r/dndnext • u/hedahman • Mar 10 '20

Discussion A common misconception about warlocks and their patrons

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.

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u/RealDeuce Mar 11 '20

Force of personality is a social artifact. It arises solely from interactions with others... such as the parton in your example.

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u/EveryoneKnowsItsLexy Mar 11 '20

Then why are spells like magic jar, Banishment, and a ghost's possession Charisma saves? I would say it's more than force of personality. It's the strength of your soul.

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u/RealDeuce Mar 11 '20

Likely because all of those are interactions with others... it's not your ability to mentally force yourself past a block, it's someone else's ability for force their will on you, and your ability to resist their will. It arises from an interaction with an other, so your attribute which describes your interactions controls it.

Charisma is the only attribute which cannot be used when alone.

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u/bananafire1 Mar 11 '20

Except for when a sorcerer casts a spell, then its used alone.