Seeing as the Warlock's Pact Magic is received to them via their patron granting it in return for their service, how could getting two cantrips and a 1st level spell one per long rest through a feat be any different? Perhaps the PC only works part time for the patron, or maybe they somehow stole a small strand of the weave from a patron and linked it to themselves?
What are some other ways to flavor taking Warlock spells with this feat?
Maybe the Patron was hanging out with its giant, all-seeing eye looking bored across the multiverse and for some unknown reason found itself watching the character. Like late night scans through reddit or something. The character misses their mouth while trying to take a sip of a cold beverage. Then, while reacting to the spill, they step back onto a loose board and fall over further spilling their beverage on themselves. For some reason it causes the unknown entity to oddly chuckle which surprises the entity itself. And in some perverse redistribution of godly energy a mark is placed onto the character and they awake with a couple cantrips and the ability to channel a first level spell. No one knows why, but the universe and its inhabitants are a strange piece of weird work.
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IMHO, Earthdawn is still the best fantasy realm, Shadowrun is the best Sci-Fi realm, and Dark Sun is the best D&D realm.
If it's a level 1 feat or they have the feat coming into the game, the flavor could be something that's family taught. The family is loyal to some patron and the character is able to at least manage easy magic.
I'd flavor it as not coming from their patron, but from some other source. It not a class granted ability, and the thought that something else is providing the power opens up lots of ideas.
The magnitude of the contract a Warlock has with their patron is entirely different to what I imagine for these small contracts. Warlocks often are a patron's agent, their chess piece on the board. They also tend to sell their future to their patrons. If I were to get Warlock spells from the Magic Initiate feat, I would flavour it as making a small contract with a patron. The small price(s) you're paying doesn't give your agency in the hands of the patron, but it should at least tame their desire. It could be a one-time payment, or whenever you cast the spells. It should also be something that doesn't affect your character too strongly. A drip of blood. A happy memory. Something that lets your character be in control.
A smaller contract with a fiend could require you to swear and curse everytime you cast your spells. An Archfey would give you some magic in exchange for a memory. I'd assume a trade with a Genie would be more material in nature.
I like the idea of a small-time warlock. Instead of actually making a pact, the PC just so happened to do something favorable in the eyes of the Patron so they got some neat cantrips as a boon.
I'm gonna echo the idea of smaller pacts and contracts. Nothing as vast and complicated as what a full warlock has or even necessarily with a being capable of such. But a minor deal or bargain struck. even a purely static one is entirely possible. And it's completely possible the character isn't even really aware that they entered into such a bargain. Could have just been some friendly words and a shake of the hand or hung out at the right kind of odd and wild party and went home with a few new gifts from a gracious host.
Seeing as the Warlock's Pact Magic is received to them via their patron granting it in return for their service, how could getting two cantrips and a 1st level spell one per long rest through a feat be any different? Perhaps the PC only works part time for the patron, or maybe they somehow stole a small strand of the weave from a patron and linked it to themselves?
What are some other ways to flavor taking Warlock spells with this feat?
Maybe another PC is a warlock and that warlock’s patron grants the spells because you’ve helped the warlock out.
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Maybe the Patron was hanging out with its giant, all-seeing eye looking bored across the multiverse and for some unknown reason found itself watching the character. Like late night scans through reddit or something. The character misses their mouth while trying to take a sip of a cold beverage. Then, while reacting to the spill, they step back onto a loose board and fall over further spilling their beverage on themselves. For some reason it causes the unknown entity to oddly chuckle which surprises the entity itself. And in some perverse redistribution of godly energy a mark is placed onto the character and they awake with a couple cantrips and the ability to channel a first level spell. No one knows why, but the universe and its inhabitants are a strange piece of weird work.
IMHO, Earthdawn is still the best fantasy realm, Shadowrun is the best Sci-Fi realm, and Dark Sun is the best D&D realm.
If it's a level 1 feat or they have the feat coming into the game, the flavor could be something that's family taught. The family is loyal to some patron and the character is able to at least manage easy magic.
I'd flavor it as not coming from their patron, but from some other source. It not a class granted ability, and the thought that something else is providing the power opens up lots of ideas.
Smaller contracts.
The magnitude of the contract a Warlock has with their patron is entirely different to what I imagine for these small contracts. Warlocks often are a patron's agent, their chess piece on the board. They also tend to sell their future to their patrons. If I were to get Warlock spells from the Magic Initiate feat, I would flavour it as making a small contract with a patron. The small price(s) you're paying doesn't give your agency in the hands of the patron, but it should at least tame their desire.
It could be a one-time payment, or whenever you cast the spells. It should also be something that doesn't affect your character too strongly. A drip of blood. A happy memory. Something that lets your character be in control.
A smaller contract with a fiend could require you to swear and curse everytime you cast your spells.
An Archfey would give you some magic in exchange for a memory.
I'd assume a trade with a Genie would be more material in nature.
I like the idea of a small-time warlock. Instead of actually making a pact, the PC just so happened to do something favorable in the eyes of the Patron so they got some neat cantrips as a boon.
I'm gonna echo the idea of smaller pacts and contracts. Nothing as vast and complicated as what a full warlock has or even necessarily with a being capable of such. But a minor deal or bargain struck. even a purely static one is entirely possible. And it's completely possible the character isn't even really aware that they entered into such a bargain. Could have just been some friendly words and a shake of the hand or hung out at the right kind of odd and wild party and went home with a few new gifts from a gracious host.
Easy, drug dealer patron. You haven't signed up for anything yet so they're giving you a taste to get you hooked.
The same way a lvl 1 Warlock might flavor their pact. You have yet to earn any greater favor of your patron - for whatever reason.
Even if you are a lvl 12 character, perhaps you have just recently gained enough power to have you be noticed by your patron.