Hey guys, new D&D player here, DM’d a few sessions with some friends and played a lot of the D&D based videogames. Now, this idea might not be new or it might be just...bad, but I think it might have potential. Basically, what came to mind at some point was a possible patron for Warlocks, The Trickster, and I wanted to share it here, since I have no idea how to go about balancing something like this and whatnot and I might use it in some games later on.
So, quick summary of what I got so far: The Trickster is a chaotic entity, maybe even chaos incarnate. Many cultures have some kind of god or being playing this role, and it is him every time. His goals are unknowable. He either has a plan and everything is part of his grand scheme or he does it just for the fun of it. Nobody knows. His followers doubt even he knows. Some men/beings/entities just want to watch the world burn.
His entire thing is that he’ll help you but he’ll also f*ck with you big time. And he’s different for every one of his followers. One might have to sacrifice a virgin at the equinox, another to throw poop at people in the night and another to go “yee-haw” every 27.1 hours. Hell, he might not even want anything in return. But let’s say you want to use something like Prestidigitation to make that coin you gave the merchant extra heavy and shiny. Will it work as expected? Will it be even better? Will it turn into a chocolate coin? Will it work only for the illusion to fade the second you pass the nearest guard? Will it work spectacularly but the item is actually fake when using it? You don’t know. The Trickster doesn’t know either. Roll the dice to find out!
How I see this working is something like this: one of the abilities that comes naturally with him is allowing the PC to use either Wis or Cha, whichever is highest or whichever they want, as their primary stat for rolls involving abilities he grants. Basically, when asking him for a fireball, let’s say, you’re either enough of a smoothtalker to get what you want with minimal repercussions or you’re wise enough to ask it in such a manner that it can’t bite you back that hard.
Another thing that came to mind was a weapon he would favour/encourage his followers to wield. A two-tipped spear. One for you, once for your enemy. Hell, as far as I’m concerned, he can be used as a Hexblade patron.
So, what do you guys think so far? Is it any good/does it have any real potential? If so, can some of you guys help me make into something viable for a session?
Well. First off. Making a patron is up to the DM (and of course the player). So what he wants depends on what the DM thinks this entity would want. I like the idea of it, however I am gonna be that guy. And I am sorry for it. Fey. Fey are tricksters. But that doesn't mean that you can't have a fey as your patron while being a hexblade warlock. So, a trickster you say?
We don't want the player to be frightened by the mass amount of weird jobs the patron might bestow upon you. We certainly want so kinda of... slightly (and possibly) negative or hambering effect. But, what if the PC is an eldarin. And grew up around satyr's and dryads, pixies and nereids. Then they might agree with their patron. So, the spells would be based on trickery. Illusions, mischief. But of course, we want abilities that can be used in combat. But I think what you're looking for, is not gonna have the largest focus on direct combat.
Expanded Spell List: 1st lvl: Charm Person, Bane, (You could do a variant of this, and take Silent Image, instead.) 2nd: Enthrall, Invisibility, (I did want to take alter self, but even though you have to be 15th lvl, you can still take it as an invocation. So, let's fix that later.) 3rd: Slow, Major Image, 4th lvl: Confusion, Polymorph, (Polymorph can be used on beasts, so what if suddenly the warden's hound is a rabbit? Or a toad.) 5th: Seeming, Telekinesis (Why seeming is not in the trickery domain instead of modify memory, but we can add it here. Telekinesis is good for replicating Matt Mercer's lastest Dunamancy spell. The one that makes shit float for 1 hour. What if two horses and a caravan suddenly starts flying around the noble's mansion?)
Abilities are harder. I would recommend escapes and a way to disguise yourself. Or at least hide. 10th lvl or 14th lvl ability would be a good place to allow once per day to charm someone with them knowing. Which charm really lacks. The problem with charm magic is if you have to stay or meet the person after 1 hour... or they make their save. You're (to put it kindly) totally ****ed beyond the planes of existance. So a trickster might grant their servants a way to charm others without them knowing.
Sorry if you already figured it out. But here is a template for you to start on it. Welcome to the D&D club! We're happy to have you here! If none of this makes sense. I am deeply sorry. ^^ Have a great day! Best the loot and luck to you my friend!
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Hey guys, new D&D player here, DM’d a few sessions with some friends and played a lot of the D&D based videogames. Now, this idea might not be new or it might be just...bad, but I think it might have potential. Basically, what came to mind at some point was a possible patron for Warlocks, The Trickster, and I wanted to share it here, since I have no idea how to go about balancing something like this and whatnot and I might use it in some games later on.
So, quick summary of what I got so far: The Trickster is a chaotic entity, maybe even chaos incarnate. Many cultures have some kind of god or being playing this role, and it is him every time. His goals are unknowable. He either has a plan and everything is part of his grand scheme or he does it just for the fun of it. Nobody knows. His followers doubt even he knows. Some men/beings/entities just want to watch the world burn.
His entire thing is that he’ll help you but he’ll also f*ck with you big time. And he’s different for every one of his followers. One might have to sacrifice a virgin at the equinox, another to throw poop at people in the night and another to go “yee-haw” every 27.1 hours. Hell, he might not even want anything in return. But let’s say you want to use something like Prestidigitation to make that coin you gave the merchant extra heavy and shiny. Will it work as expected? Will it be even better? Will it turn into a chocolate coin? Will it work only for the illusion to fade the second you pass the nearest guard? Will it work spectacularly but the item is actually fake when using it? You don’t know. The Trickster doesn’t know either. Roll the dice to find out!
How I see this working is something like this: one of the abilities that comes naturally with him is allowing the PC to use either Wis or Cha, whichever is highest or whichever they want, as their primary stat for rolls involving abilities he grants. Basically, when asking him for a fireball, let’s say, you’re either enough of a smoothtalker to get what you want with minimal repercussions or you’re wise enough to ask it in such a manner that it can’t bite you back that hard.
Another thing that came to mind was a weapon he would favour/encourage his followers to wield. A two-tipped spear. One for you, once for your enemy. Hell, as far as I’m concerned, he can be used as a Hexblade patron.
So, what do you guys think so far? Is it any good/does it have any real potential? If so, can some of you guys help me make into something viable for a session?
I found this a while back which might useful to tinker with to flesh out abilities and so on:
https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/SJFtGoK2g
Sounds a bit like a Warlock crossed with a Wild Magic Sorcerer.
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Yep, that's basically what I had in mind
Well. First off. Making a patron is up to the DM (and of course the player). So what he wants depends on what the DM thinks this entity would want.
I like the idea of it, however I am gonna be that guy. And I am sorry for it. Fey. Fey are tricksters. But that doesn't mean that you can't have a fey as your patron while being a hexblade warlock. So, a trickster you say?
We don't want the player to be frightened by the mass amount of weird jobs the patron might bestow upon you. We certainly want so kinda of... slightly (and possibly) negative or hambering effect. But, what if the PC is an eldarin. And grew up around satyr's and dryads, pixies and nereids. Then they might agree with their patron. So, the spells would be based on trickery. Illusions, mischief. But of course, we want abilities that can be used in combat. But I think what you're looking for, is not gonna have the largest focus on direct combat.
Expanded Spell List:
1st lvl: Charm Person, Bane, (You could do a variant of this, and take Silent Image, instead.)
2nd: Enthrall, Invisibility, (I did want to take alter self, but even though you have to be 15th lvl, you can still take it as an invocation. So, let's fix that later.)
3rd: Slow, Major Image,
4th lvl: Confusion, Polymorph, (Polymorph can be used on beasts, so what if suddenly the warden's hound is a rabbit? Or a toad.)
5th: Seeming, Telekinesis (Why seeming is not in the trickery domain instead of modify memory, but we can add it here. Telekinesis is good for replicating Matt Mercer's lastest Dunamancy spell. The one that makes shit float for 1 hour. What if two horses and a caravan suddenly starts flying around the noble's mansion?)
Abilities are harder. I would recommend escapes and a way to disguise yourself. Or at least hide. 10th lvl or 14th lvl ability would be a good place to allow once per day to charm someone with them knowing. Which charm really lacks. The problem with charm magic is if you have to stay or meet the person after 1 hour... or they make their save. You're (to put it kindly) totally ****ed beyond the planes of existance. So a trickster might grant their servants a way to charm others without them knowing.
Sorry if you already figured it out. But here is a template for you to start on it. Welcome to the D&D club! We're happy to have you here! If none of this makes sense. I am deeply sorry. ^^
Have a great day! Best the loot and luck to you my friend!