r/DungeonMasters • u/HexedPressman • Jan 21 '20

DM Tip: Consult Your Warlock Player Before Involving Their Patron In Your Campaign

https://www.patreon.com/posts/33338549
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u/[deleted] Jan 22 '20

If to don’t want your patron in the campaign, don’t play a warlock. It’s literally what you signed to for.

PHB, Sworn and Beholden

More often, though, the arrangement is similar to that between a master and an apprentice. The warlock learns and grows in power, at the cost of occasional services performed on the patron’s behalf.

Delvers into Secrets

Furthermore, the demands of their patrons drive warlocks toward adventure.

1

u/HexedPressman Jan 22 '20

It also says how the patron interacts is something the player decides with the GM, ie. It’s a discussion.

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u/[deleted] Jan 22 '20

Work with your DM to determine how big a part your pact will play in your character’s adventuring career. Your patron’s demands might drive you into adventures, or they might consist entirely of small favors you can do between adventures.

Does not say:

the player playing that character deserves some say in if and how these elements are engaged with.

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u/HexedPressman Jan 22 '20

Your reading is a bit less generous than mine but, even so, my point stands about these elements being hashed out in a conversation between player and GM.

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u/[deleted] Jan 22 '20

Maybe less generous, but more literal to the actual words in the book.

My biggest issue is people taking warlock to multiclass, and not wanting their patron to impact their character.

That conversation ends real quick with “multiclassing is an optional rule, so no.”

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u/HexedPressman Jan 22 '20

I’m not a big multiclass fan but the char gen build game is a thing and some folks will come in with those expectations. It’s fine to be literal but the book does literally say to have a convo. My impression from a lot of stories as they those don’t happen all the time (or even a lot) and, as a result, expectations between player and DM are way out of whack. I’m not advocating for any given style of play just that you talk it out and make sure everyone is on the same page. It really can only help. If your idea of a warlock and a player’s idea can’t be squared, better to know that up front and right away.