D&D (2024) What is a warlock/sorcerer without a starting patron/origin?

[UngeheuerLich]

I think this would work in general. The powers granted by Archfey, hexblade, undying, Fiend, great Old Ones and even the fathomless seem like they would be more or less universally applicable. I can see almost any patron granting mind-affecting/mind-shielding, melee/luck powers, semi-immortality, resistance/luck, telepathy/mind-control or sea powers.

I could even see patrons giving out a phylactery with Genie's powers but doing so would mean Genie loses almost all unique flavor.

The exception is Celestial's powers. While applicable to many, Radiance & healing seems off for evil/darkness patrons.

Pact and patron can easily be swapped in power, if you are ok with a bit less backward compatibility.

The celestial powers could be relegated to invocations with prerequisite: celestial patron.

 

[mellored]

Eldritch blast at 1 works for any patron.
As does invocations at 2.

 

[Reynard]

Someone who knows a few neat tricks.

Don't take me for some conjurer of neat tricks!

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

Pretty easily:

Sorcerer: 1st mysterious power coming from within. Begin with spellcasting, font of magic and metamagic.
3rd level -> Awakening (you discover the true source of you powers).

Warlock: Begins dealing with a shadowy, hidden, unfathomable power. Spellcasting + Invocations.
3rd level -> Revelation (the true nature of your patron is revealed, as well as the extent of your debt...)

Let's be honest, in most stories, these kind of characters dont start in the first chapter knowing their full origin or the identity of the mysterious benefactor.

 

[Flamestrike]

But what about a warlock? If the idea is to remove the “blocker” of extra choices like cleric domains from initial character creation, the. What does that mean for selecting a patron?

You're a creature that's made a pact with an extraplanar creature as usual, and you can fluff it however you want. In exchange you're granted spells etc. It's absolutely no different to how it is now.

At 3rd level, the bond strengthens, and it comes online via the Patron class feature, and it gets fleshed out with the game mechanics suitable for whatever patron you select at 3rd.

Your patron takes notice of you and starts actually talking to you (or whatever).

If you want to play a creature that has made a pact with the Devil for magical powers, you can play a creature that has made a pact with the Devil for magical powers, even though your patron choice doesnt mechanically kick in till 3rd level.

Maybe extra-planar creatures dont give much of a naughty word about their Warlocks till they've proved themselves killing a few Kobolds first.

Ditto with Sorcerers. At 3rd level their Bloodline flares into power, allowing the player to select [a Sorcerer bloodline sub class from a list]. The PC was always a Dragon blood (or whatever) and that's where he got his spells from etc, but his blood power wasnt strong enough at levels 1-2 to really set him aside mechanically from other Sorcerers.

It's no big deal, and it does away with 1-2 level dips (a good thing) and reduces the choices at 1st level, removing decision paralysis for new players (a good thing).

 

[Minigiant]

Pact Boon and Otherworldly Patron are being swapped.

1. Eldritch Cantrip, Pact Boon (Blade, Chain, or Tome), Pact Magic
2. Eldritch Invocation
3. Otherworldly Patron

A patron isn't giving a warlock a link to themselves until they prove themselves anymore. You area generic warlock until the patron thinks you are worthy of their true power.

Same with Sorcerer.
You are generic sorcerer until you tap into more of your power. As you grow, your origin shows.

 

[TwoSix]

For cleric, warlocks, and sorcerers at levels 1-2, it's essentially Schrodinger's Backstory. The character has been granted a shred of magical power via divine agency, innate bloodline, or magical contract. The provenance of these powers may be unknown to the character, in which case the level 3 feature serves as a reveal in the narrative. Alternatively, the source of these powers is known to the character, in which case the level 3 feature gain serves as that power coming to the fore and being fully realized.

There's no need in the narrative to present having to make a choice at level 3 between domains/patrons/origin as something the character is actually choosing between.

 

[Flamestrike]

For cleric, warlocks, and sorcerers at levels 1-2, it's essentially Schrodinger's Backstory. The character has been granted a shred of magical power via divine agency, innate bloodline, or magical contract. The provenance of these powers may be unknown to the character, in which case the level 3 feature serves as a reveal in the narrative. Alternatively, the source of these powers is known to the character, in which case the level 3 feature gain serves as that power coming to the fore and being fully realized.

There's no need in the narrative to present having to make a choice at level 3 between domains/patrons/origin as something the character is actually choosing between.

Paladins currently work this way anyway, only taking an Oath at 3rd level, so Its no big deal.

I've found it opens up more character options as well, seeing as a few levels in paladin doesnt require an Oath (but you can fluff yourself one anyway if you want).

 

[bedir than]

Yeah, but what power? Do you still have to choose a patron or origin at first level? If so, then that defeats the purpose of pushing all subclasses to third level to simplify creating a new character.

They don't know what they've committed to, yet. They just wanted the power offered. At level three they discover their connection to...

 

[Scribe]

Your connection to your power grows deeper over time.

Level 1: invocations
Level 2: pact magic
Level 3: pact boon

If you dont pick who to make a pact with, till 3rd, a warlock shouldnt even have a power though, you have no deal, no bargain, nothing.