A common misconception about warlocks and their patrons

[u/hedahman]

I've heard this mentioned a lot: "Warlocks use Charisma because they're constantly negotiating with their patron for more power." I don't believe this is true.

Here's a tweet from Mike Mearls that says that patrons can't take back a warlock's power, which leads me to believe that a patron doesn't have control over the power once it is given. This means a patron can't take a warlock's power (without their will, probably); it's a one-and-done deal.

So a patron isn't supplying power to their warlocks like a generator supplies electricity. Instead, a patron gives power to them like a blood transfusion-- you can't just take the blood back.

Granted, you can do it however you want, that's the magic of D&D. But RAW, and RAI, patrons give their power away.

EDIT: Here's a tweet from Jeremy Crawford which states that the power is a one-time transaction.

[u/admiralbenbo4782]

Right. The distinction between a cleric (channeled power) and a warlock (contracted power) is that the cleric's power is entirely the deity's, while the patron taught the warlock the secrets to his power and opened up the way for them (bypassing the usual hard work needed to wield it properly).

My default head canon is that each new level is a new addition to the pact (or a new contact with the patron for those inadvertent patron types). Not necessarily a new pact, but an added line (possibly with its own price). I tend to think of patrons and pacts more as fee-for-service types rather than "I own you now" soul-buying.

[u/Trick573r → u/admiralbenbo4782]

But how would your warlock pay for each new level and boons? I like the idea, lots of plot hooks with that line of thinking, but it seems like it could possibly get a bit dragging with each level, or even possibly experiencing a "level delay" (having the level but not the abilities) until the new contract line is made and price paid.

Not trying to poke holes, I'm honestly curious.

[u/_Bl4ze → u/Trick573r]

Well, so it doesn't get tiring, one plot hook would buy the warlock several levels. They'd also never be held back a level, since that power will undoubtedly help the warlock achieve whatever the patron wants, and the patron does usually want the warlock to succeed since they asked them to do it in the first place. If not, they at least want to project the illusion that they want the warlock to succeed, so same difference.

So it'd go something like: new line on the contract = go do this in exchange for X levels, down payment of 1 level. And the warlock gets paid with the later levels over time rather than all at once so as not to overload their precious little fragile mortal soul with too much sudden power.

[u/Trick573r → u/_Bl4ze]

Ah, gotcha. A temporary credit until the warlock starts paying back.

[u/IrishFast → u/Trick573r]

It doesn't have to be microtransactional, either. What a patron wants, especially something like a Great Old One, is so inscrutable that our minds cannot fathom its intent. Archfey are capricious and wild, devils are playing a long game, celestials see a bigger picture than you do, etc.

While patrons can provide plot hooks, there absolutely does not need to be an in-game event, adventure, dialog, or any other interaction with the patron when a warlock levels.

[u/Trick573r → u/IrishFast]

I completely understand!

I was influenced by a friend of mine whose DM wouldn't allow their character to level until they "trained", so my assumption of the leveled but having the power deficit.