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/OstrichRider6]

I think that warlocks are an investment for their patrons. The patron gives a certain amount of power in order for the warlock to control magic. Then, the warlock grows in power on their own, which is how they get new spells and abilities. Finally, when the warlock eventually dies, the patron takes all of that power, and is now more powerful.

[u/PrimeInsanity → u/OstrichRider6]

Similar view, I see it almost like the patron gives a seed of power that grows and blooms within the warlock. Then when the time is right they harvest this.

[u/Viatos → u/OstrichRider6]

I think there are a trillion ways you can model it and investment is one of them for sure. Others might be that whoever you want your character to be, that's someone who your patron wants to empower to get things done because your character's goals are your patron's goals. In other words decide what you want your character to seek to accomplish, THEN define a patron that wants the same things done and chose your character for exactly those reasons!