D&D (2024) Warlock Patron at 3rd Level Makes Sense

[The Shadow]

Then they should be properly labeled and in a free supplement, not the thing we pay for.

So we can't have anything in the core books to help new players - the very people who won't know to get the free supplement? Because that would cheat you out of your hard-earned cash?

Darn newbies should just pull their socks up and dive in the deep end! That's what we did in the 80's and we LIKED it!! /s

 

[MichaelSomething]

I thought level one characters were suppose to be glorified commoners?

 

[Vaalingrade]

So we can't have anything in the core books to help new players - the very people who won't know to get the free supplement? Because that would cheat you out of your hard-earned cash?

Darn newbies should just pull their socks up and dive in the deep end! That's what we did in the 80's and we LIKED it!! /s

Or at least separate it out into 0-levels. Don't just excise everyone else's levels 1-2.

 

[Uni-the-Unicorn!]

Then they should be properly labeled and in a free supplement, not the thing we pay for.

I disagree.

 

[Uni-the-Unicorn!]

Or at least separate it out into 0-levels. Don't just excise everyone else's levels 1-2.

You seem to be in the minority here.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

It makes sense to me at least. There are many different stories to tell and ways to explain it. Here are two that come immediately to mind.

1. You made a pact at level one with your patron, but they have only given you a small measure of power to test your mettle. By reaching 3rd, you have proven yourself worthy of more unique abilities.

2. You made a pact with some lesser entity: a Bone Devil, a lesser fey noble or a hag, or some star spawn, and did well, but they have no more power to give you and put you in touch with something greater.

Does this make sense to people?

Here are the 3 ways I would play it.

1. You haven't made any significant "pact" yet, in the sense we think of warlocks making pacts. You've ritually bound some powers, maybe drawn power from a vestige, and you've gained the power needed to stand before a power otherwordly being and make a deal. The Pact Boon is the representation of that power, and of how you use it and what sort of power it is, ultimately. The Tome means you've gotten here with complex rituals, the Blade is about direct transfer of power and like, ganking low-level demons and eating their hearts or whatever, and the Chain is about binding and is the most likely to become a warlock patron after hitting level 20.

2. The patron gave/helped you find or forge/whatever the boon, and you have to go out and do things to make room within yourself for the power that is sitting in a metaphorical well, waiting for you to learn how to take more of it at a time. The patron isn't giving you something new at level 3, you've just hit a milestone in your progress toward unlocking the full potential power contained within your pact.

3. None of the patron talk exists, I'm playing a ritualist that binds power to their will.

 

[Horwath]

Subclasses should be from 1st level.

But abilities that they grant should be some flavor ribbon, bonus proficiencies, bonus spells known

I.E. Rogue scout:

1st level: bonus proficiency in Nature and Survival
2nd level: skirmisher movement reaction
3rd level: expertise in Nature and Survival

Cleric: Base
1st level holy order, moved from 2nd level as it provides bonus proficiencies
2nd level: channel divinity, too good for one level dip. works better at 2nd level

Healing domain:
1st level: bonus two 1st level spells known/prepared
2nd level: Disciple of life
3rd level: Preserve life moved down from 6th level
6th level: new ability, your spells that restore life and health do not consume expensive material component, but they do require them for spell focus.

Fighter, Champion
1st level, Adaptable victor moved from 3rd to 1st level

Warlock, Fiend
Bonus spells and free casting moved from 3rd to 1st level