE
- Rabbitslayer (Tasslehoff Burrfoot's dagger)

UNDEAD
- Rose & Thorn (of Death House)

UNDYING
- Cyrus Belview (from I6 - Ravenloft)

What would a subclass just for this sort of Patron look like (and what to call it - the Buffoon?)?

 

[Warpiglet-7]

For me, the biggest mistake with warlocks is being narratively rigid at the time of conception.

In my group we describe our patron to the DM. We invent patrons…and no one bats and eye.

The patron sometimes gets used to make complications or tasks for the party if they choose them.

Collaboration with players and the DM is the way to maximum fun for warlocks. He more flavors you create the more play space available. Why not have a disastrous one? A planning scheming one? And indifferent one? A righteous do gooder one? A chaotic mess of one?

I have made some wild ones and the DM riffs based on some basics presented. Good fun for all…

 

[Eyes of Nine]

I love this idea.

Also, and perhaps this is another thread but... In 5e, there is no mechanical heft to the implied obligations characters should have based on their class/sub-class or other. For example, Warlock patrons, Cleric deity, Wizard "school", Bard college ("hey sorry guys, can't head down into the dungeon, it's grading period again..."), etc.

Definitely could be an interesting DM's Guild product.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

UNDEAD
- Rose & Thorn (of Death House)

Le gasp!

Perfection.

 

[humble minion]

FANTHOMLESS
- ?

I’d be looking to Pirates of the Caribbean there. Davy Jones seems an obvious one.