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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Remathilis" data-source="post: 9750575" data-attributes="member: 7635">For me, it comes down to four distinct types of pacts that, while they align to the four subclasses in the PHB, aren't bound to a specific patron type:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Your soul is mine: the patron has claimed some greater prize from the warlock to be paid later, and thus doesn't care about the daily doings of the warlock. After all, you can spend your entire life doing good deeds but the patron is still going to claim you soul or your firstborn child or whatever. This is literally the Faustian Deal.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Mercurial whims: the patron is aloof and appears disinterested, but secretly manipulates the warlock by making the warlock think he's making his own choices but in reality is doing what the patron wanted all along. This type of patron is reactive and requires the DM to constantly be reframing past events as part of the Grand Scheme, even if they might appear contradictory at first.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The Ally: the patron is genuinely a nice guy and actually cares for their warlock. This is most common in celestial and genie pacts, but could apply to fey or other non-evil patrons. The warlock is content that giving the warlock a gift and telling them to "do good" in the world is payment enough.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The parasite. Not all patrons are even aware the warlock exists. Demonology is full of examples of calling on lesser fiends to offer a sliver of their master's power. Great Old Ones blissfully slumber while warlocks enact rights to draw on their cosmic power. An undeath pact makes a "pact" with Death itself (a la Strahd Von Zarovich) rather than a specific undead. In these cases, the warlock gains his pacts via ritual and esoteric knowledge rather than bargaining.</li> </ul>It's also important to know that most patrons are distinctly less powerful than Gods. They are not omnipotent or omnipresent. It's not like Orcus can show up and voice his displeasure even if the warlock goes about ruining Orcus's plans. He might not even know until the warlock draws attention to himself the same way any adventurer draws the ire of a demon lord. There are lots of things that aren't deities that people can still derive faith from: elemental forces on Athas, the Divinity of Mankind, cults devoted to demons and other powerful creatures. The Athar draw power from the belief gods are frauds, the Dustmen form Death itself and the Minds Eye from the power of creation (the source). Eberron has the Path of Inspiration which has Buddhist like beliefs and ancestors worship amongst the elves. Ravenloft's Ezra has different doctrine and beliefs depending on what domain you are in. To be honest, the Olympic version of Zeus tossing a lightning bolt at an offending priest is far less interesting than any of the ones I just mentioned.</blockquote>

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