Warlocks are really one of the most customizable classes in all of 5e. One of the most interresting things in DMing a Warlock is is my opinion seeing what patrons they come up with. So when one of my players came up with a warlock he wanted me to create a Hexblade or Greate Old One Patron the idea of making a thread where people can share their Patron ideas.
So here is what I came up with.
Name: Teridax
Type: Hexblade
Teridax is an ancient spirit bound to a mythical Glaive called "Spirit Breaker". He is a being of great power, able to take controll of those who touch the Glaive. Many people have given in to his ways, and those have always turned into mass murderers, as Teridax feeds on the souls of the beasts it has slain, and he would "die" should he not be fed. Should the situation call for it Teridax will leave the glaive to instead bond with it's bearer, transforming them into the demonic knight "Souleater". As Souleater the bearer can do anything he used to be able to, just faster, stronger and longer than before. But Teridax isn't a specifically evil entity. It's main target is to protect himself, his bearer and the "Soul Breaker" glaive, and to protect himself he needs to kill, in order to devour souls and remain "living".
Teridax is bound to the Spirit Breaker, and everytime his bearer bounds with another weapon Teridax will devour that weapon, adding certain traits of the devoured weapon onto Spirit Breaker. Teridax can also not use the fullest of his abilities due to being bound to the glaive. He is known to talk to the bearer in their dreams, be those day-dreams or regular dreams. In those dreams he supposedly talks to his bearer as a friend if they are of a good nature and will give them advice how to grow stronger. He usually talks undercommon or primordial, but his bearer can always understand him, no matter what.
Firstly, is it me, or does that look like an awesome Haunter from Pokemon?
Secondly, that is an excellent backstory for a Patron. The only question I have is if it really fits the Great Old One theme. It looks to me more of an Undying (S.C.A.G) or an Unseelie Archfey, most definitely very Fiendish. It doesn't say unknowable horror to me. The whole devouring souls thing is a well-known and time-honoured trope, but by looking at the Great Old One background we don't see it all too much.
Great Old One Patrons are all about snapping the psyche of mere mortals, often just by existing rather than by doing something. These beings are meant to be utterly alien to any PC, many herald from the astral plane, and those that don't are beings like Jubilex or Ghuanadaur, very far removed from our own definition of sanity or normalcy.
This is an excellent Patron, but I personally would consider it a Fiend rather than a Great Old One. But that's just my opinion.
My personal Patron choice is always like the crazy supervillains or the powerful mystical creatures. Here are a few I choose. Only one is not an evil patron, but otherwise, I love playing under the high and powerful.
I actually enjoy playing something that would normally be inherently evil, but for some reason is saved be a celestial and often if not always begrudgingly performs good task. Kind of how a good player would act with a evil patron but in reverse. A goblin that is forced to heal and protect people instead of just him/herself for instance.
Excellent topic. I am crafting a warlock character myself and really trying to make the patron piece flavorable.
I am fine tunning the story, but Ryner is a mountain dwarf that works as a grave digger in his small town with his wife and young son. One day, an evil being attacks his town and captures his family and has enslaved them in a comatose state in his realm. On the brink on death, Ryner is approached by an Undying Patron who promises to give him power to find his family and bring them back to life.
The aim is to make Ryner a necromancer warlock where I mainly use necromancy spells (with pact of tome to expand options).
I want my patron to be involved in my storyline/progression so I am trying to work on the dynamics:
- Patron should have a motive (eg feud with evil being and wants control and power). Willing to give me his undead/Necro powers to make me achieve my goal but has a secret agenda of his own.
- While my patron is evil, I want my character to play more LN. I want there to be some "tasks" that I must begrudgingly do (eg burial rights for when I kill enemies? shot of blood in my drink every night? occasionall possession by Patron to kill/feast at night?) Nothing too extreme, but something flavorfull.
Mainly I want to be a Necro Warlock and I feel that getting the patron / pact relationship down will really bring home the character. Anyone have any ideas for Undying Patrons or any other dynamics I should consider for this character?
You are a brave man to try and play the weakest archetype in the game. Undying sucks man. I hope you can make it work. I personally suggest either revamping it yourself with your DM or choosing something else for whatever works. My personal idea is just to make the patron a little c'thulu-like and choose The Great Old One. The Undying is not worth playing, you get nothing in strength and the abilities that you do get are abysmal.
Aye that's the challenge I'm looking for. Trying to stay away from the Eldritch blast rinse and repeat theme that has made warlocks all the same when I've seen them.
The lack of undying Patron usage is why I'm trying to brainstorm some patron ideas
Honestly, if you are tired or a theme that is the best by far statistically, just work with your DM about something that isn't as bad. The warlock may rely on Eldritch Blast, but I still think its fun if you try to play a Hexblade that doesn't use it as much or just go all Eldritch Blast and get every Invocation under the sun that applies to it. I personally don't see a bad side about the usage of this cantrip because it allows you to really customize the rest of your class. You can be a powerful caster with damaging spells to a buff and healer with The Celestial. You can even be an up close fighter with the Hexblade and or Blade fighter as you get Medium armor via your race with Mountain Dwarf or Variant Human. Everything is covered and you don't need to rely on The Undying, but if you want to theme it up and don't mind the crap power go ahead, but this class is nothing from boring if it relies on a powerful cantrip as it is literally the best attack you can get for a spellcaster. Your choice though. I say good luck.
I'm really enjoying the warlock I'm playing currently. In her world, there's a powerful wizard, something close to a god, locked in some aeons-long conflict with a equally powerful evil force. The wizard periodically takes apprentices, training them to fight for him in his battle. My character started as his apprentice, but wasn't very good at learning to do magic like a wizard. In her impatience to become powerful she made a deal with a mysterious benefactor who promised a shortcut to magical power. And wouldn't you know it, but her patron is the very same evil her master is fighting against. So now she's an unwitting double agent. The patron's side of the deal for providing magical power was that he got to root around in her head for intel on her master. Upon realizing what she'd done, she became traumatized and now doesn't want to use her magic, but the influence of her patron has given her a violent streak. So I made her a Hexblade even if her patron is a lot closer to a Fiend or Great Old One.
The warlock may rely on Eldritch Blast, but I still think its fun if you try to play a Hexblade that doesn't use it as much
Indeed. Eldritch Blast is great and all, but if you don't want to use it Hexblades are pretty bad-ass. A variant human Hexblade and Pact of the Blade, with the War Caster or Great Weapon Master feat, plus Improved Pact Weapon invocation, Thirsting Blade, etc combined with Hex and the Hexblade curse can do plenty of damage. With Improved Pact Weapon it doesn't even have to be in melee range (unless you use the Great Weapon Master feat).
The warlock may rely on Eldritch Blast, but I still think its fun if you try to play a Hexblade that doesn't use it as much...
My Hexblade (level 3, so far) prefers melee fighting, with her Shadowfell patron granted katana. So, 9.5 out of 10 times, she wants to rush in and attack. Eldritch Blast (flavored as a pulse of something like darkforce...) is used only if she's out of range. She uses Misty Step to get INTO battle, instead of as an escape.
A player of mine made a Hexblade but wanted to have a Great Old One spin on it, and pretty much gave me free reign besides that. I obviously went with the Cthulhu-esque Outer God idea, of one that has been slumbering since the beginning of time. The weapon he found is one that is tied to the Slumbering One, and if you make a pact with it, you seal your soul to be bound within the sword until the Slumbering One rises again. The party doesn’t know just how many souls are in there, and they only recently learned that there were more than one. Each soul can speak to the current weirder of the blade, albeit one at a time and with effort.
The entire purpose of their existence is to snuff out any knowledge of the Slumbering One from people’s minds, and to make sure the world forgets that he exists. (For obvious Lovecraftian reasons). But so far it’s been fantastic; the tension in the party is palpable, as nobody, not even the Hexblade PC, knows if the sword, it’s bound souls,and the Slumbering One are good or evil or otherwise.
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I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
From a lore standpoint the only thing I would like to add if it hasn't been mentioned already is that the Hexblade patron isn't a weapon or something that normally resides in a weapon, but rather the thing that creates artifact level weapons and teaches you how to wield some of that power in order to make you a badass in melee. So from a lore standpoint, and imo it would really fit the description you gave even, it would make a lot of sense if Teridax crafted the blade that it was bound to...maybe it was bound because other beings feared it for some unknown mysterious reason and found that binding it to one of its creations an ironic punishment, or maybe as part of its secret grand design of finding the one destined to wield its powers it decided to bind itself.
I only bring this up because I am a firm believer in creating a cohesive narrative, or at least taking the time to consider why there is a divergence from the norm since that can really help to flesh things out even further.
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Warlocks are really one of the most customizable classes in all of 5e. One of the most interresting things in DMing a Warlock is is my opinion seeing what patrons they come up with. So when one of my players came up with a warlock he wanted me to create a Hexblade or Greate Old One Patron the idea of making a thread where people can share their Patron ideas.
So here is what I came up with.
Name: Teridax
Type: Hexblade
Teridax is an ancient spirit bound to a mythical Glaive called "Spirit Breaker". He is a being of great power, able to take controll of those who touch the Glaive. Many people have given in to his ways, and those have always turned into mass murderers, as Teridax feeds on the souls of the beasts it has slain, and he would "die" should he not be fed. Should the situation call for it Teridax will leave the glaive to instead bond with it's bearer, transforming them into the demonic knight "Souleater". As Souleater the bearer can do anything he used to be able to, just faster, stronger and longer than before. But Teridax isn't a specifically evil entity. It's main target is to protect himself, his bearer and the "Soul Breaker" glaive, and to protect himself he needs to kill, in order to devour souls and remain "living".
Teridax is bound to the Spirit Breaker, and everytime his bearer bounds with another weapon Teridax will devour that weapon, adding certain traits of the devoured weapon onto Spirit Breaker. Teridax can also not use the fullest of his abilities due to being bound to the glaive. He is known to talk to the bearer in their dreams, be those day-dreams or regular dreams. In those dreams he supposedly talks to his bearer as a friend if they are of a good nature and will give them advice how to grow stronger. He usually talks undercommon or primordial, but his bearer can always understand him, no matter what.
Firstly, is it me, or does that look like an awesome Haunter from Pokemon?
Secondly, that is an excellent backstory for a Patron. The only question I have is if it really fits the Great Old One theme. It looks to me more of an Undying (S.C.A.G) or an Unseelie Archfey, most definitely very Fiendish. It doesn't say unknowable horror to me. The whole devouring souls thing is a well-known and time-honoured trope, but by looking at the Great Old One background we don't see it all too much.
Great Old One Patrons are all about snapping the psyche of mere mortals, often just by existing rather than by doing something. These beings are meant to be utterly alien to any PC, many herald from the astral plane, and those that don't are beings like Jubilex or Ghuanadaur, very far removed from our own definition of sanity or normalcy.
This is an excellent Patron, but I personally would consider it a Fiend rather than a Great Old One. But that's just my opinion.
Thank you.
I did place him as a Hexblade Patron, of fiendish nature, since I was allowed to choose between Greate Old One or Hexblade.
Also, yes, that is a Haunter fan art, but haunter just generally fit the theme for fhis Patron.
My personal Patron choice is always like the crazy supervillains or the powerful mystical creatures. Here are a few I choose. Only one is not an evil patron, but otherwise, I love playing under the high and powerful.
I actually enjoy playing something that would normally be inherently evil, but for some reason is saved be a celestial and often if not always begrudgingly performs good task. Kind of how a good player would act with a evil patron but in reverse. A goblin that is forced to heal and protect people instead of just him/herself for instance.
Excellent topic. I am crafting a warlock character myself and really trying to make the patron piece flavorable.
I am fine tunning the story, but Ryner is a mountain dwarf that works as a grave digger in his small town with his wife and young son. One day, an evil being attacks his town and captures his family and has enslaved them in a comatose state in his realm. On the brink on death, Ryner is approached by an Undying Patron who promises to give him power to find his family and bring them back to life.
The aim is to make Ryner a necromancer warlock where I mainly use necromancy spells (with pact of tome to expand options).
I want my patron to be involved in my storyline/progression so I am trying to work on the dynamics:
- Patron should have a motive (eg feud with evil being and wants control and power). Willing to give me his undead/Necro powers to make me achieve my goal but has a secret agenda of his own.
- While my patron is evil, I want my character to play more LN. I want there to be some "tasks" that I must begrudgingly do (eg burial rights for when I kill enemies? shot of blood in my drink every night? occasionall possession by Patron to kill/feast at night?) Nothing too extreme, but something flavorfull.
Mainly I want to be a Necro Warlock and I feel that getting the patron / pact relationship down will really bring home the character. Anyone have any ideas for Undying Patrons or any other dynamics I should consider for this character?
Conrad Gilles - Mortal Grit - The Entertainer
You are a brave man to try and play the weakest archetype in the game. Undying sucks man. I hope you can make it work. I personally suggest either revamping it yourself with your DM or choosing something else for whatever works. My personal idea is just to make the patron a little c'thulu-like and choose The Great Old One. The Undying is not worth playing, you get nothing in strength and the abilities that you do get are abysmal.
Aye that's the challenge I'm looking for. Trying to stay away from the Eldritch blast rinse and repeat theme that has made warlocks all the same when I've seen them.
The lack of undying Patron usage is why I'm trying to brainstorm some patron ideas
Conrad Gilles - Mortal Grit - The Entertainer
Good Luck. If you also want to stay away from Eldritch Blast, use Chill Touch and Toll the Dead alongside trying to maximize your spells.
Honestly, if you are tired or a theme that is the best by far statistically, just work with your DM about something that isn't as bad. The warlock may rely on Eldritch Blast, but I still think its fun if you try to play a Hexblade that doesn't use it as much or just go all Eldritch Blast and get every Invocation under the sun that applies to it. I personally don't see a bad side about the usage of this cantrip because it allows you to really customize the rest of your class. You can be a powerful caster with damaging spells to a buff and healer with The Celestial. You can even be an up close fighter with the Hexblade and or Blade fighter as you get Medium armor via your race with Mountain Dwarf or Variant Human. Everything is covered and you don't need to rely on The Undying, but if you want to theme it up and don't mind the crap power go ahead, but this class is nothing from boring if it relies on a powerful cantrip as it is literally the best attack you can get for a spellcaster. Your choice though. I say good luck.
I'm really enjoying the warlock I'm playing currently. In her world, there's a powerful wizard, something close to a god, locked in some aeons-long conflict with a equally powerful evil force. The wizard periodically takes apprentices, training them to fight for him in his battle. My character started as his apprentice, but wasn't very good at learning to do magic like a wizard. In her impatience to become powerful she made a deal with a mysterious benefactor who promised a shortcut to magical power. And wouldn't you know it, but her patron is the very same evil her master is fighting against. So now she's an unwitting double agent. The patron's side of the deal for providing magical power was that he got to root around in her head for intel on her master. Upon realizing what she'd done, she became traumatized and now doesn't want to use her magic, but the influence of her patron has given her a violent streak. So I made her a Hexblade even if her patron is a lot closer to a Fiend or Great Old One.
Indeed. Eldritch Blast is great and all, but if you don't want to use it Hexblades are pretty bad-ass. A variant human Hexblade and Pact of the Blade, with the War Caster or Great Weapon Master feat, plus Improved Pact Weapon invocation, Thirsting Blade, etc combined with Hex and the Hexblade curse can do plenty of damage. With Improved Pact Weapon it doesn't even have to be in melee range (unless you use the Great Weapon Master feat).
Double-Agent Warlock is pretty cool. That is a really awesome character idea and gives me some ideas of my own.
My Hexblade (level 3, so far) prefers melee fighting, with her Shadowfell patron granted katana. So, 9.5 out of 10 times, she wants to rush in and attack. Eldritch Blast (flavored as a pulse of something like darkforce...) is used only if she's out of range. She uses Misty Step to get INTO battle, instead of as an escape.
Nice, definitely pick up Relentless Hex when you get the chance. I always love aggressive Warlocks.
A player of mine made a Hexblade but wanted to have a Great Old One spin on it, and pretty much gave me free reign besides that. I obviously went with the Cthulhu-esque Outer God idea, of one that has been slumbering since the beginning of time. The weapon he found is one that is tied to the Slumbering One, and if you make a pact with it, you seal your soul to be bound within the sword until the Slumbering One rises again. The party doesn’t know just how many souls are in there, and they only recently learned that there were more than one. Each soul can speak to the current weirder of the blade, albeit one at a time and with effort.
The entire purpose of their existence is to snuff out any knowledge of the Slumbering One from people’s minds, and to make sure the world forgets that he exists. (For obvious Lovecraftian reasons). But so far it’s been fantastic; the tension in the party is palpable, as nobody, not even the Hexblade PC, knows if the sword, it’s bound souls,and the Slumbering One are good or evil or otherwise.
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
From a lore standpoint the only thing I would like to add if it hasn't been mentioned already is that the Hexblade patron isn't a weapon or something that normally resides in a weapon, but rather the thing that creates artifact level weapons and teaches you how to wield some of that power in order to make you a badass in melee. So from a lore standpoint, and imo it would really fit the description you gave even, it would make a lot of sense if Teridax crafted the blade that it was bound to...maybe it was bound because other beings feared it for some unknown mysterious reason and found that binding it to one of its creations an ironic punishment, or maybe as part of its secret grand design of finding the one destined to wield its powers it decided to bind itself.
I only bring this up because I am a firm believer in creating a cohesive narrative, or at least taking the time to consider why there is a divergence from the norm since that can really help to flesh things out even further.