Time was that the Raven Queen was quite a popular deity for Paladins, and Patron for Warlocks. The powers she granted to her champions were both respected and feared throughout the land, and her servants could be found everywhere.
No longer.
It can’t just be the change in editions, as she is prominently mentioned in the 5e source book. So; what happened to the Raven Queen, and why has she fallen out of favour?
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A caffeinated nerd who has played TTRPGs or a number of years and is very much a fantasy adventure geek.
Exactly on what basis are you making the claim that "nobody" chooses her anymore? Other than in your own game groups or maybe a few popular YouTube streams, what possible mechanism could you have for knowing how many players around the world choose her as a patron?
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WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
Exactly on what basis are you making the claim that "nobody" chooses her anymore? Other than in your own game groups or maybe a few popular YouTube streams, what possible mechanism could you have for knowing how many players around the world choose her as a patron?
Just that nobody seems to talk about the Raven Queen. In forums or in person. Its purely my observations and not based in statistics. That and she isn't one of the default offerings for Warlocks, although you can get her as your patron by purchasing additional source books. The fact that I never see her discussed at all, coupled with the fact that she isn't one of the default offerings for Warlock patron, says to me, albeit anecdotally, that shes not as popular as she once was.
That said, perhaps shes a lot more popular in her own setting.
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A caffeinated nerd who has played TTRPGs or a number of years and is very much a fantasy adventure geek.
The Raven Queen is suggested as a possible Patron for what is arguably the most popular Warlock subclass in 5e, the Hexblade.
That is interesting. I have always made he assumption that Hexblade Warlocks, were Warlocks of the actual weapons that they used. That somehow the weapon had acquired enough power to be able to act as a Warlock patron. Although having the Raven Queen as the power behind the blade, so to speak, is interesting, and not something that I ever thought of. s there a book that talks about that. because I'd love to read more about it.
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A caffeinated nerd who has played TTRPGs or a number of years and is very much a fantasy adventure geek.
Time was that the Raven Queen was quite a popular deity for Paladins, and Patron for Warlocks. The powers she granted to her champions were both respected and feared throughout the land, and her servants could be found everywhere.
Purely anecdotal, but in my experience non-official campaign settings are more and more common. If she doesn't exist, she can't be a patron.
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Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
The Raven Queen is suggested as a possible Patron for what is arguably the most popular Warlock subclass in 5e, the Hexblade.
That is interesting. I have always made he assumption that Hexblade Warlocks, were Warlocks of the actual weapons that they used. That somehow the weapon had acquired enough power to be able to act as a Warlock patron. Although having the Raven Queen as the power behind the blade, so to speak, is interesting, and not something that I ever thought of. s there a book that talks about that. because I'd love to read more about it.
It's only mentioned briefly, but you can find it in Xanathar's in the intro to the Hexblade on p. 55.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
The Raven Queen is suggested as a possible Patron for what is arguably the most popular Warlock subclass in 5e, the Hexblade.
That is interesting. I have always made he assumption that Hexblade Warlocks, were Warlocks of the actual weapons that they used. That somehow the weapon had acquired enough power to be able to act as a Warlock patron. Although having the Raven Queen as the power behind the blade, so to speak, is interesting, and not something that I ever thought of. s there a book that talks about that. because I'd love to read more about it.
In Xanathar’s in the entry for the subclass. Patron could be the weapon, or it could be the Queen. Player’s Choice.
The Raven Queen is suggested as a possible Patron for what is arguably the most popular Warlock subclass in 5e, the Hexblade.
That is interesting. I have always made he assumption that Hexblade Warlocks, were Warlocks of the actual weapons that they used. That somehow the weapon had acquired enough power to be able to act as a Warlock patron. Although having the Raven Queen as the power behind the blade, so to speak, is interesting, and not something that I ever thought of. s there a book that talks about that. because I'd love to read more about it.
It's only mentioned briefly, but you can find it in Xanathar's in the intro to the Hexblade on p. 55.
To be fair I don't blame them for not seeing the connection.
Hexblade lore is a mess....the subclass lacks a focused theme and is generally a blight in general with how blatantly better it is than every other patron to an embarrassing extent.
Its features do not really connect it to Raven Queen in a substantial way and its easy to overlook it as an option.
We had a really good subclass in UA for the Raven Queen, however, and it is my single most requested revisit on a UA!
From what I understood, the Hexblade's patron is supposed to be connected to the Shadowfell, and it is common for these partons to manifest their pact boons as weapons made from the shadows of the plane or as shadowy magic that manifests as necrotic hexes. The Raven Queen is mentioned as being a possible origin for the first of these shadowy sentient weapons, so you could reasonably form your pact with her. You could also form the pact with the weapon itself if it is powerful enough. Blackrazor is the most common example. It even opens up the possibility to have your patron be another powerful entity from the Shadowfell if you want to interpret it that way, like an Ancient Shadow Dragon or a powerful Shade.
This is at least how I view what the Hexblade's patron could be.
From what I understood, the Hexblade's patron is supposed to be connected to the Shadowfell, and it is common for these partons to manifest their pact boons as weapons made from the shadows of the plane or as shadowy magic that manifests as necrotic hexes. The Raven Queen is mentioned as being a possible origin for the first of these shadowy sentient weapons, so you could reasonably form your pact with her. You could also form the pact with the weapon itself if it is powerful enough. Blackrazor is the most common example. It even opens up the possibility to have your patron be another powerful entity from the Shadowfell if you want to interpret it that way, like an Ancient Shadow Dragon or a powerful Shade.
This is at least how I view what the Hexblade's patron could be.
From what I understood, the Hexblade's patron is supposed to be connected to the Shadowfell, and it is common for these partons to manifest their pact boons as weapons made from the shadows of the plane or as shadowy magic that manifests as necrotic hexes. The Raven Queen is mentioned as being a possible origin for the first of these shadowy sentient weapons, so you could reasonably form your pact with her. You could also form the pact with the weapon itself if it is powerful enough. Blackrazor is the most common example. It even opens up the possibility to have your patron be another powerful entity from the Shadowfell if you want to interpret it that way, like an Ancient Shadow Dragon or a powerful Shade.
This is at least how I view what the Hexblade's patron could be.
This^^^
Could be vs. the theme actually fits that...its a weird subclass with a lack of theme overall and feels out of place.
Just that nobody seems to talk about the Raven Queen. In forums or in person.
Surely you realize that somewhere on the order of 0.1% of D&D players even read any forums (here or elsewhere), let alone the much smaller fraction who actually post. Even if you were to limit it to DDB Forum users and DDB site users, I bet only a few % of the people who use DDB actually read or post to these forums.
There is simply no way of knowing if the Raven Queen is popular or not, based on your observations. You're assuming that what you don't see, doesn't exist.
There is an old adage in science: "Absence of evidence does not constitute evidence of absence." Just because you haven't noticed, in the tiny minimal fraction of the internet that you frequent, people discussing the RQ, doesn't mean nobody uses her in their games.
Exactly on what basis are you making the claim that "nobody" chooses her anymore? Other than in your own game groups or maybe a few popular YouTube streams, what possible mechanism could you have for knowing how many players around the world choose her as a patron?
Just that nobody seems to talk about the Raven Queen. In forums or in person. Its purely my observations and not based in statistics. That and she isn't one of the default offerings for Warlocks, although you can get her as your patron by purchasing additional source books. The fact that I never see her discussed at all, coupled with the fact that she isn't one of the default offerings for Warlock patron, says to me, albeit anecdotally, that shes not as popular as she once was.
That said, perhaps shes a lot more popular in her own setting.
By that logic no one is worshiping Illmater, Avandra, Umbralee, Gond, or Tyr because I haven't seen anyone mention them at all. Seems a little flawed to me.
This turned out to be a much more interesting topic than I though. I learned something that I didn’t know (because I had missed the reference) and I enjoyed reading the other responses as well.
I posted because it was something that I was wondering and was interested in, but I genuinely didn’t expect so many excellent responses.
Thanks everyone for taking the time. You’re all fabulous
XD
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A caffeinated nerd who has played TTRPGs or a number of years and is very much a fantasy adventure geek.
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Hi,
Time was that the Raven Queen was quite a popular deity for Paladins, and Patron for Warlocks. The powers she granted to her champions were both respected and feared throughout the land, and her servants could be found everywhere.
No longer.
It can’t just be the change in editions, as she is prominently mentioned in the 5e source book. So; what happened to the Raven Queen, and why has she fallen out of favour?
A caffeinated nerd who has played TTRPGs or a number of years and is very much a fantasy adventure geek.
Exactly on what basis are you making the claim that "nobody" chooses her anymore? Other than in your own game groups or maybe a few popular YouTube streams, what possible mechanism could you have for knowing how many players around the world choose her as a patron?
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
The Raven Queen is suggested as a possible Patron for what is arguably the most popular Warlock subclass in 5e, the Hexblade.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
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Content Troubleshooting
Just that nobody seems to talk about the Raven Queen. In forums or in person. Its purely my observations and not based in statistics. That and she isn't one of the default offerings for Warlocks, although you can get her as your patron by purchasing additional source books. The fact that I never see her discussed at all, coupled with the fact that she isn't one of the default offerings for Warlock patron, says to me, albeit anecdotally, that shes not as popular as she once was.
That said, perhaps shes a lot more popular in her own setting.
A caffeinated nerd who has played TTRPGs or a number of years and is very much a fantasy adventure geek.
That is interesting. I have always made he assumption that Hexblade Warlocks, were Warlocks of the actual weapons that they used. That somehow the weapon had acquired enough power to be able to act as a Warlock patron. Although having the Raven Queen as the power behind the blade, so to speak, is interesting, and not something that I ever thought of. s there a book that talks about that. because I'd love to read more about it.
A caffeinated nerd who has played TTRPGs or a number of years and is very much a fantasy adventure geek.
Purely anecdotal, but in my experience non-official campaign settings are more and more common. If she doesn't exist, she can't be a patron.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
It's only mentioned briefly, but you can find it in Xanathar's in the intro to the Hexblade on p. 55.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
In Xanathar’s in the entry for the subclass. Patron could be the weapon, or it could be the Queen. Player’s Choice.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
To be fair I don't blame them for not seeing the connection.
Hexblade lore is a mess....the subclass lacks a focused theme and is generally a blight in general with how blatantly better it is than every other patron to an embarrassing extent.
Its features do not really connect it to Raven Queen in a substantial way and its easy to overlook it as an option.
We had a really good subclass in UA for the Raven Queen, however, and it is my single most requested revisit on a UA!
That and Brute.
From what I understood, the Hexblade's patron is supposed to be connected to the Shadowfell, and it is common for these partons to manifest their pact boons as weapons made from the shadows of the plane or as shadowy magic that manifests as necrotic hexes. The Raven Queen is mentioned as being a possible origin for the first of these shadowy sentient weapons, so you could reasonably form your pact with her. You could also form the pact with the weapon itself if it is powerful enough. Blackrazor is the most common example. It even opens up the possibility to have your patron be another powerful entity from the Shadowfell if you want to interpret it that way, like an Ancient Shadow Dragon or a powerful Shade.
This is at least how I view what the Hexblade's patron could be.
"Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup."
Characters for Tenebris Sine Fine
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This^^^
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Could be vs. the theme actually fits that...its a weird subclass with a lack of theme overall and feels out of place.
Surely you realize that somewhere on the order of 0.1% of D&D players even read any forums (here or elsewhere), let alone the much smaller fraction who actually post. Even if you were to limit it to DDB Forum users and DDB site users, I bet only a few % of the people who use DDB actually read or post to these forums.
There is simply no way of knowing if the Raven Queen is popular or not, based on your observations. You're assuming that what you don't see, doesn't exist.
There is an old adage in science: "Absence of evidence does not constitute evidence of absence." Just because you haven't noticed, in the tiny minimal fraction of the internet that you frequent, people discussing the RQ, doesn't mean nobody uses her in their games.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
By that logic no one is worshiping Illmater, Avandra, Umbralee, Gond, or Tyr because I haven't seen anyone mention them at all. Seems a little flawed to me.
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"Play the game however you want to play the game. After all, your fun doesn't threaten my fun."
This turned out to be a much more interesting topic than I though. I learned something that I didn’t know (because I had missed the reference) and I enjoyed reading the other responses as well.
I posted because it was something that I was wondering and was interested in, but I genuinely didn’t expect so many excellent responses.
Thanks everyone for taking the time. You’re all fabulous
XD
A caffeinated nerd who has played TTRPGs or a number of years and is very much a fantasy adventure geek.