I'm building a Fiend Warlock and I'm thinking of having a patron that gave me my magic thinking along the lines of "Let's see what happens." and "What could go wrong?". Who would you suggest as my patron?
Generally speaking that sounds like a powerful demon, since they're the Chaotic fiends. Granted, most lore indicates they all also want to tear down/reshape everything else in the multiverse, so maybe frame it less like generic curiosity and more like lighting a firecracker when you don't know the length of the fuse and rolling it into a fireworks store. Don't know any specific extant figures that would fit, but the handy thing about demons is there's no detailed hierarchy like with devils, so it's a lot easier to just make up a powerful one who can still fit into existing lore.
Defintely a demon. A devil would want to know exactly what the impact of his/her actions would be. As a drow fan, I am fond of yochlols, but if you're not a drow that's a big hard to justify. You're going to want a demon that values chaos over destruction. That's kind of rare.
Knowing more about the character could help. Is your character uniquely positioned to further that fiend's goals? For example, Malcanthet might give powers if you were in a location where you could cause pain and hurt to the cults of Glasya or Fierna. Graz'zt perhaps, he's kind of flighty. Or perhaps a random demon just lost a bet. Or the demon is trying to make another demon angry.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Generally speaking that sounds like a powerful demon, since they're the Chaotic fiends. Granted, most lore indicates they all also want to tear down/reshape everything else in the multiverse, so maybe frame it less like generic curiosity and more like lighting a firecracker when you don't know the length of the fuse and rolling it into a fireworks store. Don't know any specific extant figures that would fit, but the handy thing about demons is there's no detailed hierarchy like with devils, so it's a lot easier to just make up a powerful one who can still fit into existing lore.
So technically, I could do it that no particular named fiend gave the powers, but a random one, right?
Generally speaking that sounds like a powerful demon, since they're the Chaotic fiends. Granted, most lore indicates they all also want to tear down/reshape everything else in the multiverse, so maybe frame it less like generic curiosity and more like lighting a firecracker when you don't know the length of the fuse and rolling it into a fireworks store. Don't know any specific extant figures that would fit, but the handy thing about demons is there's no detailed hierarchy like with devils, so it's a lot easier to just make up a powerful one who can still fit into existing lore.
So technically, I could do it that no particular named fiend gave the powers, but a random one, right?
Exact details of a patron are between you and the DM. Some DMs prefer to just leave patrons as part of the background scenery, others like to have details fleshed out so they can be used as plot hooks down the line.
I tend to give my DM the details, because it helps me understand who the character is, and his motivations. He (my DM) can use the information as he wishes. Mostly, my patrons have been in the background. Occasionally, the DM's used my patron to reinforce or explain plot points, or to give background information he wants the party to have that my patron would reasonably have. I'm lucky to have a DM who doesn't believe that he can and should use my patron to try and issue my character orders. A lot of DMs seem to have this idea that they can "cut the character off" if they don't do as told. That's explicitly not how it's supposed to work.
I personally, tend to like having lower level fiends providing my warlock power. I tend to struggle with the idea that Glasya, for example, would know the rank and file. I work for a government agency IRL, but the director of that agency has no idea who I am. My warlocks tend to follow that paradigm. Glasya won't know who I am, but I may be a warlock to one of her erinyes. My warlocks do tend to go for Devil patrons over warlocks, because of the whole law and predictability thing. the devil's going to hold to the terms and conditions of service, regardless of what those terms and conditions are; it's the devil's nature to do so. IN fact, they are bound by their own laws to do so.
Demons? Unpredictable. On one hand, they might get bored and forget about you. They might tire of you and decide to just kill you. Mostly, they're going to want you to make the world burn and enjoy the show. If you're not actively doing that, their probably going to get annoyed and off you. Kind of like irresponsble pet owners who get a kitten at Christmas, then get annoyed if it meows too much or pees outside the litter box and takes it back to the shelter. For demon patrons, as I mentioned I tend to favor yochlols because they are odd for demons, and have some strange behaviors. They're more likely to act like a clingey, vengeful ex, than someone trying to set the world on fire. But they are also very drow focused.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
I'm building a Fiend Warlock and I'm thinking of having a patron that gave me my magic thinking along the lines of "Let's see what happens." and "What could go wrong?". Who would you suggest as my patron?
Generally speaking that sounds like a powerful demon, since they're the Chaotic fiends. Granted, most lore indicates they all also want to tear down/reshape everything else in the multiverse, so maybe frame it less like generic curiosity and more like lighting a firecracker when you don't know the length of the fuse and rolling it into a fireworks store. Don't know any specific extant figures that would fit, but the handy thing about demons is there's no detailed hierarchy like with devils, so it's a lot easier to just make up a powerful one who can still fit into existing lore.
Defintely a demon. A devil would want to know exactly what the impact of his/her actions would be. As a drow fan, I am fond of yochlols, but if you're not a drow that's a big hard to justify. You're going to want a demon that values chaos over destruction. That's kind of rare.
Knowing more about the character could help. Is your character uniquely positioned to further that fiend's goals? For example, Malcanthet might give powers if you were in a location where you could cause pain and hurt to the cults of Glasya or Fierna. Graz'zt perhaps, he's kind of flighty. Or perhaps a random demon just lost a bet. Or the demon is trying to make another demon angry.
See my signature below lol
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
So technically, I could do it that no particular named fiend gave the powers, but a random one, right?
Exact details of a patron are between you and the DM. Some DMs prefer to just leave patrons as part of the background scenery, others like to have details fleshed out so they can be used as plot hooks down the line.
^^ this.
I tend to give my DM the details, because it helps me understand who the character is, and his motivations. He (my DM) can use the information as he wishes. Mostly, my patrons have been in the background. Occasionally, the DM's used my patron to reinforce or explain plot points, or to give background information he wants the party to have that my patron would reasonably have. I'm lucky to have a DM who doesn't believe that he can and should use my patron to try and issue my character orders. A lot of DMs seem to have this idea that they can "cut the character off" if they don't do as told. That's explicitly not how it's supposed to work.
I personally, tend to like having lower level fiends providing my warlock power. I tend to struggle with the idea that Glasya, for example, would know the rank and file. I work for a government agency IRL, but the director of that agency has no idea who I am. My warlocks tend to follow that paradigm. Glasya won't know who I am, but I may be a warlock to one of her erinyes. My warlocks do tend to go for Devil patrons over warlocks, because of the whole law and predictability thing. the devil's going to hold to the terms and conditions of service, regardless of what those terms and conditions are; it's the devil's nature to do so. IN fact, they are bound by their own laws to do so.
Demons? Unpredictable. On one hand, they might get bored and forget about you. They might tire of you and decide to just kill you. Mostly, they're going to want you to make the world burn and enjoy the show. If you're not actively doing that, their probably going to get annoyed and off you. Kind of like irresponsble pet owners who get a kitten at Christmas, then get annoyed if it meows too much or pees outside the litter box and takes it back to the shelter. For demon patrons, as I mentioned I tend to favor yochlols because they are odd for demons, and have some strange behaviors. They're more likely to act like a clingey, vengeful ex, than someone trying to set the world on fire. But they are also very drow focused.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
All of this has been really useful, thanks!! :D